Butcher Jones
Nestled along Saguaro Lake and the Salt River, Butcher Jones Recreation Site is an unforgettable waterfront destination. It is good for spotting both water and land birds. The Butcher Jones Trail (#463) found at the southeast end of the parking lot is good for viewing birds and the lake.
One spot that will often produce many species is located near the northwest end of the parking lot where there are picnic tables and a wash. Another desert wash is located by the southwest end of the parking lot and can be very productive in all seasons.
Site Information
Region: Phoenix and Central
County: Maricopa
Directions: Address: Butcher Jones Recreation Site, E Butcher Jones Beach Rd, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264 From Phoenix, take 202 East and take exit 13 onto AZ-87 N. Stay on AZ-87 for about 22 miles and take exit 199 and turn right. Continue for three miles until you see signs for Butcher Jones Recreation Area on the left. Follow the road until you reach the parking lot.
Latitude: 33.5758784
Longitude: -111.5154147
Operational Hours:
Admission or Fees: $8.00 day use fee, or Discovery pass and America the Beautiful pass.
Best time to visit: Extremely busy area with limited parking, especially during the spring and summer for water sports.
Habitats: Desert, Lake or Pond
Know Before You Go
Beach and picnic area is handicap accessible but not the trails.
Safety First! Arizona has many beautiful places to explore and we’d like to help you make it a safe and enjoyable experience. Check out our recommendations for hiking precautions.
Species Highlights
Speciality: Abert’s Towhee, Acorn Woodpecker, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Canyon Wren, Costa’s Hummingbird, Gilded Flicker, Lucy’s Warbler, Mexican Duck, Pyrrhuloxia, Sage Thrasher, Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
Charismatic: American Kestrel, Anna’s Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Black-throated Sparrow, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Gambel’s Quail, Gila Woodpecker, Greater Roadrunner, Lesser Goldfinch, Loggerhead Shrike, Phainopepla, Ruby-crowned Kinglet , Summer Tanager, Verdin, Vermilion Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, White-winged Dove, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Contact Information
Tonto National Forest - Mesa Ranger District
US Forest Service
2324 E. McDowell Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85006
Phone: 480-610-3300
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tonto/recarea/?recid=35415
Additional Resources
Learn more about birds reported at this location at eBird:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L357591
Additional Resources:
Birding Butcher Jones
