Corcovado Nat'l Park  

Sonoran Desert & Southeast Arizona

Trip Description

This trip is a 1 to 2 week foray through the deserts and mountain island habitats of Southeastern Arizona in search of rattlesnakes, lizards, Gila monsters and tortoises. Upon arrival in Tucson, we head for Cochise stronghold campground in the beautiful Dragoon Mt's. (my favorite place in Arizona). Here we will camp in tents and search for blacktail, Mojave green and diamondback rattlesnakes. It's also a good area for desert box turtles. After spending 3-4 days here, we take a leisurely drive west to legendary Tombstone and stop for a cold one at the Crystal Palace Saloon -- one of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday's old watering holes. We then head Northwest toward the Sonoran Desert to Picacho Peak State Park, northwest of Tucson. We spend several days here searching for sidewinders, mojaves and atrox. This area is also good for common and desert kingsnakes, as well as desert tortoises. We then head back toward Tucson for a visit to the Arizona-Sonoran Desert museum before heading home.

(2nd week option):

Should we decide to spend a second week in Arizona, we may head East to the Chiracahua Mt's. to search for rock rattlesnakes and ridge-nosed rattlesnakes and following the stay at Picacho Peak, head West of Phoenix to the Wickenberg area to search for mojaves and speckleds before heading East toward Sedona

Sample Itinerary (flexible)

Day 1: Fly to Tucson, O/N in hotel, road cruise Catalina Hwy. Trip to AZ Sonoran Desert Museum.

Day 2: Drive to Dragoon Mt's., Set Up Camp at Cochise Stronghold Campground, Hunt evening in Dragoons for Blacktails, Mojaves, Banded Rocks.

Day 3: Early morning, hike Dragoons for Blacktails, Banded Rocks., Afternoon head to Pierce, Gleason area to search for large Atrox, and mojaves, Area is also good Desert Box Turtles. Evening hike Dragoons for Blacktails, banded rocks.

Day 4: Hike early Morning in Mt's. Afternoon drive to Chiricahuas. Evening hike Barfoot peak for rock rattlesnakes.

Day 5: Hike for banded rock rattlesnakes, twin spots and ridge-nosed.

Day 6: Morning hike for ridge-nosed. Afternoon, drive back to Tucson. Evening hike Saguaro N.M. for Gilas, tigers, etc. Evening feast at Olive Garden or ????

Day 7: Fly back home.

Next Trip Date(Tentative)

April 2006

PAST TRIP PHOTOS

Osa Peninsula

       Trip Description 

Sonoran Desert Trip

This site designed and hosted by Integrity PBS.   Last Updated: December 5, 2004