Walks

River Walks

The San Pedro River, a narrow green oasis rippling through desert grassland, is one of the last wild rivers in the Southwest and one of the most endangered. These 3-hour guided walks through desert grassland and among towering cottonwood trees will introduce you to the birds and other wildlife that make their homes in the sanctuary of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. River Walks depart from Casa de San Pedro Bed & Breakfast.

$10 per person for members of SABO and/or Friends of the San Pedro River and/or guests of Casa de San Pedro Bed & Breakfast, $15 for non-members. Participation is limited, and reservations are required; pre-paid registration is refundable only if unforeseen circumstances force SABO to cancel the walk. River Walks take place weekly from late March/early April through May. Please check SABO's calendar of events for dates and registration.

Canyon Walks

The canyons of the Huachuca Mountains are home to some of southeastern Arizona's most beautiful birds, including Magnificent Hummingbird, Painted Redstart, Red-faced Warbler, and Scott's Oriole, plus an amazing variety of other wildlife. These 4-hour guided walks will introduce you to the birds and other wildlife of Miller Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains. Canyon Walks begin at Beatty's Guest Ranch & Orchard at the end of Miller Canyon Road and explore moderately challenging trails in the Coronado National Forest Miller Peak Wilderness Area.

$15 per person for members of SABO and/or Friends of the San Pedro River and/or guests of Beatty's Guest Ranch, $20 for non-members. Participation is limited, and reservations are highly recommended; pre-paid registration is refundable only if unforeseen circumstances force SABO to cancel the walk. Canyon Walks take place on an approximately weekly schedule from late March/early April through May and July through September. Please check SABO's calendar of events for dates and registration. Personalized tours of Miller Canyon for individuals and groups are available with advance arrangements.

Whitewater Wetlands Walks

These 2-hour bird walks take place at the Arizona Game & Fish Department's Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area between Bisbee and Elfrida, an oasis for breeding and migrating birds and winter home to hawks, eagles, falcons, owls, waterfowl, songbirds, and thousands of Sandhill Cranes. Walks begin at 9 a.m. and are followed from November through early March by a 2-hour Sandhill Crane Watch (free). 

$5 per person for members of SABO, $10 for non-members. Participation is limited, and reservations are recommended for these walks; pre-paid registration is refundable only if unforeseen circumstances force SABO to cancel the walk. Whitewater Wetlands Walks take place on an approximately weekly basis from late November through early April; please check SABO's calendar of events for dates and registration. Personalized tours of Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area for individuals and groups are available with advance arrangements.

Owl Prowls

Five species of small owls nest in the "sky islands" of southeastern Arizona, but they can be difficult to find and identify. Join a SABO naturalist on a no-tapes moonlight walk in search of Elf Owls, Whiskered Screech-Owls, and othert night creatures.

Two-hour Huachuca Mountain Owl Prowls take place in lower Miller Canyon. These walks are typically offered once or twice per month from late March through May, depending on the timing of the full moon. Ninety-minute Mule Mountain Owl Prowls take place at SABO's Banning Creek Field Station on an approximately weekly basis from from late March through May. Owl Prowls begin with an introduction to owling ethics and the natural history, behavior, and identification of the small owls of southeastern Arizona.

Huachuca Mountain Owl Prowl: $15 per person for members of SABO, $20 for non-members. Mule Mountain Owl Prowl: $10 per person for members of SABO, $15 for non-members. Participation is limited to 10, and reservations are required; pre-paid registration is refundable only if unforeseen circumstances force SABO to cancel the walk. Please check SABO's calendar of events for dates of upcoming Owl Prowls. Personalized Owl Prowls for individuals and groups are available with advance arrangements.

EOP Walks

In cooperation with the City of Sierra Vista, SABO, the Friends of the San Pedro River, and Huachuca Audubon Society offer volunteer-led 2-hour birding tours of the wastewater wetlands at the Environmental Operations Park on the city's east side. These Sunday morning tours begin at 8 a.m. from October through March and 7 a.m. from April through September. The tours explore areas normally off limits to the public.

Free. Participation is limited and on a first-come first-served basis; reservations are not accepted. Special tours are available for groups of 6 or more with advance arrangements; for more information on group tours, contact SABO.