Montosa Canyon with Carol Allen-Rasoul

Trip Difficulty: Up to 2 miles: Trail conditions– Most of the hike is slightly uphill, there is a steep downhill at the start (so uphill at the end).  Some paved, mostly hard-packed dirt. If attendee doesn’t feel physically up to the hike, your car can be driven along the route.

Montosa Canyon has become a favorite birding “hotspot” in SE Arizona. 196 bird species have been recorded there.  It has wonderful views and a fascinating mix of plant life,  Grasses, mesquite, hackberry and sumac shrubs, several evergreen oak species and abundant wildflowers, provide plentiful food for various bird species.  It’s an always busy birding spot, with rarities like: Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Five-striped Sparrows.  Also frequently seen are Rock and Canyon Wrens, Hutton Vireos, Thrushes and Robins along with Bell’s Vireo, Rufous-Crowned Sparrow and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers.   Wildlife abounds and Mt Lions have been seen crossing the road.

The Visitors Center at Fred Whipple Observatory is open for tours on selected Fridays. The Nature Trail and Picnic area have rest rooms and water but water isn’t potable, so bring plenty of drinking water. There is a small nature trail in the picnic area.

MEET UP INFO:
De Anza Trailhead Parking Lot on Elephant Head Rd; From Tucson, take I-19 South to Exit 56, Canoa Ranch Road. Follow the circle and take E. Frontage Rd, just after freeway bridge. In 3 miles, turn left onto W. Elephant Head Road. Drive about 0.3 miles and on the left is the De Anza trailhead Parking lot.  Please plan to arrive at parking by 6:20. If anyone wishes to carpool the last 8 miles to Fred Whipple Observatory Visitors Center, we will drive out of the parking lot, continuing up W Elephant Head Road, 1.3 miles to Mt Hopkins Rd. This will take about 15-20 minutes, if we do not stop to check for sparrows along the way. Loggerhead shrikes are common also. From the Visitors Center parking lot we will head up the mountain to the 1K road marker (an eBird hotspot).

Leader: Carol Allen-Rasoul

Limited to 10 participants.

Header Image: Five-striped Sparrow by Richard Fray