Picacho State Recreation Area: Stamp Mill and Ice Cream Canyon Trails

Picacho State Recreation Area beckons the visitor with spectacular Colorado River and Colorado Desert scenery. Colorful canyons, rugged volcanic peaks and isolated backwater lakes are among the diverse landforms of this obscure park located in the Colorado River Basin on the California- Arizona border. In spring and fall, Picacho is the place to view migratory waterfowl, including egrets, blue herons and a multitude of ducks. Perhaps the showiest of the winged congregants along the Colorado River is the Canada goose— a stirring sight and an unmistakable sound. Hikers often spot large animals roaming the park: mule deer, coyotes and feral burros. Some lucky hikers even get fleeting glimpses of the elusive big horn sheep. Three park inhabitants always seem to be in a hurry, even in the heat: quail, raccoons and roadrunners. For most visitors, Picacho is a nine-month park. During the mid and late summer months, Picacho is extremely hot place. Its low elevation and southerly positioning means temperatures routinely reach 105 to 115 degrees in high summer. Rangers report that mosquito season extends from April through July. The pesky bugs are particularly thick and annoying on the shores by the area’s still backwater lakes. The park’s main dirt road twists through ironwood-filled washes and offers vistas of the mighty Colorado River. Towering above it all is park namesake 1,942-foot Picacho Peak, a plug-dome volcano.