Overview

There are many riparian corridors in Arizona, and perhaps the Hassayampa River Preserve is a favorite place for birdwatching only because I travel the highway between Phoenix and Las Vegas more often than I travel other highways through riparian corridors, but even so, this is a great place to bird during the warmer months. This is just north of the Hassayampa Roadside Rest Area, another great place to stop and bird while driving through the area.

The preserve is open Wednesday to Sunday, the staff is friendly, the area is nicely cared for, the trails are marked and easy, and one trail is fully accessible -- all for only $5/person/day. Feel free to donate more because income supports the area. Chat up the staff and check the "recent sightings" board to learn what birds to expect, and be sure to pick up a Trail Guide and a Bird List (if the links don't work, snatch a PDF here: guide, list).

Link to site map.

Description

Hassayampa is a Native American word that translates to "upside down river." While the Hassayampa River runs all year, it runs underground (under the sand, not on top of the sand) most of the time. Despite the apparently dry wash, water flowing below the surface supports a spring-fed lake and large stands of cottonwood trees, true willows, and desert willow along the edge of the wash and a fringe of velvet mesquite (Neltuma [Prosopis] velutina), saltbush, and other desert shrubs along the margin. The surrounding vegetation is typical of Arizona uplands desert with a variety of shrubs, paloverde trees, and saguaro cactus.

The Nature Conservancy, in conjunction with Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department, operates the Hassayampa River Preserve, a 770-acre natural area along the Hassayampa River just north of the Hassayampa Roadside Rest Area.

This area is a great place to bird a riparian cottonwood-willow forest during warmer months. Visitors can stroll trails through the forest, sit quietly on the edge of Palm Lake, or just sit in front of the Visitor Center and listen to birds singing in the trees while watching hummingbirds, orioles, thrashers, and woodpeckers come to feed.

Walking the trails, summer birders should expect to see Mallard Duck, Gambel's Quail, Turkey Vulture, American Coot, Mourning Dove, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Common Raven, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Phainopepla, Lucy's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Abert's Towhee, Summer Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Hooded Oriole, House Finch, and Lesser Goldfinch.

On the trails, summer visitors should also expect to see Zebratail Lizards, Sonoran Tiger Whiptail Lizards (Aspidoscelis tigris punctilinealis), and perhaps Side-blotched Lizards, Horned Lizards, Gilbert Skink, Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Lowland Leopard Frogs, and even fish (Longfin Dace).

This area is particularly good for Las Vegas birders because this is the northern-most, easy to access, place to see species harder to find at home. For example, Gila Woodpeckers, Northern Cardinals, and Summer Tanagers are common here.

Location

Hassayampa River Preserve is located about 3 miles south of Wickenburg, Arizona, on the west side of Highway U.S. 60/93. From the southern traffic circle in Wickenburg, drive south on the main highway 3.4 miles to Hassayampa Road (33.93303, -112.69505), on the right. When approaching Hassayampa Road, look for wildlife viewing symbol-signs (binocular signs), and when turning onto Hassayampa Road, look for the ranch-gate sign announcing the area.

Continuing south, it is only 2.1 miles to Hassayampa Roadside Rest Area.

Hours

Summer (May 1 - October 31): Wednesday through Sunday, 7 AM to 4 PM. Trails close at 3:30 pm.

Winter (November 1 - April 30): Wednesday through Sunday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Trails close at 5:00 pm.

Fees

General admission is $5; kids 12 and under get in free.

For More Information

For more information, contact Hassayampa River Preserve or Maricopa County Parks.

Specialties

Vermilion Flycatchers, Cactus Wrens, and neotropical migrants (Summer Tanager and Lucy's Warblers) are common during summer. Red-shouldered Hawks nest in the Nature Conservancy area, the only known nesting site in Arizona, and Gray Hawk and Common Black Hawk nest in the area. Zone-tailed Hawk, an uncommon species present throughout the year, can be seen here too. Keep a keen eye out for Black Vulture, a rare species here, but one that may be moving north as the climate warms.