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Center for Environmental Education
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3820 Wildlife Drive, Oracle Arizona 85623 (520) 896-2425 Park Hours |
 Download Oracle Event CalendarMarch - July 2008 (  843 KB PDF)
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Directions |
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3,500 to 4,500 feet |
Arizona State Parks Fee Schedule |
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Center for Environmental Education
Oracle State Park is located in the northeastern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains near the town of Oracle. Ranging from 3,500 to 4,500 feet in elevation, the nearly 4,000-acre park consists of oak grassland, riparian woodland, and mesquite scrub habitats which contain a diversity of wildlife and plant species.
Mission
The purpose of the park is to act as a wildlife refuge and environmental learning center. Educational programs are being developed to focus on basic ecologic principles, and to enhance public awareness of the importance of safeguarding natural resouces.Although the land has been a park for just a short while, the area has been visited and used by man since prehistoric times. This interaction between man and the park environment has played an important role in shaping the landscape we see today.
History
Clovis Man occupied areas along the San Pedro River 10,000 to 11,000 years ago and quite possibly visited the current park site during these early times. It is also believed that the Hohokam resided in the relatively flat, grassy areas of the park and used the adjacent woodlands for hunting and food gathering some 600-800 years ago.
In the middle 1880's the Apache Wars had ceased in central and southern Arizona. This opened up large areas to ranching, farming, and the settlement of small towns.
In 1902 Neil Kannally arrived in Oracle from Illinois. Moving to the area for relief from tuberculosis, he homesteaded the land that would later become the park.
Later, other members of the Kannally family joined him. The ranch grew substantially over the next several years and eventually 1100 cattle grazed the land.
In 1976, Lucille Kannally, the last surviving family member, donated the land to the Defenders of Wildlife who later transferred the property to the State Parks Board.
Area Scenic Attractions
Arizona Trail (seven-mile section maintained by park) offering hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding; historic town of Oracle; Catalina State Park; Biosphere; Mount Lemmon; Peppersauce Canyon and Campgrounds.
For more information on local attractions, please visit the Tri-Community Chamber of Commerce.
Community Facilities
Oracle - restaurants, gas station.
Tucson - Shopping, restaurants, golf courses, riding stables, movie theaters, banks, churches, Pima County Sheriff's Office, health and grocery stores, laundry facilities, airport, automobile and recreational vehicle repair.
Nature Education Programs
The park offers educational programming to organized groups by advanced reservation. The programs are designed to be participatory, educational, and fun. All programs are led by highly trained park staff. Groups are introduced to various topics while experiencing the park firsthand. Everyone is given a chance to hike the trails, discover the plants and animals, and learn about the world in which they live. (Note: All programs must be scheduled in advance.)
Programs are offered Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings during the school year. There is a charge of $1 per student for the education programs. All programs are scheduled in advance. Contact the park to obtain program brochures or to schedule a program.
- Oracle Odyssey -- An Environmental Education Program for Grades 4-6
The Oracle Odyssey is a unique environmental education program that combines classroom studies with a fun and educational field trip. The program focuses on habitat, inter-relationships, and humans as an integral part of the natural community, and challenges students to think about the environment in new ways.
- Oracle Adventure -- An Environmental Education Program for Grades 1-3
The Oracle Adventure offers students an opportunity to explore the oak grassland and learn to use all of their senses in this exploration. Appreciation of the natural world and our relationship to it are emphasized during a series of hands-on activities along the trail.
Arizona Trail
A seven mile section of the Arizona Trail, which will eventually run from Mexico to Utah, passes through Oracle State Park. This section of trail is open to the public for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Motorized vehicle use is prohibited. Trailheads are located off American Avenue, 1/4 mile south of Hwy. 77, and at American Flag Corral on the old Mt. Lemmon Road. Trail information and maps can be obtained by contacting the park.
The Friends of Oracle State Park
A non-profit corporation dedicated to raising funds for the restoration and preservation and operation of the Kannally Ranch House and grounds at Oracle State Park, the Friends volunteers help to return the area to as near original condition as possible. Find out about the Friends of Oracle State Park and projects completed with their help.
Miscellaneous
- Pack out garbage. Recycling is available.
- Group Use By Reservation Only
- Stay Limit - Day Use Only
- Park Phone Number - (520) 896-2425