Near our park is another wonderful stunning natural landscape located in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona. A mere 15minute drive from our park we find ourselves in the Granite Reef Recreational Area.
The area is best known for its access to the Salt River, where we often see people picnicking, kayaking, or fishing. The river is always flowing giving us an ideal place to escape our citified enclave or the Arizona heat.
We generally bird/hike one of the several trails within the park most often choosing the riverside ones..Across the river from Granite Reef Rec Area is the beautiful Red Mountain along with breathtaking views of other surrounding mountains.The river reflections of these mountains are also stunning. We love to visit after colder weather blows through as we can take pictures of the mountains with snow atop them.
The park is also a gateway to some nice desert hiking. We have hiked several of the trails near this area amongst the saguaros and other cacti typical of the Sonoran desert.
Birding the area means you will see various birds typical of riparian zones, deserts and open water. Ducks are always abundant on Salt River and near the dam which can be accessed from one of the trails. This is a great spot for taking in nature and enjoying the great Arizona outdoors.
