INTRODUCTION
VIEWING SPOTS
Quitobaquito Spring
Alamo Lake
Hassayampa River
Robbins Butte
Colorado River
San Pedro River
Empire-Cienega
Gila River
ARIZONA RESOURCES
GORP WILDLIFE
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Green Ribbons through the Desert
Arizona's Riparian Wildlife Areas |
A GORP Content Partner
Adapted from
Arizona Wildlife Viewing Guide
by John N. Carr
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Quitobaquito Spring
This site is a true oasis in the vast Sonoran Desert, a rarity in Arizona. It is located only a few hundred yards from the international border in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, about halfway around the Puerto Blanco Drive. The spring and small pond are home for an endangered subspecies of desert pupfish. The oasis attracts many birds, including vermillion flycatchers, coots, phainopepla, and killdeer.
The Basics
Directions: From Ajo, proceed east ten miles on Arizona 86 to Why. Turn south on Arizona 85 for twenty-two miles to the Visitor Center and directions to Puerto Blanco Drive and Quitobaquito Spring.
Ownership: National Park Service (520) 387-6849
Size: 330,000 acres (spring size ten acres)
Closest Town: Ajo
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Viewing Information: You must stop at the Visitor Center prior to going to Quitobaquito Spring. Excellent interpretive information about the flora and fauna of the monument is available. Complete recreational facilities are near the visitor center.
At Quitobaquito Spring there is a short trail from the parking area to the spring. The small pupfish, just over an inch long, is easily seen, especially in the spring breeding season when the males turn bright blue and become very active. While summer temperatures often exceed 100 degrees, the rest of the year is moderate.
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