Autumn on Mt. Lemmon – Middle Bear Canyon with Donito Burgess

Autumn on Mt. Lemmon – Middle Bear Canyon with Donito Burgess

Trip difficulty is moderate as will hike some mountainous trails, walk cross-country through woods & washes on rocky, uneven & soft terrain. Two miles or less. Pit toilets available.

We’ll start about 10 miles up the Mt Lemmon Hwy as the habitat transitions from desert scrub and juniper woodlands into cypress and pine/oak forest as you turn into Bear Canyon. This transition zone into a cooler moister habitat attracts a wide variety of birds that aren’t found in the Tucson Valley. We will explore the Cypress, Chihuahua Pines & Middle Bear Picnic Areas, and possibly the General Hitchcock Campground in search of Northern Flicker, Acorn Woodpecker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Mexican Jay, White-breasted Nuthatch, and so many more.

There is an $8 Day Use fee per vehicle which can be purchased on site; Interagency Passes are accepted. Final meet-up instructions and homework (!) will be emailed to participants prior to the trip.

Meeting location: Chihuahua Pines Picnic Area –https://maps.app.goo.gl/hNX5sW4u6USoqrY1A

Leader: Donito Burgess (dburgess@tucsonaudubon.org)

Header Image: Mexican Jay by John Hoffman