Photo by Matthew J. Nelson
There is a place not far from Tucson that may be one of the quietest places on Earth. It's a land where sacred mountains rise above a sea of knee-high grasses, and endangered species cling to life. It's the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.
An obvious place to begin your adventure is Aguirre Lake, located just a few minutes northwest of the visitor center. Along the way you'll notice two enclosures that provide a rare opportunity to see a few of Arizona's endangered species - the Chiricahua leopard frog and masked bobwhite quail.
Continue down the main road past the historic mesquite corral and soon you'll arrive at Aguirre Lake. From the picnic table near the interpretive signs, follow the path west. There is a wildlife viewing blind built into the side of the lake, complete with a high-powered viewing scope. When the lake is full you'll find a variety of waterfowl here. Even when it's dry, this is a great place to watch grassland sparrows flitter among the auburn-colored weeds. A complete loop around the man-made lake is less than one mile.
After you've had your fill of the lake, head back toward the visitor center for a tour of the Pronghorn Loop. This 10-mile scenic road offers some of the most spectacular views available anywhere within the refuge, and begins just southwest of the visitor center. Although most people drive the loop, the best way to explore most of the 118,000 wild acres of the refuge is by bicycle or horse. The primitive roads require a front- or full-suspension mountain bike, but even a hybrid bike with fat tires will be well-suited for this journey.
Baboquivari Peak dominates the western skyline, and as the light changes throughout the day you'll see features of the sacred peak that weren't obvious in the early morning light. There is no mightier mountain in this part of the world, and the Pronghorn Loop is an opportunity to admire the east face of Waw:Giwulk (the traditional O'odham name) in all its glory.
As you ride along you'll see grassland sparrows, meadowlarks and roadrunners in abundance. In the winter, red-tail hawks and Northern harriers are the most common raptors. It's not uncommon to see golden eagles here, as they have nests in many of the surrounding mountain ranges.
If you're looking to pedal more than ten miles, there is no shortage of routes within the refuge. In fact, there are over 200 miles of roads that can be explored on bicycle, horseback or high-clearance vehicle. Pick up a refuge map for $1 at the visitor center and design your own adventure. Once you've made your first visit to the refuge, you'll likely come back again and again. Passing through the golden fields of waving grasses is pure joy, and nowhere else will you feel the soft breeze caressing the land like here in the Buenos Aires.
Making Your Escape
From Tucson, head west on Ajo Way (Hwy 86) to the town of Robles Junction/Three Points. Turn left/south on Hwy. 286 toward Sasabe. Just past milepost 8, turn left/east into the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. The visitor center is located three miles down the road and is clearly marked.
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge is open 24 hours a day for visitation, and the visitor center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, call (520) 823-4251 or visit FWS.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/buenosaires.
