San Pedro House

San Pedro House is a historic ranch house restored by the Friends of the San Pedro River. It serves as a bookstore and gift shop run by volunteers. The area around the house has interpretive signs about native plants, riparian areas, watersheds, aquifers, and wildlife.

San Pedro House is a renowned birding destination. It sits at a hub of trails leading to the San Pedro River and two ponds. The American Bird Conservancy has designated this area as a globally important for bird area.

The house has a parking area for cars and trailer-towing vehicles, trash facilities, double-vault toilet, and picnic tables for public use. The area features trails for hiking, bicycling, equestrian activities, and wildlife viewing. Some natural interests include: The Big Cottonwood Tree (west of the house), which is not as old as you might think.

Cottonwoods grow very quickly in favorable conditions. This one is estimated to be between 90 and 130 years old, whereas the cottonwood behind the house was planted in 1956. Abandoned agricultural fields, once used for growing alfalfa and cattle feed, dominate the landscape.

Native vegetation is steadily returning along the Del Valle Trail. The riparian forest, one of the rarest forest types, contrasts with the adjacent fields. Cottonwood and willow trees provide habitat for over 350 bird species and other wildlife.

These trees and other vegetation promote soil deposition, refilling the incised channel over time. Linear pools, which often form along rivers, provide excellent habitat for turtles, frogs and fish. They are created by a wash coming into the river, thick vegetative growth or changes in underground geology.

Kingfisher Pond was created years ago when this area was a sand and gravel quarry. The large hole created by the operation eventually filled up with ground and flood water. There are no surface inlets or outlets.

Green kingfishers are often spotted here!