Ruby Field Trip
Ruby is a ghost town and former mining camp just north of the US-Mexico border in the rugged Pajarita Wilderness of Coronado National Forest. The area surrounding Ruby is rich in history and biodiversity. From the late 1800s to early 1900s, Ruby and the Montana Mine supported the largest mining community in the area. Following the closure of the mine in 1940, the town began a slow return to nature. Montana Mine now hosts a colony of 200,000 bats that arrive for the spring and summer from their overwintering sites in Mexico in April. On the drive, watch for javelina, roadrunners, black bears, coatimundis, Harris’ hawks, and even pumas. Jaguars have been encountered in the area.
We plan to have an evening picnic and barbecue on the mine tailings – a beach in the desert - at the edge of Ruby Lake.
Getting to Ruby
We will travel to Ruby by caravan. If you would like to drive, and have room for others, please indicate this on the RSVP. A SUV, truck or other high-clearance vehicle is recommended but not necessary. We will meet at the Secret Garden Inn in Tubac, and depart at noon on August 2, 2020. Ruby is about 1.5 hours from Tubac. The majority of the route to Ruby is unpaved mountain road through the Atascosa Highlands.
Food
We will have a late lunch/early dinner barbecue at the mine tailings area, alongside the Ruby Lake. We suggest you have a small, early lunch prior to departure, or pack a light lunch or snacks to eat en route.
Activities
At Ruby, we will have a cookout, explore the ghost town and surrounding area, and hang out in the sand. We will bring picnic-style games for kids and adults. Alcohol is permitted. Camping is an option if you would like to spend the night. We plan to depart Ruby after sunset as a group, but feel free to leave early. If the bats have arrived back to the Montana Mine for the season, we will watch the bats emerge from the mine just prior to sunset.
Important Information About Ruby
Travel to Ruby is largely via unpaved mountain roads
From Tubac, travel time is ~1.5 hours
Cell phone reception is gone by the time the pavement ends – there is no cell reception at Ruby
There are outhouses, but no running water. We will have basic supplies.
Consider bringing a light bagged lunch or snacks
Please let us know if you plan to drive and have space for additional passengers
For more information about Ruby: http://rubyaz.com