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Wildlife Encounters
In Gila County, AZ
WILD LIFE ENCOUNTERS IN GILA COUNTY, ARIZONA
The Tonto National Forest encompasses approximately 2.8 million acres ranging in elevation from 1300 feet near the lower Salt River to over 7,700 feet at Aztec Peak. The forest contains a variety of habitats that include coniferous forests and woodlands, chaparral, grassland, desert scrub, riparian and aquatic. This diversity supports complex assemblages of wildlife and plants. For more information about viewable wildlife programs in the area visit azgfd.com/Wildlife.
The Tonto National Forest is a mecca for wildlife viewing. There are hundreds of different species that call this forest home. From its towering wooded pine forest and its sprawling deserts, Gila County offers many different wildlife viewing opportunities. Below are several areas that have been documented as excellent wildlife viewing habitats. Click the button below for a full list.
Green Valley Park
Wildlife Viewing
Each year the migratory pattern happens just like the last and all the “Snowbirds” return to roost at Payson’s Green Valley Park. Here you can see hordes of Canadian Geese as they seemingly take ownership of the park and its 3 lakes that are managed by the Town of Payson Parks and Recreation Department in coordination with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
In addition to the Canadian Geese, wildlife viewers will see coots, ducks and the majestic national bird, the bald eagle as he swoops down for a fishy meal. His impressive eight-foot wingspan is truly amazing. Blue heron’s can also be seen standing on the pier stalking their next meal and mallard ducks playfully float on the water without a care in the world. Many of the birds that visit Green Valley park are seasonal residents and they start to arrive in late October. Once the weather heats up they will be off to Canada and Alaska.
In addition to birds you will often find an elk or two or a Couse deer coming down out of the mountains for a cool drink of water or a blade of fresh green grass. On your next trip head on down to Green Valley Park and bring your binoculars and maybe a fishing pole. You never know just who or what might show up to say hello.
Mogollon Rim District
Wildlife Viewing
Elk are commonly seen on the Mogollon Rim District. They are seen along mountain roads in the forest, and particularly in meadow openings. Be sure to stay alert and use caution when driving in the forest, particularly at dusk and evening hours to avoid an unpleasant encounter between your vehicle and a large elk!
Black bear can be observed in the canyons and drainages, or in ponderosa pine where oaks have produced good acorn crops that foraging bears feast on.
Bald eagles can be seen throughout the District in the winter months in areas like Green Valley Park (in Payson, AZ), Woods Canyon Lake, Tonto Creek and the Salt River Canyon Wilderness.
Peregrine falcons can be seen along the Mogollon rim flying, soaring, or diving at prey at speeds up towards 200 miles per hour!
Pinal Mountains
Wildlife Viewing
Bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts will discover a true haven in the Pinal Mountains of southern Arizona, located just south of Globe. This region is renowned for its rich biodiversity, featuring diverse plant life such as Ponderosa pines and White firs. It’s also home to a variety of wildlife, including Javelina, White-tailed deer, and the elusive Mountain Lion. For birders, the Pinals offer an impressive range of avian species, including rare finds like the Yellow-eyed Junco and Chihuahuan Raven.
Enthusiasts can expect to spot up to 50-60 different bird species in a single day. The area’s varied habitats, which range from mesquite gullies to high-altitude aspens, support diverse animal communities and create excellent birdwatching opportunities. In winter, while forest service roads may close due to snow, they provide great opportunities for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. To enjoy a tranquil outdoor experience with minimal crowds, plan a visit to the Pinals during the fall or winter months.
Roosevelt Lake
Wildlife Viewing
Roosevelt Lake Wildlife Area covers much of the west end of Theodore Roosevelt Lake, stretching from the northwest to the south where Tonto Creek and Cottonwood Creek meet. This diverse habitat includes lush desert, marshes, open water, and seasonal vegetation.
Visitors can see a wide range of wildlife year-round. The area is surrounded by Four Peaks, Superstition, Mazatzal, and Sierra Ancha wilderness areas, offering picturesque views. Summer temperatures often exceed 100°F, while winter can drop below freezing.
Notable wildlife includes Canada geese, which winter here in large numbers, and other waterfowl like snow geese and grebes. The area also hosts herons, cormorants, bald eagles, and ospreys. Riparian species such as yellow-billed cuckoo and summer tanager can be spotted near Tonto Creek.
The wildlife area is home to deer, black bears, javelinas, coatimundis, coyotes, and various reptiles and amphibians. Visitors might see common kingsnakes, Sonoran mud turtles, and diamond-backed rattlesnakes among other species.
Tonto National Monument
Wildlife Viewing
Tonto National Monument, while established to protect cliff dwellings, also preserves a rich variety of wildlife. Though it spans less than two square miles, the Monument is home to at least 160 bird species, 6 amphibians, 32 reptiles, 40 mammals, and numerous insects.
Its biodiversity is due to its location at the intersection of the Superstition Mountains and the Salt River/Tonto Creek valley. The area features a bajada of eroded sediments and dry washes, with drier, warmer conditions and more open desert vegetation as it slopes northward towards Roosevelt Lake.
Cave Creek Canyon, running from below the Upper Cliff Dwelling to Roosevelt Lake, is another key feature. It is dry north of the Visitor Center but contains a perennial spring and tall trees to the south, providing vital habitat for wildlife and historically significant for the Salado people who lived nearby.
Woods Canyon Lake
Wildlife Viewing
Woods Canyon Lake is surrounded by a dense forest of pine, fir, oak and aspen, and sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet. WIldlife viewers who venture onto nearby trails are afforded expansive views of the land beneath the Mogollon Rim.
The Mogollon Rim, pronounced by locals as “muggy-own,” is a 200-mile long cliff in northern Arizona that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation and serves as the geographical dividing line between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below.
Summer temperatures can be very pleasant because of the elevation. However, the rainy season often brings afternoon thunderstorms from late June through August. Visitors should come prepared for rain and cool nighttime temperatures.
Wildlife viewing includes birds, squirrels, deer, raccoons, elk, fox, coyotes and more . Deer, skunks and bears are common campground visitors.
