Stay Overnight   Charming casitas are available late September through May for rental with natural hot springs a special treat for our overnight guests. Plan your trip today!   Hummingbird on Nest © Bob Griffith Calendar of Nature Events Wildlife is the number-one attraction at Arizona's six nature preserves open to the public. Visitors from all over the world come to see hundreds of species. See our Calendar of Nature Events. Summer Tanager © Bob Griffith Nature Walks One-mile, self-guided nature trail starts near the visitor center. Visitor Center © Debbie Hickey Preserve History Conservancy preserves in Arizona share much of the colorful history of the state itself including indians and cowboys, the cavalry, prospectors and Eastern dudes even a Civil War skirmish.    Where was that?   Galiruo Escarpment at Muleshoe Ranch   © The Nature Conservancy Getting There Need help finding our preserves? Download directions (.pdf, 114 kb) to the six Arizona preserves open to the public. (Get the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader). Rock Art © The Nature Conservancy Gila Chub © John Rinne/USFS Muleshoe Ranch   © Betsy D. Warner/TNC Burn Boss Bob Rogers © Dave Gori/TNC

The Muleshoe Ranch Cooperative Management Area (CMA) is 49,120 acres of rugged beauty, lush riparian areas and an array of recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. This area is a mosaic of public and private land cooperatively managed by The Nature Conservancy, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Coronado National Forest (USFS).  These three partners work together to conserve and enhance the unique ecosystems found here and to protect endangered species, as well as the areas they depend upon.

The Muleshoe Ranch CMA encompasses most of the watershed area for seven premanently flowing streams, representing some of the best remaining aquatic habitat in southeast Arizona. Some 80% of the region's wildlife species depend upon these streamside communities at some time in their lives. The importance of this area to early settlers is seen in the numerous ranches and homesteads that dotted the area in the last 150 years.

Planning Your Visit

The Muleshoe Ranch visitor center is owned and managed by the Conservancy. This area includes the nature trail, visitor center, and overnight lodging casitas. At the center you will find area maps and information on the local history and culture, flora and fauna, road conditions, backcountry camping and hiking spots and hunting areas.

Hours

Visitor center hours change seasonally.
The gate is open: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. during the following schedule:
March & April: Daily
June, July, August: Saturday & Sunday for day visitation only
September-February, May: Thursday-Monday
Closed: Tuesdays,Wednesdays & Christmas Day
Closed to day visitation: Thanksgiving Day           

All regulations and guidelines pertaining to public lands, including wilderness areas, apply to BLM and USFS lands within the CMA.  Access to the CMA by vehicle, horseback, or hiking is provided via Jackson Cabin Road. However, this road is limited to 4-wheel drive vehicles only, since it is very rough, not well maintained, and subject to regular washouts. Drivers assume this risk. Day hikers wishing to drive to Bass Canyon via Jackson Cabin Road are asked to park in the designated area found in the canyon.

A map of the CMA is posted at the welcome kiosk located at the entrance to the 4-wheel drive road. You will also find brochures and other information at this site. The Jackson Cabin Road passes through private property owned by The Nature Conservancy. Please respect its posted regulations. All visitors are required to sign in and out at the kiosk.

Gear
Sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, binoculars and plenty of water. High clearance vehicles with 4WD required for back country exploration.

Stay Overnight
Ideal for families, individuals and groups, the Conservancy offers charming, private casitas for overnight rental with natural hot springs tubs for casita guests only during late September-May. Get the details.

Also, Pride Ranch, owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy is located approximately six miles from the visitor center via Jackson Cabin Road. Please contact the Muleshoe Ranch Headquarters for information and availability.

Primitive Camping 
No camping is permitted at the Conservancy's visitor center or guest facilities. However, camping is permitted on BLM public lands and backcountry destinations in the CMA including Jackson Cabin (approximately 14 miles) and Hooker Cabin (approximately 20 miles). These facilities are on public land managed by the Coronado National Forest; visitors are welcome to use them on a first-come basis. Please respect these historical buildings. Activities permitted within these areas include hiking, low-impact camping unless posted otherwise, and horseback riding.

For the safety of others and protection of the sensitive wildlife and habitats in these areas, the CMA partners ask that you use all firearms in accordance with the Arizona Game and Fish rules and regulations and refrain from the following activities within these areas: collecting flora, fauna, minerals and artifacts; car or RV camping; operating vehicles off existing roads; littering or dumping refuse and woodcutting.

Stewardship
A primary goal of the Ecosystem Management Plan (EMP) for the Muleshoe is to restore and enhance riparian and aquatic habitat in Hot Springs, Bass, Double R and Wildcat creeks. The EMP's strategy for doing this is to improve the watershed condition by increasing the abundance and cover of perennial grasses and reducing shrubs. This will be accomplished by (1) restoring fire as a natural process to the Hot Springs watershed using prescribed burns; and (2) continued grazing rest until vegetation recovery occurs.

Burns completed:
1998: Double R Burn, 4720 acres
1999: Hot Springs Burn, 5515 acres
2000: Hooker Burn, 6950 acres
2005: Cherry/Swamp, 2500 acres

Watershed improvement benefits aquatic habitat and native fish. In-stream cover, an important component of fish habitat, has increased by more than 3.5 times in Hot Springs Creek. This includes increases in overhanging vegetation, floating/emergent vegetation, and undercut bank. The maximum depth of pools, glides and runs has also increased. The maximum depth of pools has increased and has the number of deep pools per mile in Hot Springs.

Five species of native fish can be found in Muleshoe's streams/creeks. Native fish density has increased significantly in Hot Springs showing an average annual increase of 6.9%. Gila chub captures and chub density have also increased with density increasing at an average annual rate of 18.5%. In 2005, the Gila chub was listed as an endangered species.

Give Nature a Hand
Volunteers offer the Conservancy a way to complete more critically important work while developing lasting friendships and having a lot of fun. Learn more about volunteer opportunities with The Nature Conservancy in Arizona.

Places to Visit
Want to know about other Arizona preserves open to the public? Download a flyer (.pdf, 246 kb) with the details. (Get the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Questions?
Call (520) 212-4295 or e-mail muleshoe@tnc.org

Nature picture credits (top, left to right): Galiuro Mountains at Muleshoe Ranch © Betsy D. Warner/TNC; Coatimundi © Debbie Hickey.

Gear