ArtCentrics

Event Planning

Event date:  3 Nights of Wednesday, April 15th - Friday, April 17th
2025-11-16 ZOOM Meeting Recording 30 minutes (MP4)
2025-11-29 ZOOM Meeting Recording 24 minutes (MP4)

Location: 
  • Near Portal Arizona
  • Google Map
  • Dark Sky Map
    • SQM: 21.99 mag/arc sec
    • Bortle: Class 2
  • Climate Conditions: Portal Climate Conditions webpage.

Season: March 01 - October 31  

SWRS Materials:
  • SWRS Directions and Map (PDF)
  • SWRS Grounds Map (PDF)
  • SWRS Guest Information (PDF)

Important Details: 
  • Pets are NOT permitted
  • No Cell phone coverage
  • Drive Time
    • From Chandler 4:18
    • From Tucson 3:00

Local Activities: 
  • Birding - See Birding Resources below
  • Hiking
    • Hikes in the Area
      • Chiricahua Mount Trails (76)

    • Some Recomended Hikes - Please note some of the hike may be accessed via dirt road.
      • Silver Peak Trail #280 | Hard | 10.2 Miles | Accumulated Elevation Gain (AEG): 3,000' | Access: Paved Road |

  • Chiricahua National Monument (Drive = 1:20)
    • Hikes in the Monument (Hike Arizona)

Other Places to Stay: 
  • Cave Creek Ranch
  • Portal CCC house
  • Sunny Flat Campground

SWRS Room and Board

See SWRS Accommodations Webpage for more information

Meals: All rates for overnight lodging include three full meals each day. See Meals section below for details.

Reservations: 
  • James to make reservations with SWRS.
  • All three nights (Wed, Thu, Fri) must be paid for
  • 3 meals a day are included in cost
  • Star Party Reservations
    • Arrive: Wednesday, April 15th (Check in after 3pm)
    • Depart: Saturday, April 18th (Check out before noon)
  • Accommodations
    • 1 Apartment (2 persons, 3 nights = $870) - Filled none available
    • 2 Standard Rooms (2 persons, 3 nights = $708) - Filled, non available
    • 9 Dorm Rooms - Men's and women's bathrooms with private toilet and shower stalls.
      • Double Occupancy (3 nights) = $540/2 persons
      • Single Occupancy (3 nights) = $315/person
  • Payment due: Saturday, February 29th
    

Meals

All rates for overnight lodging include three full meals each day. Our cooks provide no-red-meat and vegetarian options for meals and try to accommodate special diets (i.e., gluten-free, nut allergy, vegan, etc.). If a guest has signed up as a vegetarian, we ask that they please eat that entrée at meals. If they are a non-vegetarian, we ask that they please not eat the vegetarian entrée. If they choose the no-red-meat option, they will be provided with the vegetarian entrée on nights that red meat is served.  If they have a severe food allergy, we ask that they please supply their own food/snacks to meet such dietary restrictions. Advance notice of diet preference and food allergies is needed and may be provided at the time of reservation. 

Meals are served promptly at 7:30 am, 12 noon, and 6 pm. Guests eat cafeteria style in the dining room or at outside picnic tables, and with a 24-hour notice sack lunches can be provided. For hardy early-birds, a self-serve cold breakfast can be arranged the night before with the cook. The kitchen is closed between meals.

For those not staying at the Station, meals can be purchased in the dining hall with 24 hours advance notice. Prices for meals are: Breakfast $10, Lunch $12, and Dinner $16. No meal charge for children under six. Payment is due at the time of reservation and is non-refundable. If the Station is full, it may not be possible to accommodate this request. Please call to inquire.

Birding Resources

• Birding Around the Chiricahua Mountains (Webpage from BirdandHike.com)
• Common Birds of South-East Arizona (PDF) Ref: Birds of Southeastern Arizona by Richard Cachor Taylor
• eBird Hot Spots
• Portal Birding Locations Map (PDF)
  • Points of Interest: | South Fork Trail | South Fork Road | Cave Creek Ranch | Town of Portal. Post office, library, etc |  

Hiking Resources

Please note we have not done the shorter hikes, so can't say what they will be like.

• Hikes in the Area
  • Chiricahua Mount Trails - Website with 76 trails listed where you can filter by Difficulty, Condition and Survey STatus

• Some longer/harder hikes we have done and enjoyed: Note some of the hike may be accessed via dirt road.
  • Silver Peak Trail #280 | Hard | 10.2 Miles | Accumulated Elevation Gain (AEG): 3,000' | Access: Paved Road | Drive from SWRS = 3 miles | GPS Track Download (.gpx) |
  • Herb Martyr 247 and Snowshed 246 Loop | Hard | 9.8 Miles | Accumulated Elevation Gain (AEG): 2,750' | Access: Dirt Road | Drive from SWRS = 2.3 miles | GPS Track Download (.gpx) |

• Chiricahua National Monument (Drive = 1:20)
  • Hikes in the Monument (Hike Arizona)