ramsey canyon preserve

The road on the way had a controled fire the day before we got there but every thing was fine at the ranch. We went through the ranch house and check out the old place. Nice view for a ranch. Lot of bird watchers around.

The admission fee was well worth the price. Get there early, especially on the weekend, as parking spaces fill up fast. There is a nice two hour guided tour (free with admission) beginning at 8:30 am. Tom Clancy was our guide (not the famous author) and did an excellent job of talking about the history as well as the flora and fauna of the canyon. Although we didn't spot any hummingbirds, we saw some other common birds and the beautiful trees and enjoyed the babbling creek. The weather wasn't ideal on this day (cloudy and a bit cool) but the air was very fresh and the smell of the pines and other flowers was great! The climb up the Hamburg Trail to the overlook was steep but worth it for the view at 6200 feet. A wonderful riparian oasis in the Huachuca mountains!

The Preserve is very nice, well kept, clean, etc. and all of the volunteers do an excellent job keeping it that way, however, be aware that you are paying an entrance fee to basically hike a National Forest Service trail. Only saw a few birds during our hike but it appears we were a little early for the migration.

Apart from the birds, butterflies and deer (which we saw up close) there is a lovely easy walk along the canyon stream in the foothills of the mountain. then there is a more energetic uphill walk to an outlook overlooking the neighbouring mountains and canyons. it is well worth the effort. we are in our mid 60s and we were ok - there are lots of benches for resting which you will have to do if like us you are used to living at sea level!

There is a fee to visit the preserve - $6 for non-county residents or Nature Conservancy members. Consider it a donation to a good organization to maintain this trail system and wildlife habitat. The trail up the canyon along the creek (about 1/2 mile) is passable by stroller, with a few bumpy spots. Beyond that, the 1/2 mile hike up to the canyon overlook is steep and will get your heart pounding. There are plenty of benches along the way to rest, so definitely give it a go. During the winter, in midday, the bird life wasn't greatly abundant (we didn't see one hummingbird), but there were a few nice bird sightings (painted restart, hermit thrush, bridled titmouse), and strolling or sitting along the pretty creekside trail alone was worth the visit.

I've been "burned" before at another Nature Conservancy property so there was a bit of hesitation in paying the entry fee for this one. But the grounds looked pretty darn nice from the outside and the people inside were helpful way beyond expectations. We came to hike, and we got good directions on the destination inside the conservancy - The Lookout. A very impressive trail, beginning with a meandering walk along a fast moving creek with tumbling falls and side loops for relaxation and viewing wildlife. The trail is STEEP once you get out of the sycamore groves (astounding trees in and of themselves.) The overlook is pretty cool; you'll see the geology and the rapid change in environment as you gaze across the canyon. Binocs help! Press on further another quarter mile (looks steeper than it is) down to some wonderful waterfall areas. Nothing that involves a high falls, but many short cascading beauties. Could easily have spent an our or more there taking photos - it is gorgeous. But we were hiking late in the day and they close at 4 pm. The walk back went way fast, coming down is much much faster. We sat on a bench for the last 20 minutes, warm sun on our backs, overlooking a small big-grass field with deer feeding at the edge not 50 feet away while the creek bubbled along behind them. Magical! Recommended for the hike, the creek, the sycamore grove, the wildlife, and the helpful and enthusiastic staff. Only $6 a person, pass is good for a week. First Saturday of every month is free admission. Worth the $6 for sure.

We enjoyed what I'm sure was a very unique time in the preserve as it rained all weekend long. The fog and rain made the desert beautiful with rich colors and smells that made our visit out of the ordinary and worth while. I'm sure it wouldn't be the same in the summer heat.

We really enjoyed our visit to the Preserve, although we didn't have the amount of time we would have liked to have. We went in the late afternoon, as a afterthought, and only had about 2 hours of daylight. Ramsey Canyon is known foremost for its abundance of hummingbirds...but not in the winter!!! We knew that to be the case and wanted to hike along the creek and have the grandkids do the nature activity from the visitor's center. We were there after Christmas but saw White-tail deer, turkey, one little hummer (not sure of the tune), old cabins and the pond being used to help bring back the native leopard frog. We will definitely come back in a warmer season but enjoyed our trek.

The caretakers at Ramsey Canyon Preserve do their utmost to preserve the undisturbed natural state of the area without being overly obtrusive or restrictive. The walking paths are clearly marked, as are the historical sites. The trees are beautiful, and the views and scenery are inspiring. My wife and I had a deer walk nearly three feet away from us. We felt we could've reached out to pet it, had we wanted to. Ramsey is a beautiful location worthy of visiting at least once a year. Fall is beautiful up there, as they have many deciduous trees that turn a beautiful array of holiday colors.

This place beats Mount Lemon by many points. Slight increase in elevation and a wodnerful hiking experience- even for someone like me..haha. Saw six wild turkeys and a few deer. This is truly where God played as a child and created an amazing serene and peaceful area. Highly recomend thsi place for getting in touch with nature.

I live near Ramsey Canyon so I get to experience the preserve at different times of the year. Although it is amazing, beautiful and full of wildlife all year this monsoon season it was particularly beautiful due to the abundance of rainfall that filled the creeks. Also, with the turning of the leaves this fall and the water flowing in the creeks, it is truly a sight to behold.

We were advised by a couple from Tuscon we met on holiday that Ramsey Canyon was THE place we had to visit during our time in Sierra Vista if we enjoyed bird watching and photography. We should have ignored that advice. Yes, the visitor centre was packed with information and the staff were extremely enthusiastic. It is a lovely area and it was a beautiful day. We saw a few deer and a large number of butterflies as we walked very slowly (and quietly!) along the trail. Three birds of the same species were happily eating the seeds/fruits in one tree and I spied a single hummingbird high above our heads. And that was it! It wasn't just that we couldn't see them, there were absolutely no sounds either. Although breeding season had long since finished, we did expect there to be something of a resident population. Depending on the season, we see around 15 different species of bird in our own garden every single day of the year so, understandably, we left Ramsey Canyon very disappointed.

I grew up in the area and have been gone for a long time. Came back and decided to visit several canyon including Ransey Canyon. It is such a beautiful place to hang out for the day. Bring you hiking shoes and enjoy. The best time is in the spring and fall but anytime will do.

We've been coming to Ramsey Canyon since 1995, and have seen many changes. We once stayed in one of the old cabins razed by TNC as part of the effort to restore the canyon to pre-settlement conditions. We saw the limited period of the touted Clivus Multrum pit toilet, the removal of invasive verbena, the transformation of the concrete pond to the wetland, and the appearance of the new visitor center and parking lot. The changes in the hummingbird viewing area(s) and the routing of the trail near the center and through the hummingbird feeder area have proven to be the poorest of decisions. The strife between types of users/visitors shown in a couple of the previous reviews are largely the result of this poor design feature--and it could so easily be remedied.The is a wonderful site for families with young children and for serious hummingbird watchers. Separate them simply by routing that small section of trail away from the creek and hummer feeder area, or move the hummingbird feeder sties.The docents do a great job, but shouldn't have to referee among visitors with differing expectations. Just reroute that short section of trail!

We walked the first part of the trail (half mile one way) which is very flat, easy, and scenic. Loved the big sycamores and the creek. We did not see much wildlife, but saw wild turkeys and deer at the inn we stayed at right next to the preserve entrance. They offered us a military discount and the admission tickets were good for 7 days. The morning walk along the road and on the inn property was so great that I wish the preserve opened earlier than 8 am.