El Rio Preserve

El Rio Preserve is a 104-acre site adjacent to the Santa Cruz River and Los Morteros Conservation Area, a Classic Period Hohokam village site with an ancient ballcourt and many other significant features related to the long-occupied site. In the 18th century, Juan Bautista de Anza and his followers camped on this site during their journey from Southern Arizona to San Francisco.

Now El Rio Preserve is a birding and nature hotspot along the northern-most part of the Pima County Chuck Huckelberry Multi-use Loop path (often called "The Loop") that connects 137 miles around the community.

Some of the many shore and riparian birds that you might see at El Rio Preserve include: Belted Kingfisher, Pied-billed Grebe, White-faced Ibis, Great Blue Heron, Black-necked Stilt, several duck species, and more. The birding remains interesting during the summer months, Bell’s Vireos nest in the tamarisk, Gilded Flickers, Lazuli Buntings, Gambel’s Quail, Greater Roadrunners, an Eastern Phoebe, and many other species have been sighted. Even sandhill cranes stop by in the late fall, presumably on their way to the Willcox Playa.

Visit Friends of El Rio Preserve for upcoming activities.

In November 2024, local photographer and birding expert Henry Johnson wrote an article about the El Rio Preserve and some of the bird species you can find there! Click here to check it out.