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Arizona

Cave Creek Canyon Birding At Portal

Program No. 11973RJ
Boasting awe-inspiring landscapes and some of the richest wildlife diversity in the nation, it’s easy to see why Cave Creek Canyon is a mecca for both birds and birders alike.

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
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Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Apr 30 - May 5, 2023
Starting at
1,799
May 7 - May 12, 2023
Starting at
1,799
May 28 - Jun 2, 2023
Starting at
1,799
Jun 11 - Jun 16, 2023
Starting at
1,799
Oct 1 - Oct 6, 2023
Starting at
1,799
Nov 5 - Nov 10, 2023
Starting at
1,799
Apr 21 - Apr 26, 2024
Starting at
1,999
May 12 - May 17, 2024
Starting at
1,999
May 19 - May 24, 2024
Starting at
1,999
Jun 2 - Jun 7, 2024
Starting at
1,999
Jun 16 - Jun 21, 2024
Starting at
1,999
Oct 6 - Oct 11, 2024
Starting at
1,999
Oct 20 - Oct 25, 2024
Starting at
1,999
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Apr 30 - May 5, 2023
Starting at
2,039
May 7 - May 12, 2023
Starting at
2,039
May 28 - Jun 2, 2023
Starting at
2,039
Jun 11 - Jun 16, 2023
Starting at
2,039
Oct 1 - Oct 6, 2023
Starting at
2,039
Nov 5 - Nov 10, 2023
Starting at
2,039
Apr 21 - Apr 26, 2024
Starting at
2,229
May 12 - May 17, 2024
Starting at
2,229
May 19 - May 24, 2024
Starting at
2,229
Jun 2 - Jun 7, 2024
Starting at
2,229
Jun 16 - Jun 21, 2024
Starting at
2,229
Oct 6 - Oct 11, 2024
Starting at
2,229
Oct 20 - Oct 25, 2024
Starting at
2,229

At a Glance

One of the premier birding areas of the U.S., Cave Creek Canyon’s proximity to Mexico and unique highland habitat produce a rich mix of species. The Chiricahua Mountains provide a migration corridor above the surrounding desert and rise through seven life zones. Providing a wide range of ecosystems, it is one of only two sites in the U.S. where the Elegant Trogon nests and is home to 16 varieties of hummingbirds. Join a birding professional for daily field trips in our exploration of the mountains.
Activity Level
Outdoor: No Sweat
Walking up to one mile at a time; getting in/out of vans. Elevations of 8,000 feet.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Journey to the San Simon Valley to view Bendire’s Thrashers and Inca Doves before searching local mountains for Mexican Chickadees and Painted Redstarts.
  • Visit Cochise Lakes and the Willcox Playa, a habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds and a popular destination for birders.
  • Dazzle in the spectacular views — and spot high elevation birds — during a field trip to Rustler Park, located high in the Chiricahuas.

General Notes

All Road Scholar birding programs have a maximum participant-to-instructor ratio of 14:1 in the field. This program has a ratio of 8:1. We adhere to the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics. Learn more at http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Matt Brown
Matt Brown has been a birding enthusiast from a young age! In elementary school, Matt taught birding ID to his fellow classmates. He went on to study psychology at Syracuse University before moving to Arizona in 1998 to pursue his passion of bird watching and bird leader. Locally, Matt has worked for the Nature Conservancy, Patagonia Lake State Park, Road Scholar and local birding and butterfly festivals. Since 2002, Matt has owned the Patagonia Birding & Butterfly Company offering custom birding and butterfly programs.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Matt Brown
Matt Brown View biography
Matt Brown has been a birding enthusiast from a young age! In elementary school, Matt taught birding ID to his fellow classmates. He went on to study psychology at Syracuse University before moving to Arizona in 1998 to pursue his passion of bird watching and bird leader. Locally, Matt has worked for the Nature Conservancy, Patagonia Lake State Park, Road Scholar and local birding and butterfly festivals. Since 2002, Matt has owned the Patagonia Birding & Butterfly Company offering custom birding and butterfly programs.
Profile Image of Sharon Goldwasser
Sharon Goldwasser View biography
Sharon Goldwasser became an avid birder and naturalist as a student at UC-Santa Cruz. She worked as a field biologist for several years, then moved to Tucson for graduate school in ecology where she studied song mimicry by Lesser Goldfinches. In 1987, she routed her career into education, bringing love of science to thousands of middle school students. Since retiring from the classroom in 2020, she has renewed her birding passion and is excited to share knowledge of birds and the ecology of southern Arizona.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Mountain Islands and Desert Seas: A Natural History of the U.S. Mexican Borderlands.
by Gehlbach, Frederick R.
Birding Arizona
by McMillon, Bill
Trogons of the Arizona Borderlands
by Taylor, Richard Cachor
A Birder's Guide to Southeastern Arizona
by Lane, James A.
Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Third Edition.
by National Geographic Society
Davis and Russell's Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona
by Davis, William A. and Stephen M. Russell
Flowers of the Southwest Deserts
by Dodge, Natt
Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Uplands
by Elmore, Francis H.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.