Discover Hummingbirds, Owls, and Shady Creekside Trails at This Free Arizona Preserve Worth an Early Morning Visit

A river that spends most of its journey underground pops up for a stroll here, and the birds definitely noticed. Roughly 280 bird species live, nest, or pass through this one patch of Arizona desert. The shade comes courtesy of towering cottonwoods, willows, and desert fan palms. Hummingbirds zip around, turtles show up near the water, and the trails stay easy enough for little legs. I like how the whole thing feels like a secret the Sonoran Desert decided to share. Gates open at 8 a.m., which i