Flora: From a distance the rugged mountains and
washes of the Colorado Desert look stark. The land seems to be entirely devoid
of life, and baked dry by the sun’s relentless heat. However, throughout the
area dominated by Picacho Peak you will find even the most barren places are
filled with life. Plants seem to sprout from the very rock itself, and in the
springtime the delicate beauty of wildflowers is everywhere. Beavertail cactus
and ocotillo put on the most consistent display, but the variety of equally
colorful, smaller flowers is endless. Near the river the numerous backwater
lakes are lined with carrizo cane and marsh tule. Feathery-leafed tamarisk
trees, an import from Africa, have taken over many of the oasis-like flats near
the river, while desert ironwood, palo verde, cottonwood trees, mesquite, and
other shrubs, as well as succulents, and three kinds of cactus, are native to
this landscape.
Wildlife: The handsome and musical Gamble's
quail is found at Picacho in considerable numbers along with cliff swallows,
sparrows, towhees, cactus wrens, roadrunners, white-winged doves, and many other
desert-dwelling birds. Turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks live here
year-round, while in the spring and fall, thousands of migratory waterfowl can
be seen, including ducks and geese as well as blue herons, snowy egrets, ibis,
cormorants, eagles, osprey, and others.
Wildlife in the back country includes wild burros as well as
desert bighorn sheep, coyote, bobcat, raccoons, striped skunk, southern mule
deer, and smaller animals such as the antelope ground squirrel and various kinds
of mice. If you know where to look you may also find a large variety of
insects, lizards, snakes, and amphibians. Muskrat and beaver can occasionally be
seen in or near the river.
History: Archeological evidence indicates that
Indians have lived along the Colorado river and throughout the vast reaches of
the Colorado Desert for thousands of years. In historic times it was the Quechan
people who lived along this part of the river. Picacho Peak played an important
part in their myths and legends. They crossed the river on logs and rafts. The
Quechan also planted and harvested maize, beans, squash, gourds and other crops
in the moist silt of the river bottoms. Legend, general mythology and certain
kinds of moral instruction were passed along from generation to generation by
means of narrative song-cycles. The historical record notes that the Quechan
gave great importance to dream experience, were generally outgoing, friendly,
enthusiastic, and capable of great feats of endurance.
Spanish explorers, under the command of Coronado, penetrated
this part of the Colorado River Basin in 1540. However, the first attempt to
establish a permanent settlement and mission, La Purisma Concepcion at Yuma, met
with disaster when Indians rose up in 1781, destroyed the mission, and killed
all of the Spaniards including Father Garces.
Gold is said to have been discovered along the Colorado River as
early as 1862. In 1890 a large stamp mill was built close beside the river at
Picacho. Shortly afterward, the Picacho Mine was opened in the Picacho Basin
area and a narrow gauge railroad began hauling ore from the mine to the mill. In
1904, the town of Picacho boasted a population of 2,500 people. Throughout this
time the river itself was the major transportation route into and out of this
desert country. A number of large, steam-powered, paddlewheeled ferryboats
continually worked their way up and down the river. Today little evidence of
this epic, early-day activity is visible. However, just east of the campground
and park headquarters the ruins of the Picacho Mill building can still be seen.
A one-mile trail takes visitors on a self-guided hike to this historic site.
