birdandhike.com logo
Home | Birding | Favorites | Chiricahua Mountains Birding
Birding Around the Rustler Park Area
Birding Around Las Vegas, Favorite Places Far Away
Rustler Park
Rustler Park
Rustler Park meadow

Overview

Rustler Park and Barfoot Park are high-elevation sites in the Chiricahua Mountains, accessible seasonally by graded dirt roads. Note that in this area "park" means "meadow;" the areas could have been named Rustler Meadow and Barfoot Meadow.

The adventure starts with the drive, not with the arrival, as the roads are long, winding, and steep, and birding along the access roads can be very productive. The highest-elevation areas are now a fire-altered landscape, and time will tell how the mountain birds respond, but look for Mexican Chickadee, Yellow-eyed Junco, Red-faced Warbler, Olive Warbler, Red Crossbill, and Band-tailed Pigeon in the pines at the top of the mountains.

Link to Rustler Park Map.

Rustler Park
Rustler Park fire station

Rustler Park, proper, is a wildland fire station with a campground (closed during winter) in a forest of mixed pines, including Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, and Southwestern White Pine (Pinus strobiformis). The campground is located near the crest of the mountains, and foot trails lead north and south from the campground along the crest of the mountains. Birding around the fire station and houses can be quite productive and less adventuresome than hiking the mountain trails.

For birding Rustler Park, park outside the seasonally-closed gate, by the restrooms on the left side of the access road, and walk into the area. The campground, on the right, is open seasonally, but day-birders should be courteous and park outside the campground (and not in the Forest Service work area).

During May and June, 2011, the Horseshoe Two Fire burned almost 350 square-miles in the Chiricahua Mountains. Evidence is everywhere, especially at Barfoot Park Campground. Most of the trees in the campground burned, and in the years since, hazard trees have been removed, leaving open, sunny campsite with big views -- far different from the original campsites nestled in the dense forest.

Cave Creek Road
Good road signs

Getting to Rustler Park

Rustler Park is accessible from Portal (via Portal Road) and from Chiricahua National Monument via Pinery Canyon Road. Both roads are steep and winding, not suitable for longer vehicles or trailers, but generally okay for sedans after the snow melts and the roads have been graded. Inquire locally about road conditions.

Driving uphill on either road, continue to Onion Saddle at the crest of the mountain range. Don't, however, be in a hurry. Drive slowly and listen for birds singing in the trees. Birding along the roads can be profitable, and especially keep an eye out for Montezuma Quail in the Pine-Oak woodlands.

Rustler Park
Rustler Park Road at campground information signs and fee box)

At Onion Saddle, turn south through a gate onto Forest Road 42D following signs towards Rustler Park. Continue 1.6 miles to a fork in the road. Stay left to Rustler Park, or turn right to Barfoot Park.

Staying left, continue 0.8 miles to a gate that blocks vehicle entry into the campground and fire station area during winter. Turn left into a large day-use parking area with a vault toilet. Park here; this is the birder's and hiker's trailhead.

Walking up the road, pass the gate and check the Lower Rustler Spring area on the left. On the right side of the road, sheltered campsites cling to the hillside in the campground area. Shortly, walkers pass the Rustler Park Meadow on the right (just past the campground). Staying left on the road, birders wander into the still-forested fire station area. Staying south (left-ish) past the fire station, an old road continues south with grand views out across the desert and open-area type birds.

Barfoot Park
Yellow-eyed Junco

Getting to Barfoot Park

Barfoot Park is located north of Rustler Park. The road is rougher, narrower, rockier, muddier, and steeper than the road to Rustler Park.

From Onion Saddle, drive south 1.6 miles to a fork in the road. Turn right and drive about 0.6 miles to a saddle. Most drivers will want to stop here, but others might continue down the very steep hill. The road ends in another 0.4 miles at the bottom edge of Barfoot Meadow. Barfoot Meadow is watered by Barfoot Spring.

Snow tends to linger on these north-facing slopes, so Barfoot Road can be snowed in or wet and muddy long after other roads are dry.

Bird the trees around the meadow and look for open-area birds out in the meadow. Birds might come to the spring for water.

Rustler Park Road (driving westbound up to Rustler Park and Barfoot Park)

Cave Creek Road
Cave Creek Road above the town of Portal is paved (view S)
Rustler Park Road
Paved road lower down
Rustler Park Road
Road signs just past SW Research Station (view NW)
Rustler Park Road
Sign: Windy road next 19 miles
Rustler Park Road
Approaching Coronado National Forest boundary (view NW)
Rustler Park Road
Coronado National Forest boundary sign (view NW)
Rustler Park Road
One of several primitive camping areas on the left (view NW)
Rustler Park Road
Crossing a cattle guard (view NW)
Rustler Park Road
Another primitive camping area on the right (view NW)
Rustler Park Road
Approaching the road to Paradise (South Turkey Creek Road)
Rustler Park Road
Approaching the road to Paradise (South Turkey Creek Road)
Rustler Park Road
Road sign to Paradise (South Turkey Creek Road)
Pine-Oak Woodlands
Road becomes graded dirt at the SW Research Station (view NW)
Rustler Park
Dirt road in the Pine-Oak Woodlands
Rustler Park
Most of the road is well maintained (view NW)
Rustler Park Road
Winding into the switchbacks (view N)
Rustler Park Road
Grand views: looking down into the South Fork area (view SE)
Rustler Park Road
Winding up towards the high country (view S)
Rustler Park Road
Spring snows linger on north-facing slopes (view S)
Rustler Park Road
Higher up, the road narrows (view NW)
Rustler Park Road
First of the Ponderosa Pine trees (view NW)
Rustler Park Road
Climbing towards Onion Saddle (view NW)
Rustler Park Road
Approaching Onion Saddle
Rustler Park Road
Onion Saddle road sign
Rustler Park Road
Onion Saddle: the road forks (view NW)
Rustler Park Road
Staying left towards Rustler Park (view SW)
Rustler Park Road
This part of the mountain survived the fire (view S)
Rustler Park Road
Winding into the high-elevation forest (view S)
Rustler Park Road
Some parts are open and brushy (view SW)
Rustler Park Road
Mexican Fox Squirrel in a pine watching traffic pass by
Rustler Park Road
Late-spring lingering snow in the high country (view SW)
Rustler Park Road
Drive carefully and watch out for little people playing in the road
Rustler Park Road
Rare Western Twin-spotted Rattlesnake (Crotalus p. pricei) on road
Rustler Park Road
Approaching Rustler Park -- Barfoot Park junction (view W)
Rustler Park Road
Sign: Rustler Park left, Barfoot Park right (view W)
Rustler Park Road
Sign at Rustler Park -- Barfoot Park junction (view W)
Rustler Park Road
Fork in the road
Rustler Park Road
Turning left towards Rustler Park (view S)
Rustler Park Road
Continuing towards Rustler Park (view SW)
Rustler Park Road
Primitive campsite under the trees with a view (view S)
Rustler Park Road
The road crosses another cattle guard (view S)
Rustler Park Road
Approaching Rustler Park (view S)
Rustler Park Road
Entrance sign to Rustler Park Campground (view S)
Rustler Park Road
Toilets and parking on the left before campground gate (view S)
Rustler Park Road
Parking on the left before the campground gate (view S)
Rustler Park Road
Day-use parking area and toilet (view N)
Rustler Park Road
Day-use parking (view NE from Rustler Park Road near the gate)
Rustler Park Road
The campground is open only during summer (view S)

Rustler Park Campground and Rustler Park Fire Station

Rustler Park
Rustler Park Campground sign
Rustler Park
Rustler Park Campground sign
Rustler Park
Birder approaching gate at entrance to Rustler Park Campground
Rustler Park
Lower Rustler Spring near gate and parking area
Rustler Park
Rocky outcrop north of parking area
Rustler Park
Rustler Park Road at campground information signs and fee box)
Rustler Park
Information signs and some campsites (view SW)
Rustler Park
Campground information signs and fee box
Rustler Park
Sign: day-use and camping fee schedule (annual passes accepted)
Rustler Park
Campsite without trees (view N)
Rustler Park
Vault toilet with tree skeletons on the hillside
Rustler Park
The road forks: left to fire station, right to more campsites (view S)
Rustler Park
Rustler Park sign, now in reference to the meadow (view S)
Rustler Park
More campsites along the road (view SW)
Rustler Park
Campground soon after the fire
Rustler Park
Campground soon after the fire
Rustler Park
Sign: Rustler Park Guard Station (aka fire station)
Rustler Park
Road towards Rustler Park Fire Station
Rustler Park
Corral and barn at the Rustler Park Fire Station
Rustler Park
Log cabin at the Rustler Park Fire Station
Rustler Park
More buildings at the Rustler Park Fire Station
Rustler Park
Lingering snow in Rustler Park Fire Station area
Rustler Park
Partially burned area along road past fire station
Rustler Park
Partially burned area along road past fire station
Barfoot Park
Yellow-eyed Junco
Rustler Park
Big coyote track!
Rustler Park
Lots of wildflowers, including this Canada Violet (Viola canadensis)
Rustler Park
Santa Rita Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus santaritensis)
Rustler Park
Steller's Jay in the pine trees
Rustler Park
Yellow-eyed Junco foraging in the grass

Barfoot Park Road (northwest bound from Rustler Park Road)

Barfoot Park Road
Coming down from Rustler Park, stay left at the fork (view N)
Barfoot Park Road
Starting up Barfoot Park Road (view N)
Barfoot Park Road
Very steep road crosses a cattle guard (view N)
Barfoot Park Road
After the steep uphill run, the road levels out (view N)
Barfoot Park Road
Snow lingers into the late spring (view NW)
Barfoot Park Road
Snow creates mud in the late spring (view NW)
Barfoot Park Road
Arriving at the saddle, a good place to park (view NW)
Barfoot Park Road
Starting down from the saddle (view NW)
Barfoot Park Road
Steep downhill (view W)
Barfoot Park Road
Steep downhill (view W)
Barfoot Park Road
Steep downhill (view W)
Barfoot Park Road
Steep downhill approaching Barfoot Park (view SW)
Barfoot Park Road
Approaching Barfoot Park (view SW)
Barfoot Park Road
Barfoot Park first parking area (view S)
Barfoot Park Road
Barfoot Park first parking area (view S)
Barfoot Park Road
Barfoot Park first parking area (view SE)

Barfoot Park

Barfoot Park
Barfoot Park plaque at edge of Barfoot Meadow (view E)
Barfoot Park
Barfoot Park plaque: National Historic Landmark
Barfoot Park
Barfoot Park Meadow
Barfoot Park
Barfoot Park meadow (Buena Vista Peak in background)
Barfoot Park
Buena Vista Peak with lookout on top (view E from Barfoot Park)
Barfoot Park
Lookout on Buena Vista Peak (view from Barfoot Park meadow)
Barfoot Park
Moonrise over Buena Vista Peak
Barfoot Park
Keep an eye out for the maker of this large cat-track
Barfoot Park
A couple of tables in trees below Barfoot Meadow (view W)
Barfoot Park
Cone from a Ponderosa Pine tree

Pinery Canyon Road (departing Rustler Park Road westbound towards Wilcox, AZ)

Pinery Canyon Road
Start of Pinery Canyon Road (view N from Rustler Park Road)
Pinery Canyon Road
Pinery Canyon Road -- lots of sharp curves (view N)
Pinery Canyon Road
Descending Pinery Canyon Road
Pinery Canyon Road
Descending Pinery Canyon Road
Pinery Canyon Road
Descending Pinery Canyon Road
Pinery Canyon Road
Descending Pinery Canyon Road
Pinery Canyon Road
Winding down Pinery Canyon Road (view W)
Pinery Canyon Road
Descending Pinery Canyon Road (view NW)
Pinery Canyon Road
Pinery Canyon Road at BLM Boondocking Camp area (view W)
Pinery Canyon Road
Pinery Canyon Road at BLM Boondocking Camp area (view W)
Pinery Canyon Road
Low on Pinery Canyon Road (view NW)
Pinery Canyon Road
Pinery Canyon Road traversing desert flats (view NW)
Pinery Canyon Road
Pinery Canyon Road passing ranches in the desert (view NW)
Pinery Canyon Road
Pinery Canyon Road at Highway 181 (view N)

Happy birding! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240610

Portal Area Favorite Places Birding Around Las Vegas Glossary Copyright, Conditions, Disclaimer Home
Google Ads