Outdoor Science and Learning

Birdwatching, nature-viewing, interpretive sites, and more. 

Viewing Wildlife

Over 400 species of birds can be found in the sky islands of the Coronado National Forest including species found nowhere else in the United States.  Cave Creek Canyon, Madera Canyon, and Ramsey Canyon are renowned bird watching areas.  Tucson Bird Alliance provides additional information about birds in Southeastern Arizona.

There are also nature viewing opportunities at Sabino Canyon.

Viewing Plants

The Coronado National Forest’s sky island mountain ranges feature diverse plant communities from deserts and grasslands to conifer forests and mountain meadows. For visitors who would like to learn more about the plants, the Coronado offers interpretive trails in both Madera Canyon and Sabino Canyon.

Viewing Scenery

The Coronado National Forest’s sky island mountain ranges offer dramatic scenery including towering saguaro cacti, shady pine forests, picturesque historic sites, and panoramic vistas. 

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Recreation Opportunities

Cultural Sites/Exhibits (4)

Interpretive Areas/Exhibits (18)

Viewing Plants (34)

Viewing Scenery (53)

Viewing Wildlife (45)

Visitor Centers (6)

Showing: 1 - 10 of 83 results

Arcadia National Recreation Trail #328

Because of the notable views it offers, Arcadia Trail has been designated a National Recreation Trail, placing it among the most outstanding trails in the nation. Most people travel this popular…

Arizona Highway #83 to Montezuma Pass Scenic Drive

The drive from Sonoita to Montezuma Pass passes through an area of rolling hills and shallow canyons where distant mountain ranges mark the horizons. About midway through the drive, Parker Canyon…

Babad Do’ag Vista

The Babad Do'ag Vista (Observation Site) provides a view across Tucson to all the major mountain ranges. The name Babad Do'ag is Tohono O'odham for "frog mountain." From the Tucson valley, the Santa…

Bear Canyon Trail #299

Bear Canyon Trail provides access to four Forest trails that lead down the mountain from Ladybug Saddle, Ladybug Trail #329, Dutch Henry Canyon Trail #297, Turkey Flat Trail #330, and Ladybug Peak…

Bog Springs #156

This is a very pleasant .9 mile one-way moderate hike along a rocky uphill trail through green grasses, big trees, and long-distance views. It is located conveniently close to Bog Springs…

Bog Springs Campground

Site Open

Bog Springs offers some exceptional scenery, either right from your campsite or a short walk away. Many visitors unfamiliar with Arizona will be surprised by the high grasslands that climb the slopes…

Brown Canyon Nature Trail

Slow down and step back in time at Brown Canyon Ranch, where this short 1-mile loop trail systems winds you around ponds frequented by birds, large mammals, and amphibians. 

Brown Canyon Ranch

Brown Canyon Ranch offers a glimpse back in time and ample opportunities for an enjoyable day with the family.  Located on the northeastern flanks of the Huachuca Mountains just outside Sierra…

Camp Rucker Historic Site

This remote site, tucked at the confluence of Cottonwood and Rucker Canyons in the southern Chiricahua Mountains, harbors fascinating history revealing hundreds of years of human use of this…

Canelo Ranger Residence

Site Open

The Canelo Ranger Residence is a single-story, two-bedroom bungalow at the base of the Canelo Hills, approximately 15 miles southeast of Sonoita, Arizona. The building, also known as the Canelo "Big…