Conservation through Education
Friends of Madera Canyon
Madera Canyon is nestled in the northern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountain range, east of Green Valley and south of Tucson, Arizona
About the Canyon
Madera Canyon is a north-facing valley in the Santa Rita Mountains with riparian woodland along an intermittent stream, bordered by mesquite, juniper-oak woodlands, and pine forests.
Cultural History
Native Peoples lived in the Santa Rita Mountains for thousands of years, known from artifacts of O’odham tribes.
Friends of Madera Canyon
The FoMC is a 501(c)(3) volunteer organization dedicated to conserving the natural resources and restoring the habitat, trails and infastructure of Madera Canyon while educating school children and adults about the wonders of this unique place
Become a Friend of Madera Canyon
Becoming a Friend of Madera Canyon offers access to interesting, fulfilling volunteer opportunities, but your best reward is knowing your support helps to preserve this special piece of our Nation’s wilderness habitat.
Natural Paradise Retreat
Exploring Madera Canyon
Discover the serene beauty of Madera Canyon, a haven for hiking, birdwatching, and nature enthusiasts.
Visitor Resources, Bird Checklist & Reports
A Madera Canyon Bird Checklist, Hiking information and map PDFs, and Madera Quarterly Bird Reports can be downloaded here → Resources.
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Open Year Round:
Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Please plan your visits according to the season’s temperature, sunrise and sunset.
Follow
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Printed Bird Checklist and Trail Maps are available at the Proctor Visitor Information Station and at all Parking / Picnic Area Trail Heads throughout the canyon.
Birding
Madera Canyon is a renowned hotspot for bird enthusiasts. With its diverse range of avian species and the accessibility of the Proctor Accessible Trail, it’s an ideal location for birdwatching. Bring your binoculars and enjoy the captivating sights and sounds of the feathered residents.
Photography
For photography enthusiasts, Madera Canyon is a paradise waiting to be captured. The Proctor Accessible Trail’s enhancements offer excellent vantage points for capturing the scenic wonders of the canyon. Don’t forget your camera and be prepared to create stunning memories through your lens.
Nature
Immerse yourself in the rich natural beauty of Madera Canyon. The Proctor Accessible Trail provides an easy and enjoyable way to explore the area’s lush vegetation, picturesque landscapes, and serene ambiance. Take a leisurely stroll and reconnect with nature.
Hiking
If you’re an avid hiker, Madera Canyon offers exciting opportunities for hiking. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a beginner, Madera Canyon has hiking adventures for everyone. Starting with the newly improved Proctor Accessible Trail, you can experience the thrill of hiking on easy trails or eventually much more difficult trails amidst the canyon’s natural splendor.
Read More…
The Beauty of Madera Canyon
Madera Canyon is a hidden gem in the heart of the Santa Rita Mountains of southeastern Arizona. This lush canyon is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, including towering pines, colorful wildflowers, and over 100 species of birds.
Madera Canyon
The Latest News & Updates
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The Audience Enjoys the First Night of Music in the Canyon
Richard Buelna, his mother, and the members of the FoMC Scholarship Committee
The 2024 Bud and Mary Gode Scholarship awarded to Ricardo Buelna
The Friends of Madera Canyon Scholarship Committee is comprised of David Linn and Barb Fleshman as co-chairs, assisted by committee members Patty Greimann and Doug Moore. Every year, Friends of Madera Canyon offers the Bud and Mary Gode scholarship to a graduating high school senior who attends a public high school along the I-19 corridor area, south of Tucson. Each year, we have a variety of applications which makes the selection difficult at times. This year, our choice was clear from the outset.
The Committee is very pleased to announce Ricardo Buelna, a graduating senior from Nogales High School, has been selected to receive the 2024 Bud and Mary Gode Scholarship award in the amount of $5,000.
Ricardo has demonstrated academic excellence throughout his 4-years of high school, as well as a commitment to the improvement of our environment through his employment with Enviro Manufacturing in Nogales, Arizona.
Upon graduation, Mr. Buelna has a vision of betterment of the environment through improved and sustainable construction designs and methods. He aims to achieve his goal by earning a degree in green construction at Arizona State University where he has been accepted for Fall 2024.
We offer our congratulations and best wishes to Ricardo!
Members of the Friends of Madera Canyon are invited to attend any or all Board of Directors monthly meetings. Read Canyon Chatter for more news about FoMC activities, programs and educational articles.
Hudbay Copper World Complex
The proposed massive copper mine and sulfuric acid plant, straddling both sides of the Santa Rita Mountains, present a potential threat to the natural environment. This industrial expansion into the Green Valley/Sahuarita area could disrupt the delicate ecological balance, raising serious concerns for those who value the preservation of nature in the region.
See RosemontMineTruth.com
or ScenicSantaRitas.Org
Restoration at Madera Canyon
Restoration at Madera Canyon is a 9-minute video documenting the recent and largest restoration project undertaken in Madera Canyon by the FoMC and Forest Service.
News from the US Forest Service (USFS)
The USFS wants to share that the USFS Madera Canyon Recreation Guide is now available online in English and Spanish.
You can navigate to them (and the other guides that have been developed) on the website by selecting Visit Us > Maps & Publications and then scrolling down to "Recreation Guides."
The USFS also created a new landing page for Madera Canyon on the Forest's website. You can find it here.
You can navigate to it on the website by selecting Visit Us > Destinations > Madera Canyon