Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center

The Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center is in the heart of Phoenix’s Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, a 600-acre park in the historic Salt River corridor. Located less than two miles from downtown Phoenix, the Center is a gateway to a lush Sonoran riparian habitat used by more than 200 species of birds and other wildlife. The Center hosts interactive exhibits, an interpretive loop trail and connections to the Rio Salado Restoration Habitat Area’s sixteen miles of trails

Site Information

Region: Phoenix and Central

County: Maricopa

Directions: Address: 3131 S. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85040 Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area Trailheads: NE 7th Ave. Trailhead - 2801 S. 7th Ave NE Central Ave. Trailhead - 2439 S. Central Ave SE Central Ave. Trailhead - 3131 S. Central Ave SE 7th St. Trailhead - 2875 S. 7th St SW 7th Ave. Trailhead - 3212 S. 7th Ave 16th St. Trailhead - 3203 S. 16th St

Latitude: 33.42175
Longitude: -112.073306

Operational Hours: Other

Other Operational Hours: Audubon Center - regular business hours and Rio Salado Habitat Restoration trails open all year dawn to dusk

Admission or Fees: None

Best time to visit:Best birding is Fall, Winter, Spring

Habitats: Desert, Lake or Pond, Stream or river, Urban or Suburban park

Know Before You Go

The paved path that runs through the restoration area is the primary path to walk along and has numerous steep slopes.

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, Bendire’s Thrasher, Costa’s Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Charismatic: American Kestrel, Anna’s Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Black-throated Sparrow, Burrowing Owl, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Gambel’s Quail, Gila Woodpecker, Greater Roadrunner, Lesser Goldfinch, Loggerhead Shrike, Ruby-crowned Kinglet , Summer Tanager, Verdin, Western Kingbird, White-winged Dove, Yellow-headed Blackbird

Contact Information

National Audubon Society
City of Phoenix Parks Department
3131 S. Central Ave.
Phoenix, Arizona 85018

Phone: 602-468-6470

Website: https://riosalado.audubon.org/

Email: riosalado@audubon.org

Additional Resources

Learn more about birds reported at this location at eBird:
https://ebird.org/barchart?byr=1900&eyr=2021&bmo=1&emo=12&r=L282140

Additional Resources: City of Phoenix - Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area

Birding Without Barriers

Image Gallery