State Parks and National Parks

The San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, located 15 miles east of Douglas, covers 2400 acres of desert grassland, mesquite bosque, perennial streams and pools, and wetlands. Located 16 miles north of Douglas, the Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge covers more than 2700 acres of Chihuahuan desert scrub, desert grasslands, and has a rare walnut/ash riparian corridor with perennial streams and pools.

The refuges are home to a variety of desert wildlife including desert mule deer, coues deer, javelina, mountain lion, bobcat, coati, as well as rattlesnakes, lizards, insects, and fish.

The refuges are also home to the endangered Yaqui topminnow and Yaqui chub, and the threatened Chiricahua leopard frog, beautiful shiner and Yaqui catfish.

The refuges also offer some of the best bird watching areas in the country, with more than 285 documented species of birds.

The headquarters is located on the west side of Arizona Hwy. 191 at mile marker 11.2, north of Douglas.

The refuges are open to walk-ins from sunrise to sunset. Areas of Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge, south of Leslie Canyon Road, are closed to the public to preserve endangered plants and wildlife.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Courtesy of the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Courtesy of the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge Complex.