imperial national wildlife refuge

My boys and I went out here for a small day trip. There is a really nice visitors center. Martinez Lake road was a great roller coaster ride out there. We liked all the stuffed animals, and the viewing tower.

if you like bird watching, exploring interesting things, and seeing wildlife in general...this is not the place for you. If you like being hassled by rangers, and staring at dirt and scrub brush...by all means, enjoy.

We didn't see any wildlife, but that's the gamble with nature. It's nothing special, but worth a quick tour through if you're in the area.

If you love to hike, bird watch, nature watch, or just have fun, this refuge is worth a visit. Amazing scenery and if your lucky, plenty of wildlife to observe.

The Wildlife Refuge is pretty big, about 30 miles along the Colorado. We just saw the Fisher’s Landing area - this is a landing point for small boats, popular with local fisherman. If you’re not there for boating, your options are limited. There is a café/bar there, with outdoor seating, you can go and feed the ducks and geese hanging around, or just watch the boats getting into and out of the water. Then it’s time to leave.

A must visit to see the Colorado River and accessible desert. The Painted Desert trail is a must to see plants, animals, and colors (there are some steps and steep inclines). Check out the various points (e.g. Palo Verde, Mesquite, etc). Bring your binoculars and camera.

If you head towards Lake Martinez just before the marina you will see the right turn to the preserve. The paved road ends to a flat packed dirt 2-lane/sometimes 1-lane road to the preserve. There is little to actually see there but it is an interesting drive.If you are more adventurous (as I was) continue past the preserve to the various viewing areas. I will warn you the road is rocking and rutty but not impassable in a normal non-4 wheel drive vehicle just be prepared for a slow drive but heck enjoy the scenery.As always there is no cell service out there so always pack water and food anytime you venture into the desert.

A little hard to find since it's on a dirt road off of Martinez Lake Rd, but worth the trip. Great visitors center with many exhibits on wildlife in the area. Information and knowledgable staff available to help plan hikes in the area and explanations of what you'll be seeing. All in all worth the trip out.

Just visited Imperial NWR near Yuma AZ. We arrived in October, a few days before the usual opening date in November. The NWR is a remote but a peaceful and beautiful location upstream from Yuma. Fortunately, the visitor center is modern and informative. On the day of our visit, there was not much wildlife to be seen. There was a captive desert tortoise visible in its pen beside the visitor center.All in all, worth the trip, even outside the usual season...

I did not feel it was hard to find but I stopped by the refuge office in Yuma (which IS hard to find, ha ha) and they gave me great directions. The Yuma Refuge Office is a really nice building with a little nature center and small shop. Good brochures for hikes and exploring in the area.Anyway, you have to PASS the big guns going north on 95 out of Yuma and go to the next exit, then follow the signs right there. Misleading signs may want you to turn at the guns, but go past to the next exit. I hiked the easy Painted Desert Trail, about 1.3 miles.I wish they had some longer hikes but they have a nice visitor center and some great landscape to see. A great way to spend a morning.

A nice place for day hikes and short walks to over looks. Lots of birds and ducks in season. Fishers landing has good food as well as standard meals at Martinez Lake Resort. Nice day trip

We tried so hard to find this place ... and never quite got there. Ihave to rate it terrible because the directins to get there are so poor. After driving around for about an hour (found the dam, found Martinez Lake), we gave up. So, it's on our "next time" through Yuma trip.

None of our three GPS's could find it and Mapquest only got us six miles away, but the signs picked it up from there. Wonderful and interesting visitors center, great staff and interesting wildlife.

Drove acroos the Dunes from Salton Sea, most interesting trip and the dunes are awesome.Returned via Interstate which also crosses the Dunes and admired the canals to transfer water.

Painted Desert is a great hike--rather easy but beautiful sites!