San Pedro House
San Pedro House, a historic ranch house restored by the Friends of the San Pedro River, is a bookstore and gift shop run by volunteers. The area around the San Pedro House features interpretive signs which inform visitors about various native plants, riparian areas, watersheds and aquifers, and wildlife.
The American Bird Conservancy has identified the San Pedro House area as being significant for world bird conservation and has officially designated it as a globally important bird area.
The San Pedro House has a parking area, trash facilities, double-vault toilet, and picnic tables for public use. The area features a trail network for a variety of recreational uses such as hiking, bicycling, equestrian, and wildlife viewing. Some of the natural interests around the areas 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 the cottonwood behind the house was planted in 1956.
- Abandoned agricultural fields dominate the landscape here and were once used for growing alfalfa and other feed for cattle. Native vegetation is steadily returning as can be seen along the Del Valle Trail.
- The riparian forest, one of the most rare forest types in the world, stands in stark contrast to the adjacent fields. The cottonwood and willow trees provide essential habitat for a variety of wildlife, including over 350 species of birds. The trees and other riparian vegetation also promote soil deposition, which over time, will refill the incised channel.
- 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!
Accessibility Description (ABA/ADA)
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Parking. Parking for this site is in a large, packed-gravel lot with room for about 60 cars. There is 1 paved designated accessible parking space next to the concrete sidewalk that leads to the toilet, contact station, and picnic ramadas. Cell phone reception is generally good at this site.
Toilet and drinking water. An accessible double vault toilet on a concrete pad sits near the front of the site. The site has 3 water spigots for public use, 2 in the picnic areas and 1 near the San Pedro House. The spigots in the picnic areas have easy-to-use lever valves.
Visitor contact station. A wheelchair ramp in the rear of the contact station allows mobility device users to access the building. The contact station is staffed 7 days per week and has a bookstore and gift shop. Staff lead tours and can provide information about the site. In addition, a wall of interpretation with details about the history of the site and the surrounding area sits near the large cottonwood tree to the right of the picnic ramada, about 50-75 yards from the parking area.
Picnic areas. A large ramada near the parking area and toilet covers a dozen plastic picnic tables with inset legs, allowing wheelchair users to pull up to the ends. In addition, near the wall of interpretation, there are 2 shade structures that each cover 2 picnic tables on a concrete pad. These tables can accommodate wheelchair users. There are also several uncovered accessible picnic tables under the cottonwood trees that grow behind the San Pedro House. Trash receptacles are available for all these picnic areas.
Trails. About 500-600 yards of paths of packed dirt lead through the gardens and picnic areas. An engineered, hard-packed natural surface path 1-2 miles long takes visitors to Phoebe Pond. Visitors can also take a hard-packed trail from San Pedro House to the San Pedro River and then back to King Fisher Pond or the House, follow a loop around a large agricultural field, and connect with the San Pedro Traverse Trail.
Numbered interpretive signs are scattered along the trails. A booklet available at the contact station provides a key to each sign. There are 3-4 benches without arms along the main loop trail leading from the San Pedro House to the river and back.
Descriptions and photos uploaded February 2025. Please note that actual on-the-ground conditions may vary due to natural events (e.g., weather, wildfires, erosion), normal wear and tear, or site improvements.
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Geographic Coordinates
Directions
From Tucson, follow I-10 E to AZ-90 S (exit 302). Follow AZ-90 S for 27.4 miles. Turn left to stay on AZ-90 S at the light on the intersections of Hatfield Street and North Buffalo Soldier Trail. Follow AZ-90 S for 4.4 miles until you turn left using the two left lanes on the intersections of AZ-92 S and Fry Boulevard. Continue on AZ-90 S for 9 miles until you see the San Pedro House sign. Turn right into the parking area.
Fees
Day use throughout the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area is free; you don't need a permit.
You must have a permit for overnight backcountry camping. Permit fees are $2 per person per night. You may have a campfire only in designated areas. Camping is limited to seven consecutive nights in any one location, unless otherwise authorized.
Commercial operators must secure special authorization prior to their planned visit.