I cannot believe I had never heard anyone talking about Parker Canyon Lake! This is a short hour…read moreand a half to 2 hour drive from Tucson through scenic roads and hills where you may just spot some deer and definitely some cows. The campground is clean and I was even surprised by the cleanliness of the restroom. We spent a weekend camping here and honestly had the best time. There are kiosks you can pay fees at so it's not just cash only which is nice. You can rent pontoons, kayaks, pedal boats and more from the center there, but it is first come first serve, so I suggest getting there a little early before they open to be able to snag one. You also are able to bring your own boats, boards, etc., too. We rented a pontoon boat for 4 hours and had an absolute blast on the lake fishing, swimming and just hanging out. The wildlife out there is really cool, we saw turkey vultures, hawks, deer, lizards, fish and all sorts of critters. The weather is also great - it was much cooler than Tucson. Cell service is super spotty so expect to be disconnected from the world while you are there which we all need a little of sometimes. This is definitely saved as a future spot for us to return to!

My girlfriend and I have taken several trips to Parker Canyon Lake this summer. I was at how close…read moreit was to Tucson and how quiet and is considering the lake down the road which would be Patagonia is always so packed full of people. I enjoy that it's always clean. The water is nice not murky.... The gentleman that runs the shop there his name was Colton was so nice to us every time we were there... Colton offered suggestions on our camping sites on where to catch fish and gave us some great advice when we rented the paddle boards... Thanks to the decided to go ahead and all purchase paddle boards and now we've gone as often as we can... we were able to capture some of the best sunsets I've seen in Arizona .... This is a hidden gem that is well run and well kept... I highly recommend it to anyone that would like an awesome getaway at a really cool lake not far from home !!!

Super cool place to visit seasonally- especially if you are a birder. Highly recommend coming here…read morein the early winter to witness the magnificent Sandhills cranes on their migration path... apparently some end up in Siberia (how cool is that!!). Websites say to come early morning and in the late evening... however two years in a row I have witnessed the cranes return around 11-1pm to their roosting site and witnessing the hundreds of cranes descent is a marvel. Apart from the Sandhills cranes (in season)- the terrain in the area also allow the opportunity to capture sightings of other wildlife, waterfowl, birds and plants. Wear appropriate shoes if visiting after a rain. The last 2.5 mile drive to the location is on gravel/ some washboard road. Here is the extra extra bonus apart from witnessing beautiful nature... it's free. Plus restrooms available (albeit porta pottty/ pit style).

You have to visit the Sandhill cranes during their journeys to and from migration. It is an…read moreincredible thing to see thousands of birds, and when they take off in groups of V-formations heading out with dozens of V's going into the sky, it is wonderful. Check the time of year to make sure you come during the migration times. This resting wildlife habitat is located in the middle of nowhere with only farmlands surrounding the area. It is close to Sierra Vista, Ft Huachuca and Tombstone. If you are in the area for the migration period, then you have to come and see. Mornings and evenings are the best times because you will be there when they take off, but even if you come while they are on the ground you will be amazed. There are also other migratory birds as well and finding and identifying them is also interesting. This is a rural site coming onto a dirt road with almost no amenities. There is a parking area, with what appears to be a limited dry camp location for birders. Then a couple of hundred feet away is the parking area for day use where you can then walk to the various water sites. You should see the birds as you pull in. There are two pit toilets, bring your own TP and hand sanitizer just in case. No food nearby, bring it in and take out your trash. If you live in Southern AZ it is worth the day trip. Me and wife came on a whim after hearing the birds were still there leaving Tucson around 1pm and we stayed until about 6pm after the cranes took flight. About an 90 minute drive one way depending on where you are in Tucson.

If you are interested in seeing migrating ducks this is a great place. This lake area has been…read moreidentified by the state of Arizona as an Important Bird Area or as they refer as an IBA. The large lake is a broad alkaline lake bed fringed with semi-desert grassland (primarily saltgrass and sacaton) and mesquite. It is an ideal feeding ground for shore birds, ducks and many varieties that visit here throughout various times of the year. As I visited today there were large numbers of Northern Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks Wigeons, Grebe,Teal and Coots. There is a smooth unimproved road that circles around the lake with several places to stop and take photographs. There is also a viewing stand off to the side by the golf course. There were very large numbers of Sandhill Crane feeding just on the other side of the course.

Get rid of the manager and clean up the place We were…read moretreated poorly and people who bought trailer models are stuck.

Such a relaxing place to camp. It was a short drive to town where we were able to also enjoy a nice…read moredinner, get gas and odds & ends.

We love Patagonia Lake for a day trip. The park has much to offer including fishing, picnicking,…read morebird watching, recreational water activities like boating, kayaking, and paddle boarding. The lake has beautiful views too. Our favorite part is the "beach". We love to set out pop up out and enjoy the lake for the day. We love that it's not too far from Tucson as well!

Visiting this location offers a pleasant escape from the city. The serene lake provides a tranquil…read moreatmosphere. Numerous children are currently enjoying the final days of summer. Please note that the Visitor Center is presently undergoing renovations. Ample picnic tables are available throughout the area. Public restrooms are maintained to a high standard of cleanliness. This destination is highly recommended for individuals interested in water activities such as kayaking, canoeing, and boating. Boat rentals are also available on-site.

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.

Get new kind and happy camp hosts! We drove 2 1/2 hours. To be yelled at called stupid and have a 5…read moregl bucket water thrown on our fire which hit a member of group who is not physically well! We checked before we left home and fires were fine. He did it to other campers as well. I come from a fire fighting family! Well aware of the danger. The host at the entrance who took our money was his wife she yelled at us all . Including the other 6 campers who were there to complain, said we were all stupid and that she quit. Mind you not one person was being rude or yelling. I deal with people daily. I would never treat any one so harshly. I feel that we were assaulted!

Starting off, I'm going to recognize 'Monica E' as an incredible resource for nearly everything as…read morea great breakdown on the intricate details of Rose Canyon Lake, so I won't capitulate on the details she provides; look up her review! There is one error I'll note with her review which is minor but important; you ARE able to reserve locations at Rose Canyon Lake. It's on numerous websites and even by calling, you can. No worries though, small detail but again, her review is amazingly full of all details that I found across three different websites and she put together for you! On a more simpler context I'll say this about Rose Canyon Lake, It's super tiny, very hilly (which I prefer!) and unfortunately the campsites are not 'near' the water. However with 70 some sites, you'll often hear someone near you because the trees deaden so much surrounding noise, you'll hear your neighbor; warning! In fact, our neighbors had to be reported on our visit in May because they were just obnoxious and atrocious with incredibly foul language - throughout the day and well past the quiet hours. Let's be honest, you come to the forest for some peace and quiet. Had we known there was a Ranger on duty throughout the night, we could've communicated that but we learned this the next day. RCL is small, beautiful with surrounding hiking and about 30 degrees cooler than Tucson. Win. Never saw the little 'Lake Store' open during our May visit but no worries nonetheless. Cell phone signal is absent in all the campsites unless you climb the hills around the lake. For at least the four phones with my group, that was the norm. You can use a canoe, ONLY if you pay extra for this. Not sure what good that is but the extra pay keeps you and other out of the water I suppose? There are also a generous amount of restroom spots throughout and some are unisex ones, most, with water spigots. You never have to go to far for a potty break so that made my daughters feel more comfortable. The wildlife surrounding is filled with humorous crows and tons and I mean TONS of squirrels of different species. The pine smell and the beautiful temps in May are a win... One final note, they make it much safer here by implanting 'bear proof' trash and campsite specific lock boxes to store all your food safely out of reach of Bears at night. This no doubt dramatically reduces interfaces thus, making it safer for continuous use as a campsite. The campsite Rangers where attentive and polite and overall, we highly recommend this location albeit secluded, no cell service and a bit on top of your neighbors. No real negatives per se except that the lake is REALLY tiny but is a reprieve nonetheless! It's a nice break from the heat of Tucson and the fresh pine smell is a win!

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 Sierra Vista Environmental Operations Park -- also known as the turd farm -- consists of 640…read moreacres, and offers 50 acres of constructed wetlands that, along with native grasses provides a bird and wildlife habitat. A convenient 1,800 square foot wildlife-viewing platform, surrounded by native landscaping is located near the wetlands for bird and wildlife enthusiasts. The entrance to the facility is on Hwy 90 3.1 miles east of Hwy 92. There's no real sign, but the big above-ground water tank is a dead giveaway. There's also a vet or animal hospital on the highway. Turn north into the entrance, then follow the signs. Due to vandalism, city officials have instituted restricted hours for the viewing area. The wetlands are currently open 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Residents and visiting birders alike are invited to participate in Sunday morning birding tours sponsored by SABO, Friends of the San Pedro River, and Huachuca Audubon Society. These walks, guided by volunteers from the sponsoring organizations, cover areas otherwise off limits to the public. For more information, see SABO's activities page. Our early-October 20-minute visit generated the following bird list: Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 18 Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 3 Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 8 Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) 1 Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 6 Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) 1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) 12 Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 6 Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 54 Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 28 Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) 250 Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) 1 12 species total