BLM and Partners to Hold the First Agua Fria Day
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PHOENIX – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), The Friends of the Agua Fria National Monument (FAFNM), and Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) will be teaming up to hold the first Agua Fria Day, May 7. The event is to celebrate the Agua Fria National Monument (AFNM) and how different organizations support it.
The family-friendly event will be held at Horseshoe Ranch, from 9 a.m. to noon. Horseshoe Ranch is owned and operated by AGFD and is encompassed by the AFNM.
Event goers will be able to enjoy a variety of activities from hands-on exhibits to educational lectures and tours. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the spectacular natural and cultural resources that make up this scenic landscape.
Horseshoe Ranch is on the AFNM, about 40 miles north of Phoenix. Take the I-17 North to the Bloody Basin Road exit (#259) and follow the dirt road east about six miles.
The 70,900-acre AFNM is approximately 40 miles north of central Phoenix, located on high mesa semi-desert grassland, cut by the canyon of the Agua Fria River. The diversity of vegetative communities, topographic features, and a dormant volcano decorates the landscape with a big rocky, basaltic plateau. The Agua Fria River canyon cuts through the plateau of this expansive mosaic of semi-desert area, cut by ribbons of valuable riparian forest, offers one of the most significant systems of prehistoric sites in the American Southwest. In addition to the rich record of human history, the monument contains outstanding biological resources.
There is a lot to see and do within the AFNM, depending on the season. Hiking, viewing cultural sites, wildlife viewing, bird watching, hunting, and scenic drives are just a sampling of activities you can enjoy.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.