Camino del Diablo

Tucsontom

Adventurer
Great article and reflects my experience when we did this a few years back in January. Our experience with BP was great and I appreciate their hard work. We were the only ones out there and that was nice! Got up next to the border fence on foot, and also camped by the northern end of the Pinacate lava flow (which originates in Mexico). We had lots of wind but it did settle down at night for camp fire time. Remote desert awesomeness.
 

mep1811

Gentleman Adventurer
Not included in the online article was this section.

Planning your Adventure

Getting there:


Depending on your location, the Camino del Diablo can be run East to West or vice versa. The starting and ending points depending on your direction, is Ajo, Arizona and Yuma, Arizona.

While Yuma is a good-sized city, Ajo is a small town with limited amenities so one should plan supplies accordingly.

Upon completing the Camino, it is only a matter of jumping on either Interstate 10 or Interstate 8 to head home.

Preparation:

As with any off-road trip, performing a map recon is essential in obtaining a 30,000-foot view of the trip. In performing this recon, you see that this trip traverses the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range. You will need to plan ahead and get permits.

If you are in a group of five or more, you will need a group permit. If you are towing trailers, the wildlife refuge will need pictures. It is always best to call ahead and find out exactly what they require for your specific trip. The number for the Cabeza National Wildlife Refuge is (520)-387-6483.

There are numerous online sources of information about the Camino you can access. (See resources section.)

Cell phone coverage:

The Camino is remote and there is virtually no cellular service. Proximity to the Mexican border does result in cell phones registering on Mexican towers (TELCEL). If you do not have Mexican cell service on your cellular plan you could incur hefty expenses operating on TELCEL. It would be best to either shut off your phone or put it on airplane mode until you reach either end.

Gear:

There are no services on the Camino. Bring recovery gear, spare tire, first aid kits, everything you need off-road.

Border Patrol, federal wildlife officers and range wardens patrol the Camino but their job is not to provide road service to the unprepared. They will call help for you, and that help will be costly.

Bring clothing for all types of weather. In the desert, the weather can change drastically in a matter in hours. Bring cold weather gear and rain gear.

Due to pervasive illegal immigration activity, travelers on the Camino should have a plan for such encounters. Border Patrol agents will ask if you are armed and every agent, I’ve spoken to has always affirmed that decision.

Firearms:

Those possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on national wildlife refuges must comply with all federal, state and local laws.

Arizona is a constitutional carry state. All citizens, 21 or over, who can legally own a firearm, can carry a handgun openly or concealed without a permit or license. This applies to both residents of the state and those just visiting. No target shooting allowed.

There is no firewood along the Camino so you are encouraged to bring your firewood. Please only use existing fire rings.

In addition to paper copies of your permits, a picture of the permits on your phone is a good idea if the paper copy disappears.

Do not completely trust a GPS. There are maps available of the Camino area that will offer a better understanding of the trails and surrounding areas.

Weather:

Weather in the desert is unpredictable. Always plan for both warm and cold weather. It also rains in the desert and when it rains there is the danger of the road flooding and flash floods in arroyos.

You can check weather conditions by checking the weather in Ajo and Yuma, AZ. That will give you a good idea of weather conditions on the east and west sides of the Camino area.

Travel in the summer is not recommended due to the triple digit temperatures. Late fall to late spring are the best times to travel.



Resources:









http://www.cohp.org/personal/images..._2014/documents/CPNWR_Visitor_Regulations.pdf
 

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