Willcox Playa National Natural Landmark

About Willcox Playa National Natural Landmark

The Willcox Dry Lake or Playa, the largest “dry lake” in Arizona, is a remnant of the pluvial Lake Cochise. Unlike similar dry lakes, the black mud below the surface contains a rich fossil pollen record of the pluvial periods of the Pleistocene epoch, a significant geological period that lasted from approximately 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago. The site has become a seasonal night-time roosting area for 4,000-8,000 sandhill cranes and contains the greatest variety of tiger beetles in the United States. The playa has also been an area of interest for scientists who study how plants adapt to playa conditions and has been the scene of studies on the prehistoric pollen deposits. Several rare and endemic species of crustaceans are also known from the playa. The Wilcox Playa is important both on a national and local scale. A portion of the playa is a National Natural Landmark (NNL), designated in 1966 at 2,369 acres. The playa is also an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) to protect the values at risk. The playa’s botanical, cultural and wildlife values are sensitive, rare, unique and vulnerable to adverse change. The Safford Field Office currently manages the Willcox Playa NNL/ACEC for: Non-motorized vehicle useVisual character of the landscape, allowing a low level of visual change The following are not allowed on the playa: Wood cuttingRights-of-way issued through the areaThe BLM also recommends that no fires be made on the playa surface and minimal surface disturbance be made to the playa. Target shooting is also not recommended due to the lack of backstops and the proximity to roads and buildings. The BLM promotes responsible recreation on your public lands by encouraging you to stay on designated routes and pack out what you pack in.In the vicinity of the dry lake is the Willcox Playa Wildlife Area, administered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). The location boasts rich wildlife and hosts the annual January birding festival Wings Over Wil

How to Get There

From Willcox, AZ and for access mostly on paved roads, head southwest and continue straight on I-10 BL W/S Haskell Ave for 3.4 miles. Turn right and cross over the highway overpass (signs for I-10/US-191/Tucson). Then turn left to merge onto I-10 W/US-191 S toward Tucson/Douglas and continue for 4.5 miles. Take exit 331 for US-191 S toward Sunsites/Douglas and continue for 4.2 miles. Turn left onto S. Railroad Ave. at the gap in the guard rail before the bridge. There is no street sign and S. Railroad Ave. is unpaved and rarely maintained. The S. Railroad Ave. can also be used to access the playa directly from Willcox by traveling south for eight miles but is unpaved and unmaintained. Not recommended for passenger vehicles. From Tucson, take the I-10 E toward El Paso. Take exit 331 for US-191 S toward Sunsites/Douglas and continue for 4.2 miles. Turn left onto S. Railroad Ave and continue until you arrive at the playa.

Plan Your Visit to Willcox Playa National Natural Landmark

Heading to Willcox Playa National Natural Landmark? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)