FISH          AMPHIBIANS          REPTILES          BIRDS          MAMMALS

PLANTS          INVERTEBRATES

Coon Bluff lies within the Tonto National Forest, the fifth largest forest in the United States (covering almost 3 million acres, with elevations ranging from 1,300 to 7,900 feet). The Tonto National Forest is one of the most visited ?urban? forests in the U.S. Its boundaries are Phoenix to the south, the Mogollon Rim to the north, and the San Carlos and Fort Apache Indian Reservations to the east. Established in 1905, the primary purpose of this protected area is to protect the watersheds of the Salt and Verde rivers. Biodiversity abounds in the Tonto National Forest, with more than 400 vertebrate species represented, including 21 listed among federal and state Threatened and Endangered Species.

Coon Bluff is located in the Lower Salt River Recreation Area, 18 miles northeast of Mesa, Arizona.  At 1,340 feet elevation, this lush riparian area is ideal for bird-watching, wildlife observation, hiking and outdoor recreation. Coon Bluff is a popular river access point for tubers floating on the Lower Salt River. 

Biology students at Scottsdale Community College enrolled in ?Environmental Biology? or ?Natural History of the Southwest? participate in field trips to Coon Bluff. Students assist CNUW staff in collecting data (species inventories) from a designated area of approximately 10 acres.