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Day Use Only - No Overnight Camping South Fork Picnic Area is one of the most popular birdwatching areas in Cave Creek Canyon. The riparian habitat along this tributary of Cave Creek is especially well-known as an area for sighting elegant trogons --crimson-chested, green-backed birds with iridescent copper-colored tails. Trogons come this far north from their subtropical homelands to build nests and raise their young in hollow cavities of sycamore trees that grow in a few of southeastern Arizona’s desert canyons. Seeing one is considered one of the special treats of birdwatching.
Though South Fork is known for its trogons, there are plenty of other interesting and rare creatures to encounter here. Over 300 species of birds have been sighted in the Chiricahua Mountains, including the magnificent hummingbird, blue-throated hummingbird and Montezuma quail. Other interesting types of wildlife frequently sighted here include Apache fox squirrels, coatimundis and Coues white-tailed deer.
The scenery is quite impressive in this area, too. Good views of the cave-pocked cliffs that give Cave Creek its name are visible from the road leading to the picnic area and the trail that continues upstream. Picnic tables are located conveniently close to the creek under a canopy of Arizona sycamores and cypress.
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