Peña Blanca Canyon
Birding Pena Blanca Canyon provides birders with the quintessential Sky Island experience but without the crowds associated with Madera Canyon. Easy walking without significant elevation gain, one can find most of the target birds associated with this habitat, including Montezuma Quail, Elegant Trogon, Hepatic Tanager, Arizona Woodpecker, and Painted Redstart. While you’ll find lots of solitude here, you’ll likely not be alone, as you will soon find yourself escorted by the ever-present and noisy flocks of Mexican Jays. Other more common residents of no less interest include Hutton’s Vireo, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, and Varied Bunting. More recently, Rufous-capped Warblers have also been found breeding in the canyon and can present a challenging target for visiting birders to find.
Site Information
Region: Tucson and Southern
County: Santa Cruz
Directions: From I-19 Highway just north of Nogales, turn right/west on Ruby Road exit #12. Continue west, past the turn-off to Pena Blanca Lake. In a short distance a large corral on the south will be evident and turn here on FR4195 which takes you into Pena Blanca Canyon. Park anywhere along here and bird along the old road continuing south in the canyon all the way to the border.
Latitude: 31.388673
Longitude: -111.092861
Operational Hours: Open all year, 24 hours a day
Admission or Fees: None
Best time to visit: Any time of year can be productive here for many of the target species.
Habitats: Pinyon-juniper Forest
Know Before You Go
Ruby Road is accessible by most sedans but this location is remote and outside cell phone service, so be prepared for issues that might arise.
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
Rare: Elegant Trogon
Speciality: Arizona Woodpecker, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hepatic Tanager, Lucy’s Warbler, Mexican Jay, Montezuma’s Quail, Painted Redstart, Varied Bunting
Charismatic: Greater Roadrunner
Contact Information
Coronado National Forest
300 W Congress St
Tucson, AZ 85701
Phone: 520-388-8300
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/coronado
Additional Resources
Learn more about birds reported at this location at eBird:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L814321
