GILAGILA BOXBOX RIPARIANRIPARIAN NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA

The Copper Duo’s crown jewel is the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area, one of just two riparian national conservation areas in the country. Covering 23,000 acres fed by four waterways, Gila Box has two developed campgrounds, several picnic areas, hiking trails, and miles of maintained and primitive roads.

Reaching nearly 11,000 feet in elevation, Mt. Graham is the southernmost peak and land area in the continental United States MOUNT GRAHAM above 10,000 feet. Called a "Sky Island" MOUNT GRAHAM ecosystem, the cool moist characteristics MOUNT GRAHAM of the mountain have aided the evolution of 18 different plants and animals found MOUNT GRAHAM nowhere else in the world. Located between MOUNT GRAHAM the southern Rocky Mountains and Mexico's MOUNT GRAHAM Sierra Madre Occidental, the range is one of the Western Apache's four holiest mountains MOUNT GRAHAM and is considered sacred by all of the region's MOUNT GRAHAM Native peoples. Nature's Hideaway at Discovery Park on Mt. MOUNT GRAHAM Graham offers specially designed viewing MOUNT GRAHAM areas to watch wildlife and trails to walk MOUNT GRAHAM through different habitats. ROPER LAKE STATE PARK This park is home to a large variety of bird species, offers great seasonal fishing, and is within close proximity to one of 's most beautiful "Sky Island" mountain ranges, Mt. Graham. Among the lake’s fish are largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, sunfish, and channel catfish. Though at 32 acres this lake is smaller than others in the state park system, much of the lake provides great habitat and ample opportunity to catch some nice fish. Roper Lake also offers lakeside cabins and a fully-functional campground.

If you’re patient and persistent, spotting a colorful or rare species of bird can be like hitting the wildlife lottery. The Copper Duo region is one of the top destinations in the west for birdwatchers from around the world.

The Watershed in Greenlee County is rich with diverse wildlife habitats that are attractive to bird watchers. Over 300 species of birds visit Greenlee County, including the sandhill crane, great horned owls, bald eagles, northern cardinals, red-tailed hawks, cliff wrens, and great blue herons.

The cottonwoods, willows, Arizona sycamores, and walnut trees of the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area attract more than 200 species of birds. The Bonita Creek Watchable Wildlife Area provides a front-row seat from a shady ramada above a narrow canyon to observe birds and other wildlife. The Bonita Creek area in Gila Box is home to more than 140 species of birds; 70 species nest along the creek itself. There is a treetop wildlife viewing deck on a cliff near the confluence of Bonita Creek and the Gila River.

Additional birding spots in The Copper Duo include: • Cluff Ranch • San Simon Valley • Swift Trail • Empire-Cienega Resource Conservation Area BIRDWATCHING The lure of the hunt can be exciting and rewarding. Searching for rare and exquisite geological artifacts is a hallmark of the Copper Duo region’s outdoor experience.

Round Mountain BLM Rockhound Area is one of the nation’s largest rockhounding sites for Fire Agate, nature’s pearl of the desert, in addition to quartz crystal rose, geodes, and many more specimens. Experts consider this a rockhounder’s Whether you’re on two wheels, three, or four, The “field of dreams.” Copper Duo region has a road or dune for you.

Other rockhounding areas include: The sands at the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area were • Black Hills Rockhound Area a beach surrounding a lake approximately two million • Carlisle Mining District Area years ago. Today, Hot Well Dunes provides the opportu- • Mulligan Peak nity to ride 2,000 acres of sand dunes, set up a camp, • Painted Bluff Trail #13 and then soak in relaxing hot tubs, all in the same loca- • Limestone Gulch Rockhounding area tion. The park is great for off-highway vehicle enthusi- • Gila Lower Box Wilderness Study Area asts of all types, including sand rails, ATVs, motorbikes, and four-wheel-drive trucks.

The legendary Coronado Trail Scenic Highway (US 191), aka “The Devil’s Highway” (Old Route 666) leads travelers from high desert landscapes to alpine forests via more than 200 switchbacks and many hairpin turns.

The Black Hills Backcountry National Scenic Byway is a his- toric route with dramatic vistas of the Gila and San Francisco River Valleys. The byway skirts the Gila Box, cutting across the eastern edge of the conservation area. It climbs from the scrubby desert into higher grasslands dotted with junipers.

The Highway 78 “Mule Creek” route is a short, twist- ing road that climbs from the into the nearby mountains complete with coniferous forests and streams as it enters New Mexico. HIKING AND BIKING On two feet or two wheels, (REGION) has a route that will test your stamina but reward you with beautiful vistas, abundant wildlife, and historical artifacts.

Safford-Morenci Trail Eighteen miles long with an elevation range of 3,700 to 6,200 feet.

Arcadia Trail #328 A 4.9 mile hike along one of the best trails in the nation. Arcadia trail #328 will end at Shannon camp- ground. The best way to start this trail is from Shan- non campground because it is mostly downhill. CAMPING Whether hiking, biking, bird watching, The 2.5-mile Cottonwood Trail in the Gila Box links rockhounding, motorcycling, fishing, several recreation and historical sites, including boating, swimming, or any other the other the restored Serna Cabin, built by homesteaders outdoor activities in (REGION), there are in the 1920s. a number of campgrounds that provide travelers with a safe and scenic place Roper Lake State Park includes five miles of trails to overnight in Graham and Greenlee and paths. Counties.

The Mariah Mesa Trail is .75 miles loop trail through Campgrounds include: plants, wildlife and geology of the area leading to a • Gila Box natural hot spring tube. • Riverview Campground • Owl Creek Campground • Cunningham Campground (Mt. Graham) • Roper Lake State Park • Stockton Pass Campground • Round Mountain Rockhound Area Campground • Shannon Campground • Arcadia Campground LEARN MORE: thecopperduoaz.com