Estrella Mountain Regional Park

Fast Flight Facts

Target Species:  Desert and water birds

Elevation: 910'

Habitat:  Lower Sonoran Desert, mesquite bosque, open grass lawns with tall non-native trees

Overall Birding Rating: 3

Difficulty: 1-4 (Easy through Difficult)

Birding Type: Easy Hiking through Difficult Hiking

Facilities:  Parking, Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Playgrounds, Visitor Center

Fees/Ownership:  $6.00/ Maricopa County Regional Parks

Closest Town or City/How far from Phoenix:  Goodyear /17.5 miles southwest of Phoenix

Getting there:  Reached at the southeast side of Estrella Parkway and Vineyard Avenues (south of Vineyard)

Overview:  Estrella Mountain Regional Park is owned by Maricopa County Reigonal Parks and Recreation.  It has a wide array of hiking trails, where the usual desert species are readily observed.  The Park is also a very pleasant place to visit during migration and winter.  Several mesqute bosques and large non-native trees make Estrella a very productive place during migration. 

Birding Tip:  Estrella Park costs $6.00 per vehicle entry per day.  Consult a park map to access the many trails in the park.  Some of the best birding is done in the main section of the park, which contains the picnic areas, recreation fields, and playgrounds.  The stands of non-native trees in this area as well as the mesquite bosques have been good for migrants in season and interesting wintering birds.  A Vermilion Flycatcher is often fond of the mesquite bosques here at Estrella.

Directions:  From the 1-10 West, take the Estrella Parkway exit.  Then, head south on Estrella Parkway for 5 miles to Vineyard Avenue.  Once crossing the long bridge over the Gila River, make a left turn (east) on Vineyard Avenue.  Proceed east for 0.5 miles to the entrance to the Park on the south side of Vineyard.

Pages:

Scenes and Sights from Estrella Mountain Regional Park:

Birdlife of Estrella Mountain Regional Park:

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Rock Wrens

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