Ramsey Canyon Preserve - A Hidden Treasure in the Huachuca Mountains of Arizona - Bird Watching Paradise

Off the beaten path in the Huachuca Mountains of Southeastern Arizona is the little known canyon preserve known as Ramsey Canyon (it is located right outside of Sierra Vista, AZ).  If you've never had the pleasure of visiting this untouched oasis in the desert, you have no idea of what you've been missing, but I'll do my best to lay it out for you.

In the parking lot, as we get out of the car there are deer grazing right in front of us!  They were totally undisturbed by our presence!

We entered the little gift shop where we paid for our entrance into the canyon.  The last time we were there it was a $6 entrance fee that was good for up to 7 days, and $3 if you are a Cochise County resident. It's free for anyone 16 and under and for everyone the first Saturday of the month. Their hours are from 8 AM to 5 PM Thursday through Monday November through February.  They haven't posted their spring/summer hours for 2016 as of yet (or at least I haven't seen them).  The ladies in the gift shop were more than helpful on telling us which birds were out and where to look for them.


Exiting out the back door of the shop, we entered Ramsey Canyon and were greeted by another friendly resident.

Following a trail that ran alongside a babbling brook up a hillside covered in large deciduous trees with leaves turning red and yellow in the cool fall air, it became very clear that this was not your typical Arizona desert canyon!  Hundreds of birds chattered away in the trees, as the water of the brook splashed energetically over the rocks, along with the deep, hoarse croaking of the frogs made the whole place come alive with activity.  We felt like we had entered another world; and really we had.  We were in their world now.  But they were use to visitors.  The wildlife here didn't seem bothered by our presence, as they went about their activities, and it felt wonderful to be absorbed in it.

                                                                           












There was more to be seen as we continued on. We were able to get our first sighting of a ladderback woodpercker:  You can barely see him here in this tree.    
As we continued, we looked back to see the mountain behind us.  It was impressive as well:
  We were really amazed how you can have deciduous trees, palm trees, evergreen trees, and cacti all in one place.  Ramsey Canyon Preserve is truly a place you will not want to miss!  If you can go, plan to spend the day!

Here's a couple of links that might help: The Nature Conservancy: Ramsey Canyon Preserve: http://www.wbu.com/pathways/ramsey.html and Birding Ramsey Canyon: http://www.ramseycanyoninn.com/BIRDING.html.

#birding, #hiking, #travel, #Arizona, #Huachuca, #SierraVista, #wildlife, #RamseyCanyon