Tucson Weekly: Outdoors (March 1

OUTDOORS

ARCHAEOLOGY OPEN HOUSE. Catalina State Park hosts an open house to celebrate Arizona Archaeology Awareness Month March 3. Free walking tours through the Romero Ruin site will take place continuously between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The ruin, a prehistoric village occupied by the Hohokam people between about 550 and 1450, includes the remains of pioneer Francisco Romero's ranch structures, built in the 1860s. Tucson artisans will also be on hand to demonstrate various prehistoric Native American skills including rock art and primitive pottery firing. For information and tour reservations call 628-5798.
BROWN CANYON. Join the Sky Island Alliance for a natural history hike in Brown Canyon in the Baboquivari Mountains March 3. Enjoy birding and incredible scenery and learn about this important area. Bring a bag lunch. Meet at 738 N. Fifth Ave. to carpool at 6:15 a.m. Call Matt Skroch at 624-7080 for more information.
NIGHT WALKS. Saguaro National Park East. 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail. Take a walk on the wild side with a naturalist-guided excursion into the Sonoran Desert twice a month on Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m. Naturalists discuss and demonstrate nighttime adaptations and scan the skies with an audible bat detector. The free program is open to all, and reservations are required. Call 733-5153 to reserve a space.
SABINO CANYON NATURE WALKS. Sabino Canyon Visitors' Center. Lace up your hiking boots, grab a bottle of water and join in a variety of weekly walks with Sabino Canyon naturalists through May 4. On Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. take a plant and bird walk, or join the 1:45 p.m. nature walk. On Wednesdays there is a nature/bird walk at 9 a.m. and a geology activities session at tram stop 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Finally, on Fridays at 8:30 a.m. gear up for a 3-4 mile trail hike. All activities are free. Call 749-8700 for more information.
SABINO STARRY NIGHT. Sabino Canyon Visitors' Center ramada. Hike every Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. Glide through the night in Sabino Canyon, free from flash and artificial light, while enjoying the friendly company of kindred spirits. Reconnect with nature by disconnecting from any extraneous electronic devices and fomenting moments of silence, to experience genuine light, sound, and the presence of the darkened Catalina Cathedral. It's a 7.5-mile round trip, 600-foot elevation change. Co-sponsored by the Sierra and Southern Arizona hiking clubs. Free admission. Call Larry at 577-2444 after 1 p.m. for information.
SIERRA CLUB HIKES. Explore the beauty of the Sonoran desert with the local chapter of the Sierra Club during free hikes and outings on most weekends. Both beginning and experienced hikers are welcome. Non-members are welcome to participate. For a listing of upcoming events, visit www.sierraclub.org/ chapters/az/chap_outings.asp.
TOHONO CHUL PARK. 7366 N. Paseo del Norte. 742-6455. Walk in the Park tours, overviews of the park's 48 acres and its flora and fauna, are offered at 9 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and at 1 p.m. Sundays. Art in the Park tours, docent-guided looks at gallery exhibits, are at 11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. The park offers additional guided tours for your enjoyment. Birds of Tohono Chul provides opportunities to observe the many species frequenting the park, and meets at 8 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Grounds are open from 7 a.m. to sunset daily. Exhibit hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Greenhouse hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admission is $2. Call 742-6455 for a daily event schedule.
TUCSON AUDUBON SOCIETY. Join experienced birders for several field trips each week visiting areas around Tucson and southeastern Arizona. Admission is free. Call 629-0510 for schedule and information.