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Contact: Anita Badertscher, (520) 398-2341
Tumacácori National Historical Park is offering walks to the Santa Cruz River on Wednesdays, December, 2012 through April, 2013. The one hour walks leave the Tumacácori Visitor Center at 10:30 a.m., following a level, unpaved trail to the Santa Cruz River and back. The total distance is approximately ½ mile. Participants will need comfortable walking shoes and water. The forest along the Santa Cruz River is an excellent example of the rare southwestern riparian environment. Not only is the Santa Cruz a beautiful oasis for nature lovers, it provides a critical habitat for abundant wildlife that live in, and migrate through, the Santa Cruz Valley. Discussions during the walks may include several themes, including the O'odham people, missions and settlement, plant and animal identification, the mesquite bosque (forest) and riparian environments, and current issues related to the Santa Cruz River. Part of the walk follows the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historical Trail. Although the guided walk will return to the mission, participants may choose to continue on their own along the Anza Trail, continuing north for 4.5 miles to Tubac. (Please note that this is a total of 9 miles roundtrip back to Tumacácori.) The trail closely follows the river, crossing twice on narrow bridges. The trail is level, and-although sandy-walking is relatively easy. Because the area is rich in wildlife, particularly birds, binoculars are useful. The entrance fee for Tumacácori National Historical Park is $3.00 per person, with no additional charge for participation in the River Walk. Interagency Senior, Access and Annual Passes are accepted. For information about the guided walks, call Tumacácori National Historical Park at 520-398-2341, ext. 0 -NPS- |
Last updated: February 24, 2015