Welcome to

Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center

A vibrant space for wildlife, scenic trails, and community programs in the heart of Phoenix.
Plan Your Visit
Aerial view of Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center. Photo: Luke Franke/Ä¢¹½Av
Discover adventure, birds, and how to make a difference at an Ä¢¹½Av center.

3131 South Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85040

Center:

Closed

Trails:

Open Hours: 7:00am - Sunset

About Us
Contact Us
Explore the Center
Our Local Birds
Get Involved
Plan Your Visit
Parking and Directions

Discover the beauty of the Sonoran Desert at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center. Just two miles from downtown Phoenix, our center welcomes visitors to explore scenic trails, spot native birds, and enjoy free community programs. Come experience where nature, learning, and adventure meet in the heart of the city. 

The center is open Tuesday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Even when we are closed, the birds are still here! Hiking and bike trails all around Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area are open for free, seven days a week, 365 days a year, from dawn to dusk. 

Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center Photo: Danny Roper-Jones/ Ä¢¹½Av Southwest
Visit Us!
Check out our indoor exhibits, borrow binoculars, and more!
Plan Your Visit
Learn More

Check out some of our programs, community events, or other ways to get involved at the center.

Looking through Microscope Photo: Danny RJ/ Ä¢¹½Av Southwest
Education Programs
Looking through scope at Rio Salado Photo: Juliana Gomez/Ä¢¹½Av Southwest
Bird and Nature Walks
Mujeres Show Photo: Danny RJ/ Ä¢¹½Av Southwest
Facility Rentals
Burrowing owl workday Photo: Luke Franke
Conservation Volunteer Days
Upcoming Events
View All Events
Nov
7
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center
Saturday Guided Bird Walk
Phoenix, AZ
Join our local bird enthusiasts for a guided bird walk through the Rio Salado habitat! These walks are for everyone: experts, novices, and people who...
Birding & Community Science In-Person
Nov
7
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center
Birds, Beer, and Birdsong Community Festival
Phoenix, AZ
Join the Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center for a free community festival on November 7! Come and celebrate sustainable food, beer, music, and our shared...
Art, Culture & Community In-Person
Nov
12
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center
Thursday Guided Bird Walk
Phoenix, AZ
Join us for a walk through the Rio Salado habitat. Together, we’ll explore the trails, enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, and observe the...
Birding & Community Science In-Person
Nov
21
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center
Saturday Guided Bird Walk
Phoenix, AZ
Join our local bird enthusiasts for a guided bird walk through the Rio Salado habitat! These walks are for everyone: experts, novices, and people who...
Birding & Community Science In-Person
Nov
21
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center
Nature Explorers
Phoenix, AZ
Join us for a fun, family-friendly nature adventure at the Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center! Families are invited to get outside, explore the trails and...
Family & Kids In-Person
Nov
21
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center
Rio Community Festival: Ancestral Showcase
Phoenix, AZ
Ä¢¹½Av Southwest is proud to host The Sagrado's 10th Annual Ancestral Showcase! This free, family-friendly gathering celebrates Indigenous music...
Family & Kids In-Person
Nov
28
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center
Habitat Restoration Volunteer Days at Rio Salado
Phoenix, AZ
Help restore habitat for birds at the Rio Salado Ä¢¹½Av Center! Spend a few hours outdoors making a difference for birds and their habitat at the...
Conservation & Habitat Restoration In-Person
Ä¢¹½Av Southwest
We protect birds and the places they need in Arizona and New Mexico, and throughout the hemisphere.
Visit Page
Greater Roadrunner standing on a branch
Visit Page
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Hiking trails
Venue rental
Group meeting space
Lodging
Herbarium
Rufous Hummingbird at flower.
Rufous Hummingbird. Photo: Melina Cronin/Ä¢¹½Av Photography Awards
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Hiking trails
Pollinator garden
Picnic area
Binoculars to borrow or rent
Nature store