Water levels vary seasonally (highest in winter) and annually, and bird numbers vary accordingly. When water levels are high, the wetlands can be very productive, especially given that this is one of the few remaining wetlands in the area. The Uplands Trail and botanical gardens can be productive for migrants, and have produced their fair share of rarities. The gravel road, which can be accessed from the end of the Uplands Trail now provides access to more mesquite/saltcedar habitat that can also be good for migrants.

The wetlands can hold good numbers of ducks, herons, and gulls, depending on the season. When water levels expose mudflats, this location can also be productive for shorebirds. Mexican Duck (and hybrids) are often present in the wetlands. The riparian areas often hold Gambell's Quail, Crissal and Curve-billed Thrashers, Cactus Wren, Pyrrhuloxia, and Greater Roadrunner. 

Part of the Far West Texas Wildlife Trail (FWTX).

The park is open Tuesday through Sunday 9:00 am to sunset. Closed on Mondays for maintenance

Keystone Heritage Park and the El Paso Desert Botanical Gardens is an archeological site, an archaic wetlands, and a botanical garden. The 52-acre park in El Paso’s Upper Valley is a City-owned property leased to a volunteer Board of Directors who are charged with preserving and developing the Park.

The Archeological Site was first discovered in the late 1970s by the Corps of Engineers during the construction of flood control dams. Runoff from a thunderstorm washed away the bank of a shallow arroyo revealing a cut-away of an ancient pitch house. Preliminary research revealed the hut was part of a larger village. Carbon dating indicated the site was 4000+ years old. According to National Geographic Magazine, it may be one of the largest and oldest villages of its kind in the United States.

Keystone Wetlands is home to many species of birds and is a stop on a migratory route for even more. Over 206 species of birds have been spotted there, including 22 species considered rare by the Audubon Society. These archaic wetlands, protected by Federal Law, depict the wetlands/Bosque that once lined the Rio Grande.

The Botanical Garden at Keystone is a project adopted by the Junior League of El Paso in the year 2000. In 2003, the Rotary Club of El Paso committed to building Phase Two of the garden. The Garden encompasses features such as a Xeric demonstration garden, a children’s garden, an amphitheater, a moonlight garden, an ethno-botanical garden, and more. This Garden represents an approximate $1.2 million investment in our community and is the result of donations and volunteer work by individuals, youth and Eagle Scouts, and businesses on both sides of our border. We are always open to working community groups with projects to help enhance, preserve and protect the Park. The now maturing garden is available for events such as weddings, reunions and corporate gatherings.

Keystone Heritage Park is an archaeological site, an archaic wetlands and a botanical garden.  The 52-acre park located at 4220 Doniphan Drive, El Paso, TX 79922, is a City-owned property leased to a volunteer Board of Directors who are charged with preserving and developing the Park.  Since Keystone opened in 1997, over 200 species of migratory and local birds and 22 rare birds have been found.  There is a nominal fee.

The El Paso Rio Loop is a part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife's Great Texas Wildlife Trails, Far West Texas Wildlife Trail.

Gravel and paved walking paths wind their way throughout the botanical gardens. A wetland viewing platform is at the northern corner of botanical gardens.

Two trails follow the eastern and western margins of the Kevin Von Finger Wetlands, and with recent (Fall 2022) improvements these trails now form a loop around the wetlands. The wide and flat Wetlands Trail follows the western side of the wetlands, and offers views of the wetlands both from an elevated platform and two bird blinds. The narrower Uplands Trail follows the eastern side of the wetlands for a short distance before entering a stand of cottonwoods and eventually reaching a gravel road that follows the boundary of the property.