Photos: Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson
Madera Canyon south of Tucson is an oasis in the desert heat – one of several cooler spots in the mountains that are part of Coronado National Forest in Southern Arizona.
Madera Canyon features several picnic areas and hiking trails that offer some cover from the sun. It's a great place for spotting birds. Shorter trails like the Nature loop and Bog Springs Trail offer some cover and stay in the neighborhood, while longer trails lead into higher elevations and the Mount Wrightson Wilderness Area.
For more information, click here:Â Coronado National Forest web page
Madera Canyon, CNF, Arizona, 2022
Hikers walk along the Nature Trail inside Madera Canyon in the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley, Ariz. on July 10, 2022.
Madera Canyon, CNF, Arizona, 2022
A hiker walks across South Madera Canyon Rd near the Nature Trailhead inside Madera Canyon in the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley, Ariz. on July 10, 2022.
Madera Canyon, CNF, Arizona, 2022
A sign informing hikers about peaks seen in the distance can be seen along the Nature Trail inside Madera Canyon in the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley, Ariz. on July 10, 2022.
Madera Canyon, CNF, Arizona, 2022
A couple of hikers walk under a portion of the Nature Trail covered with trees inside Madera Canyon in the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley, Ariz. on July 10, 2022.
Madera Canyon, CNF, Arizona, 2022
A Giant Swallowtail butterfly sits on a flower along the Nature Trail inside Madera Canyon in the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley, Ariz. on July 10, 2022.
Madera Canyon, CNF, Arizona, 2022
A mountain side covered with green vegetation can be seen along the Nature Trail inside Madera Canyon in the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley, Ariz. on July 10, 2022.
Madera Canyon, CNF, Arizona, 2022
Skye Bloodgood takes pictures of humming birds near the Santa Rita Lodge at Madera Canyon in the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley, Ariz. on July 10, 2022.
Madera Canyon, CNF, Arizona, 2022
The morning light shines on some hills of the Santa Rita Mountains as seen from the Nature Trail inside Madera Canyon in the Coronado National Forest near Green Valley, Ariz. on July 10, 2022.
Madera Canyon, CNF, Arizona, 2022
Lieve Keeney, right, and her son Vince Keeney watch birds near the Santa Rita Lodge inside Madera Canyon in the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley, Ariz. on July 10, 2022.
Madera Canyon, CNF, Arizona, 2022
The Sierra Mountains can been in the distance from the Nature Trail inside Madera Canyon in the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley, Ariz. on July 10, 2022.
Madera Canyon, CNF, Arizona, 2022
The sunlight hit a portion of the Nature Trail inside Madera Canyon in the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley, Ariz. on July 10, 2022.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Birders Rachel Smith, left, Matt Gould, Mandy Weston, and Casey Zarnes look for birds on the Carrie Nation Trail in Madera Canyon on June 4, 2010.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Visitors to the Nature Trail in Madera Canyon east of Green Valley AZ. found a winter dusting of snow in Madera Creek in 2015.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Lucie Nelson, left, and her husband, Phillip , navigate the Super Trail, which starts at the Mt Wrightson Picnic Area in Madera Canyon.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Liza Campuzano and her husband Thomas walk along the road up Madera Canyon with their daughter Nikki Urrea after a February snow in 2009.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Shown in 2010, the Multiple Mirror Telescope of the Whipple Observatory on Mt. Hopkins at 6535 feet, at almost 3,000 feet below and west of the Mt. Wrightson summit of 9453 feet, at the end of the Super Trail, which begins in Madera Canyon.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Members of the Quail Creek Hikers walk along the Old Baldy Trail which ledes up to Josephine Canyon, in 2011. The trail starts at the Mt Wrightson Picnic Area in Madera Canyon.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Wildflowers scattered about the mountain sides along the lower elevations along the Super Trail above Madera Canyon in 2010.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
One of the many scenic views along the Dutch John Spring Trail in Madera Canyon, in 2010.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Scenes from a hike along the Accessible Trail in Madera Canyon in 2011.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
John Marsh, 89, pushes his wife Kate Marsh, 79, along the Accessible Trail in Madera Canyon in 1999.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Two hummingbirds visit a feeder at the Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon in 2018.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Four wild turkeys on the move in Madera Canyon in 2018.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Madera Creek gives a chilly reception due to snow melt from the peaks above Madera Canyon in March, 2020
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
A pair of deer watch from the cover of tall grasses as a hiker passes nearby in Madera Canyon in 2017.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Cloud-capped Mount Wrightson towers above Madera Canyon in 2017.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Hikers cross the Madera Creek in Madera Canyon in 2006.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Summer poppies, also known as caltrops, blooming in Madera Canyon in 2016.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
A hiker strolls through verdant beauty along the Carrie Nation Trail in Madera Canyon in 2014.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Rangers walk along the newly repaired Proctor Loop Trail at Madera Canyon in 2019. The short paved trail is handicapped accessible.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
People take in the sights of the newly repaired Proctor Loop Trail at Madera Canyon on Dec. 3, 2019.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Sean Nelson, center, and his son Jack mix it up as their family plays in the snow at the Nature Trail parking lot in Madera Canyon in 2015.
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Ann and Louis Kohl out enjoying their nature walk in Madera Canyon in 2012.
Rebecca Sasnett
Photojournalist
Rick Wiley
Photo editor