Southeast Arizona Area Attractions
Our San Pedro River Arizona location is an ideal naturalist hideaway – perfect for birding, hiking, environmental study, or relaxing!
Casa de San Pedro is located just 90 miles southeast of Tucson and 20 miles southeast of Sierra Vista in the San Pedro River Valley. At an elevation of 4230 feet, this area is one of the most comfortable regions of North America, featuring 350 days of short-sleeve weather per year. Summers are temperate, winters are comfortable! We have the premier year-round climate in the US. The San Pedro River (the BLM managed San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area - SPRNCA) is a wonderful natural habitat that is accessible to hikers, nature lovers, bird watchers.
The SPRNCA contains nearly 57,000 acres of public land in Cochise County, Arizona, between the international border and St. David, Arizona. The riparian area, where some 40 miles of the upper San Pedro River meanders, was designated by Congress as a Riparian National Conservation Area on November 18, 1988. The primary purpose for the special designation is to protect and enhance the desert riparian ecosystem, a rare remnant of what was once an extensive network of similar riparian systems throughout the American Southwest.
One of the most important riparian areas in the United States, the San Pedro River runs through the Chihuahuan Desert and the Sonoran Desert in southeastern Arizona. The river’s stretch is home to more than 80 species of mammals, two native species and several introduced species of fish, more than 40 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 100 species of breeding birds. It also provides invaluable habitat for 250 species of migrant and wintering birds and contains archaeological sites representing the remains of human occupation from 13,000 years ago.
The area provides opportunities for wildlife viewing including birdwatching, picnicking, primitive camping, pre-historic and historic site visiting, hunting, hiking, fishing, biking, horseback riding, guided hikes, interpretive site visitation, and weekend children’s programs. Parking, interpretive kiosks and trailheads are located at Fairbank, Murry Springs, San Pedro House, Land Corral, Terrenate, Millville and Hereford Bridge. Parking and trailheads are also available at Hereford Road, Charleston Road, Palominas, Terrenate, Escapule and Lehner. The Friends of the San Pedro lead regularly scheduled guided walks.
Casa de San Pedro also sponsors walks by the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory (check our calendar for dates of walks or hummingbird bandings.)