Trail Overview
KOFA Pipeline is a scenic and beginner-friendly 27.8-mile point-to-point trail that serves as an excellent introduction to the rugged beauty of the northern Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. This route is ideal for stock four-wheel-drive vehicles, high-clearance rigs, and SxSs looking to explore remote desert landscapes with minimal technical difficulty. Spanning a wide desert valley, the trail delivers sweeping views of distant mountain ranges and provides crucial access to dispersed camping and historic points of interest. Along the journey, drivers will encounter a mix of long, smooth dirt sections interspersed with natural desert washes, mild dips, and occasional rises that keep the drive engaging without being overly stressful.
The route ranges in elevation from 1,145 feet to 2,210 feet, accumulating a gradual elevation gain of approximately 1,091 feet as it winds east. Navigating the trail requires crossing several sandy washes and negotiating a few mildly rocky segments, but there are no major obstacles or steep, off-camber sections to worry about under dry conditions. This trail provides convenient connections to popular recreation areas such as Crystal Hill, Burrow Canyon, the historic KOFA Cabin, Hoodoo Wash, and Red Rock Pass, making it a perfect corridor for multi-day overland trips. Visitors should plan ahead as cell service is limited, and desert temperatures can be extreme, requiring plenty of water and self-sufficiency.
Access Description
The trail is located within the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All vehicles must be street-legal or compliant with Arizona off-highway vehicle (OHV) regulations and must remain on designated routes at all times. Dispersed camping is permitted within 100 feet of designated roads for up to 14 days within any 12-month period. There are no fees or permits required to access the refuge, but visitors must pack out all trash and respect wildlife boundaries.
