San Pedro House (San Pedro Riparian NCA)

About

The San Pedro House is a restored ranch house and the main visitor stop for the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, which protects about 40 miles of the upper San Pedro River. Inside, volunteers with the Friends of the San Pedro River run a bookstore and gift shop. Day use is free with no permit needed, and the trails are open for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Paths lead under tall cottonwoods to the river, Kingfisher Pond and Phoebe Pond, and the house has picnic tables, shade, restrooms and drinking water. Birders come here from all over, since the cottonwood and willow habitat supports more than 350 species. The best months are late October to mid-May, and green kingfishers often turn up at the pond named after them.