Sheep’s Crossing
This lesser-know area is one of the better birding location on the Salt River due to a .5 mile willow-lined fork on the south bank. Northern Waterthrush and Painted Redstart have been found at this migrant trap. Look for Crissal Thrasher west of the fork which includes desert, mesquite, and riparian habitats.
Sheep’s Crossing is an overflow recreation site on Memorial Day Weekend and Fourth of July Weekend when all other sites are full. If closed, you can still access the area and river’s edge by parking on the shoulder of Bush Highway and walking down the road.
Site Information
Region: Phoenix and Central
County: Maricopa
Directions: From Mesa, travel 7 miles east on the Superstition Freeway (US 60) to Power Road/Bush Highway/Forest Road (FR) 204 and turn north. Follow Bush Highway for 13 miles to the site just west of Blue Point Bridge. The entire route is paved. Park at the Great Wester Trailhead on the south side of Bush Highway between mile markers 28 and 29. There are no road signs, but there are two signs at the trail head: "Great Western Trailhead" and "Bulldog Canyon Off Highway Area."
Latitude: 33.5533408
Longitude: -111.5876198
Operational Hours: Open all year, 24 hours a day
Admission or Fees: $8 Tonto Daily Pass, Tonto Discovery Pass, or America the Beautiful Pass
Habitats: Desert, Stream or river
Know Before You Go
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, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Canyon Wren, Costa’s Hummingbird, Gilded Flicker, Harris’s Hawk, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Lucy’s Warbler, Virginia’s Warbler
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, Lesser Nighthawk, 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=35435
Additional Resources
Learn more about birds reported at this location at eBird:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1287409
Additional Resources:
AllTrails-Bulldog Canyon
Birding the White Mountains
