Madera Canyon is a recommended side trip when you are in the I-19 corridor visiting the Missions, the Titan Missile Museum, or Tubac Village. The elevation ranges from 5,000-5,500 feet. The area is a birdwatcher’s paradise with over 250 species identified.
This is part of the Coronado National Forest. It’s about 25 miles south of Tucson and 11 miles east of Green Valley. There are campgrounds and picnic areas and the extensive Santa Rita Mountain trail system is easily accessed from here.
Detailed trail information and maps are available at each of the trailheads. Pets must be on a leash.
At the lower end of the Canyon is a handicap-accessible nature trail. At the top are much more difficult hiking trails leading to 9,453-foot Mt. Wrightson.
There is no restaurant in Madera Canyon, so at least bring a picnic lunch and some snacks. Of the several picnic areas in the Canyon, the one at the end of the paved road seemed to us to be the most appealing, particularly in the warmer months.
As one of the premier birding areas in the United States, you can, with time & patience, see fifteen species of hummingbirds, Elegant Trogon, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Flame-colored Tanager, 36 species of wood warblers. In all, over 256 species of bird species have been documented.
Here too you will find many species of wildlife: white-tailed and mule deer, rabbits, wild turkeys, and squirrels are fairly easy to spot. Other animals like black bear, coati, foxes, ring-tailed cats, raccoons, bobcats, and mountain lions are more elusive. Sixteen species of bats have been counted in the Canyon.
The closest dining will be in Tubac or Green Valley.
There is a Ragazzi in Green Valley. We heartily recommend the Ragazzi Restaurant in Tubac. It is owned and operated by the same family. Tubac has at least two other very good restaurants: Shelby’s Bistro and Elvira’s Mexican Restaurant. Just North is the Tubac Golf Resort’s Stables Grille and just south of Tubac on the same frontage road is Wisdom’s, an excellent Mexican restaurant.
As to a place of lodging in Madera Canyon, I’ve not stayed there, but Madera Kubo B&B looks like a really nice property. I did check out one of the cabins. Rustic A-Frame with kitchen. Clean. Right by the stream. Â Definitely Alpine. Very pleasant.
For More information about Things to do along the I-19 Corridor, South of Tucson visit our page, South on the I-19 Corridor.
