Family Activities
Picnicking
Proctor Picnic Area and Trailhead lie at the entrance to Madera Canyon. The site offers panoramic views of the Santa Rita Mountains and surrounding grasslands. Visitors can have a picnic under a shaded ramada, visit the interpretive ramada to learn about the plants and wildlife in the area, and enjoy a walk along the Madera Nature Trail. All facilities at this site are accessible to visitors with disabilities.
A Visitor Information Station at the Proctor parking area, run by Friends of Madera Canyon volunteers, is usually open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays year-round. Hours are typically 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in summer and 10 to 2 pm in fall and winter.
The Whitehouse Picnic Area is named for the nearby ruins of an old white adobe house built at the mouth of Madera Canyon in the 1880s. Tables and charcoal grills are tucked under mesquite and oak trees a short distance from Madera Creek. In addition to the single table sites, facilities include a large ramada for group get-togethers.
The Madera Canyon Picnic Area, with 11 individual sites, sprawls along the bank of Madera Creek and offers an excellent place for wildlife viewing and for families to enjoy the canyon’s beauty. The Madera Nature Trail passes through the picnic area, allowing easy access to this creekside trail. A variety of wildlife frequents this picnic area. Always observe wildlife from a distance, for their safety and yours, and never feed wild animals. Please pick up all trash, including food scraps, and dispose of it properly in the bear-proof trash bins.
Mt. Wrightson Picnic Area offers trailheads, 20 picnic sites, and a shade ramada with interpretive signs and benches. Mount Wrightson Picnic Area is located at the end of Madera Canyon Road. Tables and fire grills are scattered in the shade of a stand of silver leaf and Arizona white oaks. Views stretch up Mount Wrightson to the top of the Santa Ritas and down Madera Canyon to the Santa Cruz Valley and the community of Green Valley.
Camping & Cabins
Bog Springs Campground
The Bog Springs Campground in Madera Canyon has 13 campsites suitable for tents or RVs, although no RV hookups are provided. Campsites are available for a daily fee on a first-come, first-served basis. A campground host is generally on-site. Toilets and drinking water are available at the campground, and each campsite has a table and fire grill. Bring your own firewood, charcoal, or camp stove. This is a pack-it-in, pack-it-out facility.
Kent Springs Cabin
Kent Springs Cabin is tucked in riparian woodland along Madera Creek in the Madera Canyon Recreation Area 15 miles southeast of Green Valley, Arizona in the Coronado National Forest of southeastern Arizona. Located in an area boasting unique natural features and historical sites, the cabin is ideal for guests seeking relaxation and recreation. The kitchen and restroom are wheelchair-accessible. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Proctor Road Dispersed Camping
Located at 4,500 feet in elevation amid desert grassland and oak woodland, this dirt road offers access to established dispersed camping sites. All sites are first come, first served. There is a 14-day stay limit per 60-day period. Please use existing sites only. There are no restrooms or trash cans. Please pack out all of your waste.
Take a hike on family-friendly trails
Madera Canyon is known for its exceptional and varied hiking trails. Families find Proctor Trail and the Nature Trail best for children. Always bring drinking water hiking and stay on the trails. Do not short-cut switch-back trails, this leads to soil erosion. Hiking brochures, with detailed trail maps are available at each trailhead and the Santa Rita Lodge.
Games
I Spy Or Scavenger Hunt (check them off the list)
