My apologies for the delay in getting this post out – I’ve had some technical challenges. This is the last installment in relation to the desert wanderings we undertook during our trip to Arizona in August. We saved the last day for our favorite ramble… Ramsey Canyon. Sierra Vista is located at the base of the Huachuca Mountains in southeast Arizona, and Ramsey Canyon reaches up into those mountains from just 
outside Sierra Vista. The mountains are diverse and unique, the canyon breathtakingly beautiful : the paths are mostly wooded in the lower portion of the canyon, and much of it winds alongside or very near to Ramsey Creek, making it dappled and pleasant. The high canyon walls are dotted sparsely with vegetation, but your eyes will inevitably be drawn to the imposing cliffs towering periodically over the trails, some of which have been home to Golden Eagle nests.
Ramsey Canyon is owned and maintained by the Nature Conservancy. Parking is free in the small gravel parking lot, but there is a small charge to access the canyon trails. There is a gift shop and bathroom facilities here, as well as maps and information about the canyon. There are usually a couple of friendly naturalists on hand to answer questions and fill you in on the latest wildlife 
sightings along the trails. Behind the building you’ll find several seating areas located within good viewing of multiple hummingbird feeders, which are often quite busy! This hummingbird was visiting a feeder just off the back of the Nature Conservancy building.
Our day began quite warm, but the shade offered by towering cottonwoods and sycamores kept us fairly comfortable. We walked slowly, savoring the 
beauty of the canyon and lazily scanning the trees and trailside for birds, reptiles, mammals… and anything else we considered of beauty or fascination. I loved the way these leaves stood out in such contrast against the tree trunk (photo to the right) – I know I’ve said it before, but I find textures such as this so intriguing! In contrast, and more in 
keeping with the desert flora you might expect to find in Arizona, the Prickly Pear cactus jutting from the top of these rocks was certainly eye-catching as well! Ramsey Canyon offers an interesting variety of habitats, including meadows and, in the higher reaches of the canyon, more arid and open areas of sparse vegetation and rocky outcroppings. The Nature Conservancy has built and maintains a series of ponds as well, to help support a population of endangered Chiricahua Leopard Frogs. The woodland we spent our morning in is dotted with buildings, most of them abandoned, or remnants of buildings that have a rich history, and serve to punctuate the nature trails with a hint of nostalgia.
As we walked along, we did manage to spot a few creatures, such as this stunning lizard, one foot poised in readiness to respond to danger. Apparently we kept a distance that he considered quite respectable, as he moved only slowly, with no signs of being alarmed by our presence. We spotted a couple of additional lizard species further up the path, including a tree lizard that virtually disappeared when standing on tree bark – very aptly named critter! Mule deer are seen quite often in Ramsey Canyon, and this visit was no exception, we counted about a dozen at various points along the trail. Hummingbirds could be heard whizzing by, woodpeckers calling, and many species of butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies kept us company along the way.
We spent several hours wandering up and down the canyon trails, happy to explore and stroll at a leisurely pace. If you ever find yourself near the Sierra Vista area, I would definitely recommend a visit to Ramsey Canyon!
And now… to wrap up our trip to southeastern Arizona, I will leave you with an image that, to me, has always evoked warm and very happy thoughts of the 
Grand Canyon state… the majestic Saguaro Cactus.
Until next time!