| About Coronado National Forest |
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| South Fork Picnic Ground |
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Elevation:
5,300 Feet
Number of Sites:
4
Reservation Status:
Not Accepted
Reservation:
No
Season:
January - December
From Douglas, Take US 80 east for 50 miles to Rodeo, NM. Two miles past Rodeo, turn left (west) on Portal Road. From Portal drive west on Forest Road #42 for 3 miles to the South Fork turnoff. Turn left and continue to the picnic area.
Location Information
South Fork is one of the most popular bird watching areas in Cave Creek Canyon. The riparian habitat along this tributary of Cave Creek is especially well-known for elegant trogons which are crimson-chested, green-backed birds with iridescent copper tails. Trogons come this far north from their subtropical homelands to build nests and raise their young in hollow cavities in the sycamore trees that grow in a few of southeastern Arizona's desert canyons. Seeing one is a special treat of bird watching.Though South Fork is known for its trogons, there are plenty of other interesting and rare creatures to encounter here. Over 300 species of birds have been sighted in the Chiricahua Mountains, including the magnificent hummingbird, blue-throated hummingbird, and Montezuma quail. You may also encounter the Apache fox, coatimundis, Coues white-tailed deer, and squirrels. The scenery, also, is quite impressive. Good views of cave-pocked cliffs that give Cave Creek its name are visible from the road leading to the picnic area and the trail that continues upstream. Picnic tables are conveniently located close to the creek under a canopy of Arizona sycamores and cypress.
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