Cibola NF--Water Canyon

Tips for Birding

The Northern Wings blog has a description and tips for visiting Water Canyon.

Birds of Interest

All year:  Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay.
Mid-October through May:  Cassin's Finch. 
October-November and April-May:  Evening Grosbeak (irregularly). 
April-June:  Black-chinned Sparrow. 
April-July:  Olive Warbler, Mexican Whip-poor-will. 
April-August:  Red-faced Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Grace's Warbler, Virginia's Warbler.
April-September:  Pinyon Jay, Broad-tailed Hummingbird.
May-June:  Scott's Oriole (occasional), Willow Flycatcher (occasional), Flammulated Owl.
May-August:  Cactus Wren (occasional), Olive-sided Flycatcher.
July-August:  Rufous Hummingbird.

About this Location

This campground is located at an elevation of 6,800 feet in the Magdalena Mountains.

About Cibola National Forest

See all hotspots at Cibola National Forest

Cibola National Forest covers more than 1.6 million acres and includes mountains, grasslands, wilderness, and forests. The name Cibola comes from the Zuni word for their tribal lands, which the Spanish later translated as "buffalo". The forest is home black bears, cougars, elk, and pronghorn. Cibola National Forest offers many recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and skiing. It also has cultural and historical significance, as it contains ancient Native American sites and historic trails.

The National Forest has four ranger districts: Sandia, Mountainair, Magdalena, and Mount Taylor. In addition, the Cibola has four wilderness areas: Sandia Mountain, Manzano Mountain, Withington, and Apache Kid.

Notable Trails

The primary Magdalena Ranger District trails, accessible near the campground, are #235 (Water Canyon Trail), #39 (North Fork Trail), and #406 (Copper Canyon Trail).

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Entrance fee

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

Content from Official Website, Cibola National Forest Official Website, and John Montgomery

Last updated March 2, 2024