Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area in California that provides vital habitat for desert wildlife, including endangered species and offers opportunities for birdwatching and nature observation.

Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard calls the Coachella Valley Refuge home because it holds most of the essential habitat in the Coachella Valley Preserve. This endangered species can only be found in a few specific places, including the Refuge Dune System and surrounding areas. The Refuge is also the only large tract protected from competing recreational usage.

However, this system is at risk due to the harm that development poses to sand sources and their movement patterns. To ensure the safety of the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, which is on the federal list of endangered species, the Coachella Valley Refuge is closed to the public nearly entirely.  

On the other hand, a trail may be used by horseback riders that pass through a portion of the Refuge. The Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex includes a component of the Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge and other national wildlife refuges.

Ten miles to the east of Palm Springs, amid the rapidly growing Coachella Valley, may be found the 3,276 acres that make up the Refuge. The broader Coachella Valley Preserve includes the Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge as one of its parts.

Location: California, USA

Phone Number: 760-348-5278

Email: BLM_CA_Web_PS@blm.gov

Management: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Area: 15.01 km²

Established: 1985