This is a very special place. Wally and Marion Paton started inviting birders to their home in…read moreabout 1973. The Tucson Bird Alliance acquired the property in 2014. You will find lots of hummingbirds there, but also dedicated volunteers that help visitors learn about the birds. There are lots more than just hummingbirds, I had several "lifers" at the Center that were not hummingbirds. There are shady benches to watch the birds, and a real community of birders from around the country, well, even international visitors, too. Behind the Center are lots of other birds, one notable place in the Patagonia Sonoita Creek Preserve. The star of the Paton Center is the Violet Crowned Hummingbird. Yes, you can sometimes find this Hummingbird elsewhere, but this the place you can always reliably find it. It's beautiful. The volunteers are not pushy, they are always helpful. They also know other places to find birds. There's a sense of peace here, comradery, and fun. It's all free, but donations are welcome.

This little nestle of nature is just off the main road in Patagonia. Its almost a magical space…read morethat allows you to forget about the world. I went here with my husband for a day trip of bird watching and we got 20+ birds on the Merlin app and where able to spot most of them. The pollinator garden was small but dense filled with hundreds of beautiful flowers. Now the important facts: 4th Saturday they offer a guided bird walk! Be sure to RSVP to AStark@TucsonBirds.org There are also two public restrooms that are very clean! They offer bird guide books AND binoculars to borrow during your visit. The binoculars are great to try out as a new birder. Don't forget to donate to the Tucson Bird Alliance to help fundthese amazing spots!

Such a great find! The volunteers were great and taught us what to look for. There were plenty of…read morebirds, even turkeys. It was an outstanding experience!

It's been ten years since my last visit and this one was especially fun because we brought our…read moretoddler along. The preserve has about three miles of walking trails that take you along Sonoita Creek and through an incredible cottonwood forest. The sanctuary/preserve offers a totally different experience with nature because it is a wetland. It's been said that over 300 species of bird migrate to the preserve. The trails are pretty flat so it was totally doable with our daughter. There were tons of birds, flowers, and lush green. The volunteers are super helpful and kind. And the restrooms are the cleanest of any park I've been to.

The SPRNCA is more than just an old ranch house near the river off SR 90 where birders mingle…read morealthough it is the most used site in the area. The area includes 40 miles of a well-marked wide dirt trail along the San Pedro River that once was the home to the local Apache tribes. I live eight miles due west from the Hereford Bridge trail head and bring my dogs here to let them enjoy the river where few people go. This is eight miles from Mexico. Right now we have plenty of migrating hawks and eagles, and soon we will have our hummingbirds from the south come back up here. You can walk all the way down to the international border along the trail, although I'd advise you to not do it alone as border crossers do come through. There are no water stations or rest areas along the way; it's all primitive so bring your own water and make sure you have a fully-charged cellphone. The trail is mostly flat and exposed. The views in all directions are of mountain vistas. Creosote, mesquite, desert grasses and catclaw are common flora right off the trail, but you may come across adobe ruins, old pumps, even an old carcass or two. Other great stops are Murray Springs Clovis site and the nearby Clayton house (now just ruins) Beside the San Pedro House, there is also the old mining town of Fairbank further north. Volunteers man the old school house (now a visitor's center) on most weekends. There's also an historic cemetery. Near Millville there are even petroglyphs. North of Fairbank is the old mining town of Contention, but there isn't much left of the town. The trail going north of here is little used, and the river dries up in the hotter months. The Bureau of Land Management manages the trail. It's understaffed and the trail therefore can get overgrown at times. However, I enjoy this area for my solitude. I can take my dogs here and bother no one, and using it doesn't cost a dime.

Beautiful stop in between Sierra Vista and Bisbee! Easy to stop for a few minutes to take in the…read moreCottonwood trees and/or spend hours along the trails. We visited at a time when the San Pedro House itself was closed to visitors due to the pandemic plus part of the River Trail was closed off due to forest fire risks. However, a large section of the trail was still open and we were able to walk along the river and get lost under the canopy of green lush foliage and trees. It's worth the walk from the San Pedro House to the River to hang out under the trees, you don't have to go far to find a cool spot to sit and admire the scenery. You'll walk on a wide flat trail along a field, at the time we went the field was filled with small yellow daisies before getting to the canopy of trees. Check the website before visiting so you can know what you're in for in terms of hiking or going inside the San Pedro House. Hope to come back in cooler temperatures to spend more time on the trails. Oooh take your binoculars too, spot is also known for great bird watching.

What a beautiful place to walk around! You need to come early to really see many birds but its…read morestill a worthwhile stop for a nature walk later. There's a guide at the visitor center who has a lot of information about the preserve and shared which birds have been seen lately -- and there are reference photos. The walking area is shaded and easy walking, with quite a few benches throughout. There's also a very nice gift shop that of course supports the preserve. I got a great full zip hoodie for a reasonable price.

A beautiful nature preserve managed by the Nature Conservancy. The first 1/2 mile of so of the…read moretrail has several historical and natural points of interest ( example ponds where you can find the leopard frogs). Lots of benches through out the area. Trail is well marked. Of note it is a gradual ascend. The 2nd half if you wish to get to the overlook continues ascend even more with switchbacks and more rugged stairs... a lot more climbing. There are benches scattered to catch a breath. I did not make it to the top this time but I am told by everyone who did that there are no benches towards the last leg before the top and this is a strenuous trail especially if you are not acclimated to the elevation plus 700ft ascent. Regardless of your hiking goals, the views are lovely, amazing biodiversity and immersion in nature. If you are into birding, this area is a hotspot. The staff at the visitor center are helpful and can provide information too. Hydrate and wear good shoes. Parking is free. There is a small fee. The area does close at 4... so plan accordingly.

I've heard of Lake Patagonia and for a belated birthday present. My husband took us to go kayaking…read morein the lake. Living in Tucson it takes just under two hours to drive from where we are to get to Patagonia State Park. The Ranger station opens at 8 AM and it was $20 to Park for the day. Due to mismatch schedules, we went on a Monday and in Tucson. It was in 105F and the escape from the heat was a great plus. Around the lake is an area for swimmers and Kayak launching in a separate space in a different area to launch boats for people going fishing. There are multiple campsites available for tent, camping and RV camping. In addition to dry cabins in Rose with A shared restroom area and showers available. There are multiple picnic areas and a large ramada available for the swimmers and kayakers. They were a generous number of restrooms available where we were. When we arrived employees were cleaning the restrooms and trash was being dumped. In coming on a Monday, the grounds were tidy. If you're bringing children to like Patagonia, they want them wearing life fest and they have a limited number of free life fess available for people that are gonna be in boats or kayaks. We had everything we needed to have a wonderful experience. We took advantage of the picnic tables to inflate our Kayak and it didn't ever feel like a crowded experience. We were able to have a peaceful three hours of enjoyment.

This is a great location for outdoor enthusiasts. They have a nice birding trail and they…read moresometimes lead guided tours. The traffic gets a little congested during weekends in the summer, and there is a slight discount for visiting on weekdays. I thought the admission price at $25 was steep, in comparison to what other states are charging around the country. They don't take American Express, so I had to go 20 miles for an ATM machine. Prices were high in the market concession, and I didn't see any pricing. They charged $8 for a 19.9 oz of Coconut Water, which is at least a 100% markup. I was impressed that they offered free WiFi down by the lakefront, unfortunately it wasn't working.

Great clean lake. Definitely recommend. Take food or snacks as hiking will get you hungry. My doggo…read morehippie loves it as he always finds new routes to explore. Take a leach to avoid losing your dog as it is big to explore!

It's a place filled with natures beauty. Perfect for a little escape from reality. Or just to enjoy…read moreNatures beauty!!

To start I needed an ACCESS pass, which they offer at Coronado Park, if you're disabled & can prove…read moreyou are they give you a lifetime membership no cost entrance fees to over 2,000 national parks Etc... This location offers a nice hiking trail, and many other trails with beautiful mountain scenery. They have a small store with lots of information and the staff are very pleasant & helpful. There's plenty of parking, and restrooms. If your bored at home and want to get some sun, fresh air or quiet time this is your spot.

US National Memorials comprise an odd array of themes, so it's not terribly weird that we have one…read morefor a Spanish conquistador (we have two actually - also one for de Soto in Florida). Beautiful area with trails, an excellent visitor center and other features. At the very least, if you're able, hike up to the top of Coronado Peak from Montezuma Pass. It's a short hike but gains 300 feet in elevation. Good views up there. The Coronado memorial is somewhat out of the way but still easily accessible from I-10. If your vehicle has good tires, after visiting Coronado consider continuing on westward through Montezuma Pass towards Parker Canyon Lake and the town of Sonoita. It's a nice drive. 4WD not required but make sure your spare tire is in good shape.

I hike the Cochise Trail ever few years. There's a lot to see here: rock formations, vistas,…read morebirds, insects and rattlesnakes, and is a challenging hike of ten miles. I usually start this from the west side, driving through Tombstone and taking Middlemarch road north of town for nine miles before turning north on a forest road. This road is a dirt road that gets very rutted the last two miles as it follows a dry wash. This wash fills into a creek during active monsoon season, so a high-clearance vehicle is necessary. Unlike the east side, parking and dry camping on the west side is free. The trail climbs immediately for 1.75 miles before hitting the western Stronghold and from here it's a gradual descent to the eastern trailhead and campground. The only source of water is at Halfmoon tank, a cattle pond about halfway up or down the trail, depending on which direction you start this hike. Lots of butterflies were in the area in September. During active monsoon season, the creek will run and the waterfall on the western side is a sight to behold. My hiking party rests here near the restrooms before returning the way we came. There was no water in the campground last month when I last did this hike. Dogs are allowed The only negative thing about this hike is its remoteness and accessibility. From Sierra Vista it's a two-hour drive each way. Add another five miles for the hike and it's a day-long adventure.

Well we came yesterday to get out of town and visit the dragoon hills…read more This campground is officially closed to all but hikers. They say mountain bikes are permitted but we are riders and I think the trails are too narrow. And slots where you can t pedal. I say hike. So no parking, bathrooms or camping or potable water. But you can park outside the gates. A few did, like us. Since we are new to the site, we only went to the water tank. Lots of shade along the way. Caves. Huge Rock formations. Hawks circling above hunting. Butterflies, BlueJays. Lots to see. I m going to go back while the weather is still cool. It is normally Officially Closed July to September due to extreme temps. Great to use your imagination about where the Apache's would have hidden in wait to protect the Stronghold.

Friendly and helpful staff. Several free guides available (butterflies or birds to identify),…read moreinformation about the history of the area. Clean restrooms. Small gift shop/ book store. Well maintained facilities and trails. Staff make sure the hummingbird feeders are filled in the morning. The entrance fee is $8... which is great given the amenities and maintenance needed in preserving this lovely space. A annual membership pays for itself quickly because it allows you free entrance to the Nature Conservancy Patagonia- Sonoita Creek Preserve too.

Cold in early December and not many birds, but trees were beautiful and worth it for meread more