Bird Watching
More than 300 species of birds have been seen and recorded in Graham County. Graham County birding habitats range from Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts to spruce forests…elevations from 2,400 to 10,720 feet! Numerous lakes and ponds as well as miles of rivers and streams provide outstanding riparian areas for the native and migratory bird population. Because of its location on a major Flyway, the area attracts an array of migratory birds from Central and South America. The unique combination of habitats results in a great diversity of birds - everything from American Avocets to Zonetailed Hawks can be seen. The region has the highest breeding species count in recent statewide bird atlas studies. View the birding brochure here!
Discovery Park
Discovery Park provides a variety of habitats suitable for exploration. The northeast section of the park, behind the Graveyard Wash flood control...
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Discovery park provides a variety of habitats suitable for exploration. The northeast section of the park, behind the Graveyard Wash flood control structure, has a small pond with native fish and a nice stand of cottonwood and willow trees. The pond and surrounding riparian area attract waterfowl, hummingbirds, hawks, falcons, and a variety of neotropical migrants. Trails and a wildlife viewing blind overlooking the pond enhance birding opportunities here.
Located at the southern edge of Safford.
Directions: From Hwy. 70, take 20th Avenue south to Discovery Park. Or, from highway 191, turn west on Discovery Park Blvd. and continue to 20th Avenue. Signs guide you to a parking area near the astronomical observatory.
Contact Information:
928.428.6260
Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness
Before highways and railways, before pioneers, even before Columbus... the land we know as the United States was truly a vast wilderness.
Before highways and railways, before pioneers, even before Columbus.....the land we know as the United States was truly a vast wilderness. To protect these last remaining areas, Congress created the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness. Aravaipa's outstanding scenery, desert fish and wildlife, rich history, and opportunities for primitive recreation will remain free from the influence of man and are protected in this condition for future generations. Its 19,410 acres beckon adventurers who yearn for solitude and scenic splendor.
Bonita Creek Watchable Wildlife
Bonita Creek offers some of the most outstanding birding opportunities in Southeastern Arizona.
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Bonita Creek offers some of the most outstanding birding opportunities in Southeastern Arizona. There are over 200 species of birds within the NCA. Optimum viewing season is spring and summer. This viewing deck offers a unique view at treetop levels on the rim of Bonita Creek. The deck is the only fully accessible year-round viewing area in southeast Arizona and Riverview Campground is within walking distance.
Cluff Ranch Wildlife Area
Cluff Ranch Wildlife Area was formed on December 28, 1949 when the Arizona Game and Fish Department acquired 240 acres from the General...
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Cluff Ranch Wildlife Area was formed on December 28, 1949 when the Arizona Game and Fish Department acquired 240 acres from the General Services Administration. The Department added 200 acres on September 18, 1967 and 308 acres on September 27, 1988 by patents from the Bureau of Land Management. These 748 acres were acquired at no significant cost to the Department. On March 18, 1985, the Department acquired the remaining 40 acres for $23,240 with funding associated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Federal Aid Program (Pittman-Robinson Wildlife Restoration Act). Cluff Ranch Wildlife Area is located five miles south of Pima on Ash Creek.
Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area
Hot springs, river rafting, birdwatching, and miles of trails make this National Conservation Area popular among those in the know.
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Hot springs, river rafting, birdwatching, and miles of trails make this National Conservation Area popular among those in the know. Bonita Creek wildlife viewing area is accessible and has numerous interpretive displays and shade shelters.
The 23,000-acre Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area is truly an oasis in the desert. It has four perennial waterways - the Gila and San Francisco rivers and Bonita and Eagle creeks, which are the lifeline for this remarkable place. The Gila River canyon section, known as the Gila Box, is composed of patchy mesquite woodlands, mature cottonwoods, sandy beaches, and grand buff-colored cliffs. Bonita Creek, popular for birdwatching, hiking, and picnicking, is lined with large cottonwoods, sycamores, and willows. The perennial creek and riparian vegetation make this a cool year-round desert oasis.
Cliff dwellings, historic homesteads, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and over 200 species of birds make this year-round watery desert refuge worth the short drive from Safford.
The Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area is located 20 miles northeast of Safford in Graham and Greenlee counties.
Contact Information:
711 14th Ave.
Safford, AZ 85546
928.348.4400
Swift Trail Wildlife Viewing
Isolated blocks of the Coronado National Forest are known world-wide as "Sky Islands", steep mountain ranges soaring up from a desert sea.
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Isolated blocks of the Coronado National Forest are known world-wide as “Sky Islands”, steep mountain ranges soaring up from a desert sea. This unique environment changes from Sonoran desert scrub at the lowest elevation through desert grassland, oak woodlands, ponderosa pine and mixed conifer to Engelman spruce on the highest mountain peaks.
The extreme elevation and habitat variations of the Sky Islands result in greater diversity of plants and animals than on most other Forests in the nation. Some of the more than 576 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians that call the Coronado National Forest their home are found on no other National Forest.
Wildlife on the Coronado includes: birds and other animals that provide world-class opportunities for wildlife viewing, several threatened, endangered, or sensitive species that are dependent upon Coronado habitats for their survival, and numerous big and small game species that provide abundant opportunities for the hunter.
Turkey Creek
Nestled in the northern foothills of the Galiuro Mountains of southeastern Arizona lies Turkey Creek, a small riparian canyon that flows into Aravai...
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Nestled in the northern foothills of the Galiuro Mountains of southeastern Arizona lies Turkey Creek, a small riparian canyon that flows into Aravaipa Creek. Lined with large sycamore, Arizona walnut, and Arizona white oak trees, this narrow canyon provides a quiet retreat for picnicking and camping. Numerous small pull-outs along the three-mile length of the canyon are perfect for primitive camping. Day hiking is easy along the canyon bottom, a jumping off point to the east entrance of Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness. Colorful birds, as well as an occasional deer, javelina, or even a coatimundi, can be seen on early morning walks along the dirt road. A short trail leads to a prehistoric cliff dwelling; remnants of 120 years of homesteading and ranching are visible in the canyon. Due to its rich natural and cultural resources, part of Turkey Creek has been identified as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern by BLM.
