Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge

Directions: From Tucson, take I-19 S to Ajo Way/Highway 86, go W on Ajo Way 20 miles to Three Points/Robles Junction. Proceed S on Route 286 approximately 37 miles. Follow signs to headquarters 3 miles E.

From Green Valley, go S on I-19 to the Amado/Arivaca Road Junction. Proceed W 24 miles to Arivaca (two nature trails are located in this area). To reach headquarters, continue through Arivaca 12 miles on the Sasabe Road to Route 286. Turn S and go 4 miles to headquarters sign. Follow signs E, 3 miles.

Primary Wildlife: Endangered masked bobwhite quail (reintroduction program), pronghorn antelope (reintroduced), and over 280 species of birds including many southeast Arizona specialty birds (gray hawk, zone-tailed hawk, black hawk, buffcollared nightjar, tropical and thick-billed kingbird, sulphur-bellied flycatcher, and Botteri's sparrow).

Habitat: 115,000 acres of grasslands, cienegas (wetlands), riparian stream, and desert mountains.

Recreation and Education: Birdwatching and wildlife observation on auto tour route, nature trails along riparian stream and wetlands, boardwalk at Arivaca Cienega, primitive campsite along backcountry roads, and hunting (permitted with special regulations in effect). Guided bird tours on first Saturday of the month (November-April). Slide programs may be arranged for groups.

Special Note: Refuge has the largest ungrazed grassland in the state. Arivaca Cienega is the farthest west cienega in the state and one of only a handful of cienegas that remain (70 percent have been lost). Tall gallery forest of cottonwoods, walnut, and hackberry line Arivaca Creek (the only permanent stream in the Altar Valley). Heavy rains July through August.

P.O. Box 109
Sasabe, AZ 85633
(520) 823-4251