Sycamore Creek, Mazatzal Mountains

Sycamore Creek drains a good portion of the western slopes of the Mazatzal Mountains, a north-south oriented range marking the boundary between Maricopa and Gila Counties, Arizona. As the creek flows south and west it begins among ponderosa pines, traverses pinyon-juniper woodlands, rugged granite boulders and finally meanders through Upland Sonoran Desert before joining the Verde River. The lower portions are dry except during brief downpours whereas the upper reaches are shady oases with many grand trees, especially Arizona Sycamore. It is a haven for birds and wildlife, but also many recreationists arriving from the hot desert metropolis, Phoenix.

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Map of Sycamore Creek and Mount Ord

View Sycamore Creek in a larger map. The Bee Line Highway follows Sycamore Creek, crossing it several times. The upper portion, marked with green, flows through a diverse gallery of riparian trees and shrubs. The lower portion, marked with brown, reaches the hot Sonoran Desert where desert scrub predominates outside of the riparian corridor.

Arizona Sycamore trees provide shade next to an abandoned segment of the Beeline Highway near Sunflower, Arizona.

When SR-87, also known as the Beeline Highway was widened, this older segment in the riparian corridor of Sycamore Creek near Sunflower was abandoned. Thus the trees and wildlife habitats are preserved and are much quieter.

A shrine placed in memory of Steve Proctor, a motorist killed at this spot near Sycamore Creek.

Now, SR-87 is four lanes, divided, and presumably safer. This marker has been maintained by family or friends in this peaceful spot along the old route where one can walk and view wildlife safely for several miles near the creek.


Mid May is a very busy season among the trees in riparian canyons. Temperatures are usually warm, pushing 30° C+ during the day. Many of the trees bare fresh new leaf growth that is highly palatable to insect larvae. And, that mean an abundance of food for hungry nestlings of many bird species. This Black Phoebe nest was found under a culvert and has been constructed from sticky mud and strands of grass. Soon the nestlings will fledge and require more soft insects to eat. Black Phoebes primarily catch soft-bodied, flying insects and rarely stray far from open water.

Black Phoebes in nest, Sayornis nigricans, photo © by Mike Plagens

Common and Interesting Plants along Sycamore Creek in the Mazatzal Mountains

(Follow thumb images for more info.)

Trees & Shrubs

Arizona Sycamore

Arizona Sycamore

Goodding's Willow

Goodding's Willow

Red Willow

Red Willow

Arizona Walnut

Arizona Walnut

Net-leaf Hackberry

Net-leaf Hackberry

Velvet Ash

Velvet Ash

Velvet Mesquite

Velvet Mesquite

Catclaw Acacia

Catclaw Acacia

Wait-a-Minute Bush

Wait-a-Minute Bush

Arizona Cypress

Arizona Cypress

Tamarisk

Salt Cedar

Wright's Thelypody

Wright's Thelypody

Fremont Cottonwood

Fremont Cottonwood

Skunk Bush

Skunk Bush

Seep Baccharis

Seep Baccharis

Desert Hackberry

Desert Hackberry

Canyon Grape

Canyon Grape

Deer Grass

Deer Grass

Desert Honeysuckle

Desert Honeysuckle

Desert Broom

Desert Broom

Desert Willow

Desert Willow

False Indigo

False Indigo

Scrub Live Oak

Scrub Live Oak

Birch-leaf Mountain Mahogany

Birch-leaf Mountain Mahogany

Shrubby Perennials

Horehound

Horehound

Silver Wormwood

Silver Wormwood

Desert Globe Mallow

Desert Globe Mallow

Sand Wash Groundsel

Sand Wash Groundsel

Common Mullein

Common Mullein

Western Poison Ivy

Western Poison Ivy

Herbaceous Perennials & Annuals

Spreading Fleabane

Spreading Fleabane

White Sweet Clover

White Sweet Clover

Silver-leaf Nighshade;Horse Nettle

Silver-leaf Nighshade

Prickly Lettuce

Prickly Lettuce

Spiny Sow Thistle

Spiny Sow Thistle

Annual Sunflower

Annual Sunflower

Water Speedwell

Water Speedwell

Sacred Datura

Sacred Datura

Ivy-leaf Groundcherry

Ivy-leaf Groundcherry

irisleaf rush

Iris-leaf Rush

Johnson Grass

Johnson Grass

Bermuda Grass

Bermuda Grass

Prickly Poppy

Prickly Poppy

New Mexico Groundsel

New Mexico Groundsel

Clustered Dock

Clustered Dock

Common Scouring Rush

Common Scouring Rush

Scarlet Four O'Clock

Scarlet Four O'Clock

Red Brome Grass

Red Brome Grass

Fauna along Sycamore Creek

Frequent Birds

Phainopepla

Phainopepla

Black Phoebe

Black Phoebe

Western Wood-Pewee

Western Wood-Pewee

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Western Kingbird

Western Kingbird

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Yellow Warbler

Yellow Warbler

American Robin

American Robin

Black-headed Grosbeak

Black-headed Grosbeak

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

Summer Tanager

Summer Tanager

Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Lesser Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch

Gila Woodpecker

Gila Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker

Cactus Wren

Cactus Wren

Greater Roadrunner

Greater Roadrunner

Verdin

Verdin

Hooded Oriole

Hooded Oriole

Common Butterflies & Cool Insects

Buckeye

Buckeye

Queen

Queen

Arizona Red Spotted Purple

Arizona Red Spotted Purple

Arizona Sister photo by Bruce Walsh

Arizona Sister

Orange Skipperling

Orange Skipperling

Checkered White

Checkered White

Horsetail Sawfly

Horsetail Sawfly

Two-tailed Swallowtail

Two-tailed Swallowtail

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Spring Azure

Spring Azure

Marine Blue

Marine Blue

Lewis Soldier Beetle

Lewis Soldier Beetle

Black Fly

Black Fly

Wood Ant

Wood Ant


Arizona Naturalist
More Sycamore Canyons
Sycamore Woodland Trees and Shrubs
Sycamore Canyon Wildflowers
Sycamore Insects & Spiders


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Copyright Michael J. Plagens, page created 3 January 2015