Oracle State Park with Ranger Michael -- Thursday 4/9/2026
Cost: $10 (State Park Annual Fee) and $10.00 for the driver if you are carpooling.
Oracle State Park is a beautiful 4,000-acre wildlife refuge located in the northern foothills of the Catalina Mountains in Arizona. It offers a variety of activities, including hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails. The park is also a designated International Dark Sky Park, making it an excellent spot for stargazing.
The park features over 15 miles of trails, including a selection of the Arizona Trail. It also serves as a Center for Environmental Education, offering a selection of interactive programs. The historic Kannally Ranch House, located within the park, provides a glimpse into the area's history.
Ranger Michael Bain will begin the tour with a 30-minute presentation/demonstration where he will go over settings & techniques for landscape & wildlife photography. Then we will hike a 1.2-mile nature trail, making stops along the way to practice.
The park's diverse habitats, ranging from oak-woodland to desert grassland, supports a rich variety of wildlife. You can encounter various mammals, such as Coues white-tailed deer, Bobcats, Javelinas, Gray foxes, Cottontail rabbits, Coyotes and Mountain lions (occasionally). Birders will enjoy Scrub jays, Gambel’s quail, Great horned owls, Cooper’s hawks, Red-tailed hawks, Harris’s hawks, Gila woodpeckers, Hooded orioles and many others, depending on the time of the year.
Binoculars are a must if you don't have a long lens. A small notebook and pen or pencil would be useful to record your sightings. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes, hat and shoes. Participants need to be comfortable walking on a trail hike of mostly flat to slightly uneven terrain with rolling hills.
Bring water.
Bring your lunch so you can spend as much time as you want observing birds or enjoying the interactive programs. For those wanting to top the day off at a local restaurant, we will be dining at the Ore House Hilltop Tavern.
Meet at the Photography Club lobby at 8:00 AM for carpooling. If you are going to carpool with someone, a minimum donation for gas should be $10.00 (168-mile round trip). We will leave promptly at 8:30 for Oracle State Park.
GVR requires that every person participating in Photography Club Field Trips must sign a one-time waiver absolving GVR of any liability. You may sign the waiver at the Photography Club or the morning of the trip, if you have not completed one already.
Elvira Bayless will be our leader and Ranger Michael will be our guide. For questions, email Elvira at eabayless@gmail.com. If you must cancel on the morning of the trip, call Elvira at 541-480-9388 so we won't be waiting for you.
If you need to cancel, please contact Lynn Rozema, Field Trip Coordinator at 719-351-5193 or email at lrozema51@gmail.com as soon as know you cannot attend. On the day of the trip, contact Lynn so we have time to contact people on the wait list to take your place.
NOTICE:
This is a walking tour that lasts about 2-3 hours. All participants need to be responsible for an assessment of their mobility and health issues relating to field trips. Some trips may not be appropriate, but you must make that determination. However, the trip leader may deny participation in a specific field trip to anyone deemed not suitably prepared or able to walk with the group.
Be sure to have your GVR card with you for each and every field trip. Without it, you won't be allowed to go on the trip. No refunds will be granted for failure to comply with this requirement. To protect GVR and club member benefits, GVR has implemented a new process that requires each field trip participant to come into the club and scan his/her GVR card to confirm eligibility. We no longer have the option of typing in your name or GVR number – only the physical GVR card will do.
We will no longer meet in the parking lot. We will meet in the GVR Photography Club where you will scan your GVR card confirming your eligibility to go on the trip. We’ll also review important/late-breaking information, pair up drivers and riders, provide driving directions, and give participants a chance to visit the restrooms prior to departure. Again, be sure to have your GVR card with you.
The club strives to provide several field trips specifically designed for members with physical limitations.
To participate in this event, you must be a member of the GVR Photography Club and GVR.
The GVR Photography Club is located in the Recreation Village of Santa Rita Springs.