San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge
The 2,369-acre refuge along the international border with Mexico in southeast Arizona’s Cochise County was established in 1982 to protect what remained of the unique wetlands of the San Bernardino ciénega, a wetland that was historically considered the largest, most extensive in the region. This large marsh serves as a migratory corridor for wildlife between the mountain ranges of Mexico and the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico. Slaughter Ranch is a disjunct part of the refuge located in Douglas, AZ. Vagrants such as Blue Mockingbird, Crescent-chested Warbler, and Yellow Grosbeak have been found on the refuge.
Site Information
Region: Tucson and Southern
County: Cochise
Directions: Refuge headquarters is located separate from the refuge, 12 miles north of Douglas, AZ. GPS Coordinates for refuge main gate: 31.34558 N, 109.28302 W. GPS Coordinates for refuge headquarters: 31.50894 N, 109.65125 W.
Latitude: 31.355848
Longitude: -109.261477
Operational Hours: Other
Other Operational Hours: Refuge Headquarters is open Mon.-Fri. 7:30AM-4:00PM and is located separately from the refuge. Refuge itself is open during daylight hours.
Admission or Fees: None
Best time to visit: Birding is excellent all year but different seasons offer different birds. Waterfowl are present in winter. March-May is best for migrants. May-September is best for breeding species.
Habitats: Desert, Marsh or Wetland, Stream or river
Know Before You Go
Carry plenty of water, especially in summer. Some parts of the refuge do not have cell phone reception within the U.S. Cell phone connections to Mexico are likely, which require international calling charges.
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: Gray Hawk, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Charismatic: Summer Tanager, Vermilion Flycatcher
Contact Information
US Fish & Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 3509
Douglas, AZ 85607
Phone: 520-364-2104
Website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/san_bernardino/
Additional Resources
Learn more about birds reported at this location at eBird:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L129077
Additional Resources:
Coronado National Forest
