Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge
Community spots & sessions in AZ · on LutherHeggs
Located in Southwest Arizona, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge was originally established in 1939 as a Game Range for the conservation and development of natural wildlife resources. The name Cabeza Prieta (in Spanish meaning “dark head”) refers to the distinctive lava-topped, granite peak in the western portion of the refuge. In March of 1975, Cabeza Prieta Game Range was re-established as Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and became part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Encompassing 860,010 acres, the Refuge provides valuable habitat for Sonoran Desert wildlife. In 1990, the passage of the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act designated 803,418 acres (93 percent) of the Refuge as wilderness. As a wilderness, vehicles and other modern conveniences are only allowed on the refuge's limited road system, with most of the refuge preserved for visitors wanting a more natural experience.