Tucson - American Southwest - page 386

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There are lots of great mountain bike rides in the Tucson area, too. For an easy and
very scenic dirt-road loop through forests of saguaros, head to the west unit of Saguaro
National Park (p. 375and ride the 6-mile Bajada Loop Drive. You can turn this into a
12-mile ride (half on paved road) by starting at the Red Hills Visitor Center.
BIRD WATCHING Southern Arizona has some of the best bird-watching in the coun-
try, and although the best spots are south of Tucson, there are a few places around the
city that birders will enjoy seeking out. Call the Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird
Alert ( & 520/798-1005; www.tucsonaudubon.org) to find out which birds have been
spotted in the area lately.
The city's premier birding spot is the Sweetwater Wetland, a man-made wetland just
west of I-10 and north of Prince Road. These wetlands were created as part of a waste-
water treatment facility and now have an extensive network of trails that wind past
numerous ponds and canals. There are several viewing platforms and enough different
types of wildlife habitat that the area attracts a wide variety of bird species. To find the
wetlands, take I-10 south to the Prince Road exit, and at the end of the exit ramp, turn
right onto Sweetwater Drive. If you're driving west on Prince Road, go to the end of the
road, turn right on Business Center Drive, turn left on River Park Road (which becomes
Commerce Dr.), take the first left (probably unmarked), and then turn left again on
Sweetwater Drive.
Roy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Regional Park, 12325 E. Roger Rd. (off N. Soldier
Trail), in the northeast corner of the city, is another great place to do some birding. The
year-round warm springs here are a magnet for dozens of species, including waterfowl,
great blue herons, black phoebes, soras, and vermilion flycatchers. To find the park, fol-
low Tanque Verde Road east 6 miles from the intersection with Sabino Canyon Road and
turn left onto Soldier Trail. Watch for signs.
Other good places include Sabino Canyon Recreation Area (p. 375), the path to the
waterfall at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort (p. 357), and the Rillito River path between
Craycroft and Swan roads.
The best bird-watching anywhere in the immediate Tucson area is at Madera
Canyon , which is in Coronado National Forest ( & 520/281-2296; www.fs.fed.us/
r3/coronado), about 40 miles south of the city. Because of the year-round water here,
Madera Canyon attracts a surprising variety of bird life. Avid birders from around the
country flock to this canyon in hopes of spotting more than a dozen species of hum-
mingbirds and an equal number of flycatchers, warblers, tanagers, buntings, grosbeaks,
and many rare birds not found in any other state. However, before birding became a hot
activity, this canyon was popular with families looking to escape the heat down in Tuc-
son, and the shady picnic areas and trails still get a lot of use by those who don't carry
binoculars. If you're heading out for the day, arrive early—parking is very limited. To
reach Madera Canyon, take the Continental Road/Madera Canyon exit off I-19; from
the exit, it's another 12 miles southeast. The canyon is open daily from dawn to dusk for
day use; there is a $5 day-use fee. There's also a campground (Bog Springs Campground;
$10 per night; reservations not accepted).
GOLF Although there aren't quite as many golf courses in Tucson as in Phoenix, this is
still a golfer's town. For last-minute tee-time reservations, contact Standby Golf ( & 800/
655-5345; www.discountteetimes.com). No fee is charged for this service.
In addition to public and municipal links, numerous resort courses allow nonguests
to play. Perhaps the most famous of these are the two 18-hole courses at Ventana Canyon

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