Clanton Canyon is an extension of the Sierra Madre Occidental from Mexico and contains birds from the Madrean habitat. These include Montezuma Quail, Whiskered Screech-Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Arizona Woodpecker, Acorn Woodpecker, Juniper, and Bridled Titmouse, Bushtit, Hutton’s Vireo, and Spotted and Canyon Towhee year-round; Band-tailed Pigeon, Poorwill, Whip-poor-will, Elf Owl, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Phainopepla, Grace’s Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hepatic Tanager, Scott’s Oriole summer. Yellow-eyed Junco, Mexican Chickadee winter. Other species include Prairie Falcon, Gila Woodpecker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Gray Flycatcher, Bendire’s Thrasher, Crissal Thrasher, Red-faced Warbler, Olive Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Brewer’s Sparrow, Lark Bunting, Grasshopper Sparrow, Baird’s Sparrow.

Clanton Canyon, located in the Peloncillo Mountains and the Coronado National Forest, is in the bootheel of southwestern New Mexico. The road through Clanton Canyon is passable by passenger car and goes from NM-338 on the east end (milepost 53, about 30 miles south of Animas, NM) to Douglas, Arizona on the west end. Vegetation in the canyon includes Arizona Sycamore, Fremont Cottonwood, Box Elder, Gray Oak, Arizona Cypress, Alligator Juniper, Chihuahua Pine, willow, beargrass, sotol, agave, yucca, cholla, prickly pear, and grasses.

Take NM-338 about 30 miles south from Animas to milepost 53. Turn west onto FR-63 for 7 miles to reach the Coronado National Forest. An additional 5 miles will bring you to the summit.