Rustler Park meadow |
Overview
Rustler Park and Barfoot Park are high-elevation sites in the Chiricahua Mountains, accessible seasonally by graded dirt roads. Note that in this area "park" means "meadow;" the areas could be called Rustler Meadow and Barfoot Meadow.
The adventure starts with the drive, not with the arrival, as birding along the access roads can be very productive. The high-elevation areas are now a fire-altered landscape, and time will tell how the mountain birds respond, but look for Mexican Chickadee, Yellow-eyed Junco, Red-faced Warbler, Olive Warbler, Red Crossbill, and Band-tailed Pigeon.
Link to Rustler Park Map. |
Rustler Park fire station |
Rustler Park, proper, is a wildland fire station with a campground (closed due to hazard trees from wildfire) in a ponderosa pine forest. The campground is located near the crest of the mountains, and foot trails lead north and south from the campground along the crest of the mountains. Birding around the fire station and houses can be quite productive and less adventuresome than hiking the trails.
Rustler Park, proper, is closed to vehicles. At the gate, park by the restrooms on the left and walk into the area. The campground, on the right, is closed to all entry because of the many, standing dead trees. |
Good road signs |
Getting to Rustler Park
The Rustler Park area is accessible from Portal (via Portal Road) and from Chiricahua National Monument via Pinery Canyon Road. Both roads are steep and winding, not suitable for longer vehicles or trailers, but generally okay for sedans after the snow melts and the roads have been graded. Inquire locally about road conditions.
Driving uphill on either road, continue to Onion Saddle at the crest of the mountain range. Don't, however, be in a hurry. Drive slowly and listen for birds singing in the trees. Birding along the roads can be profitable, and especially keep an eye out for Montezuma Quail in the Pine-Oak woodlands. |
Paved road lower down |
At Onion Saddle, turn south following signs towards Rustler Park. Continue 1.6 miles to a fork in the road. Stay left to Rustler Park, or turn right to Barfoot Park. Staying left, continue 0.8 miles to a gate blocking vehicle entry into the campground and fire station area. Turn left into a large parking area with a vault toilet.
Walking up the road, pass the gate and check the Lower Rustler Spring area on the left. On the right side of the road, signs ask visitors to stay out of the campground area. Shortly, walkers pass the Rustler Park Meadow on the right (just past the campground). Staying left on the road, walkers wander into the fire station area. Staying south (left-ish) past the fire station, an old road continues south. |
The road can be smooth and easy to drive |
Getting to Barfoot Park
Barfoot Park is located north of Rustler Park.
From Onion Saddle, drive south 1.6 miles to a fork in the road. Turn right and drive about 0.6 miles to the top of a steep hill. Most drivers will stop here, but others continue down the steep hill. The road ends (another 0.4 miles) at the bottom edge of Barfoot Meadow. Barfoot Meadow is watered by Barfoot Spring.
Snow tends to linger on these north-facing slopes, so Barfoot Road can be snowed in or wet and muddy long after other roads are dry. |
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