Difficulty: Moderate (Will include walking in the dark on paved road & wide trails. Bring a flashlight or headlamp to see where you are putting your feet. Total distance is about 1 mile.)
This state park is on the northwest side of Tucson and sits adjacent to the western slopes of the Coronado National Forest’s Santa Catalina Mountains. The mixture of Saguaro-Palo Verde desert scrub, mesquite bosque, and riparian vegetation makes great habitat for Western Screech-Owl, Elf Owl, Barn Owl and Great Horned Owl and other nocturnal creatures. While these species are possibilities, this is late in the season and seeing/hearing owls is not guaranteed. Be mindful that monsoon conditions could impact this outing. If clouds are minimal, the stars are fantastic! We’ll also look for any other monsoon critters that love the cool of the evening and the warmth of the road. We will go at a slow pace and be sure to bring a full water bottle and be prepared for hot weather. Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is about 40 minutes. Specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.
Elf Owl by Jeremy Hayes