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Preserves & Conservation Areas
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area
Under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area contains nearly 57,000 acres of public land, stretching some 40 miles in a narrow band from Sierra Vista to St. David near I-10.
Designated by Congress in 1988, the region is specially designated to protect an extensive network of similar riparian systems throughout the American Southwest. One of the most important riparian areas in the United States, the San Pedro River runs through the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts in southeastern Arizona.
The Conservation Area is home to more than 80 species of mammals, two native species and several introduced species of fish, more than 40 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 100 species of breeding birds. It also provides invaluable habitat for 250 species of migrant and wintering birds and contains archaeological sites representing human occupation from 13,000 years ago.
The area provides ample opportunities for wildlife viewing, as well as visiting historic and prehistoric sites. Picnickers, hikers, and equestrians are welcome, and primitive camping is allowed in approved areas. Saturday morning guided walks are provided by Friends of the San Pedro, starting from the San Pedro House.
Visiting the San Pedro
Most visitors start at the San Pedro House, but you can also gain trailhead access at the Fairbank and Millville ghost towns, the Hereford Road bridge, and the Palominas Bridge on Highway 92.
Ramsey Canyon Preserve
Southeastern Arizona is an ecological crossroads, where the Sierra Madre of Mexico, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts all come together. The abrupt rise of the Huachuca Mountains create “sky islands” that harbor extraordinary habitat diversity and form stepping stones to the tropics. This combination of factors gives Ramsey Canyon Preserve its notable variety of plant and animal life, like the Apache and Chihuahua pines, ridge-nosed rattlesnake, lesser long-nosed bat, elegant trogon, and berylline and violet-crowned hummingbirds.
A spring-fed stream, northeast orientation, and high canyon walls provide Ramsey Canyon with a moist, cool environment unusual in the desert Southwest. Water-loving plants such as sycamores, maples, and columbines line the banks of Ramsey Creek, often growing within a few feet of cacti, yucca, and agaves. Communities ranging from semi-desert grassland to pine-fir forest are found within the vicinity of Ramsey Canyon Preserve.
Visiting the Preserve
Visit any time of year and experience the seasonal changes, from scenery to avian visitors, from insect to animal life. This ever-changing preserve is always a must-see stop!
The best months for birding at the preserve are April through September. Spring weather is unpredictable, though usually cool and dry. Early summer is generally dry and warm. In July and August, brief afternoon rainstorms can be a daily occurrence. Fall days are cool and bright. Occasional snows from late November through late March bring a dramatic change in the scenery.
Ramsey Canyon Preserve offers guided walks from March through November on an easy, shady trail. Guides share the lively natural and cultural history of the canyon. You’ll likely spot a few deer, hummingbirds, reptiles, and insects. The preserve is open all year, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. $8 per person, $5 for Nature Conservancy members and Cochise County residents, free admission for children under 13.