Sonoita Creek

Sonoita Creek SNA https://azstateparks.com/sonoita-creek Sonoita Creek State Natural Area (SCSNA) is located in Santa Cruz County downstream from Patagonia Lake State Park along lower Sonoita Creek, a perennial tributary of the Santa Cruz River. The area is about 50 miles south of Tucson, just northwest of State Highway 82 and 10 miles north of Nogales. The State Trust land extends from the eastern boundary of the SCSNA and surrounds Patagonia Lake State Park.

Nearby Parks Habitat Park Rules If you’re having a great time here, don’t forget to visit one of the four nearby state parks! Patagonia Lake State Park (1.3 miles) Tucked away in the rolling hills of southeastern AZ is a hidden treasure. An ideal place to find whitetail deer roaming the hills and great blue herons walking the shoreline. The park offers a campground, beach, picnic area with ramadas, tables and grills, a creek trail, boat ramps, and a marina. (520) 287-6965 Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (33 miles) Arizona’s first state park, this historic site rests on the Anza Trail and commemorates the oldest Spanish presidio in Arizona with a museum, schoolhouse, colonial ruins, and picnic grounds. (520) 398-2252 Kartchner Caverns State Park (54 miles) “Arizona’s Best Attraction” as voted by USA Today’s 2017 Reader’s Poll, this hidden jewel features cave formations found nowhere else in the world. Take the Throne Room tour and see the five-story formation Kubla Khan! (520) 586-4100 Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park (62 miles) Located in “the town too tough to die,” this preserved court building houses a collection of historic artifacts and memorabilia from the legendary American Old West. (520) 457-3311 Sonoita Creek State Natural Area is unique in that, within a relatively small area, seven distinct vegetative communities are present ranging from semi-desert grasslands to riparian deciduous forests. The visual and biological characteristics of these communities are markedly different, and their combined presence in a relatively small area is quite rare. The natural area is located in a transitional zone between the Sonoran Desert an the Chihuahuan Desert. Representative species from each zone can be observed within its boundaries. General Rules • Do not litter! Recreate responsibly and pack out what you bring in, or use the trash receptacles provided in the park. • Drive your vehicle only on designated paved surfaces. Park only in designated parking areas. Do not park on the side of the road. • Stay on designated trails. Cutting trails degrades habitat and harms the landscape. • Do not use glass containers in the park. • All of our parks adhere to firearm and hunting regulations. Please familiarize yourself with this information. Fires • Keep fires in grills or designated state parks fire rings. Never leave fires unattended! • Only charcoal fires and propane fires are allowed in the park. • Do not gather firewood in the parks. Firewood is for sale in most park stores. • Fireworks are not permitted in state parks. • Be “fire smart” and check fire restrictions at azstateparks.com/fire-safety. Camping • Campsites are limited to up to six adults and up to 10 people total. Pets • Keep your pets on a maximum six-foot leash at all times. Pets must be attended at all times. • Pick up after your pet. • For additional information related to pets, visit our website or ask park staff. Natural Area Rules • A permit is required for each person and each horse before entering the natural area. Permits are available at the Patagonia Lake Visitor Center. • No bicycles or motorized vehicles. • Horses must stay on designated trails and cannot stay overnight. Feed horses weedfree hay for seven days before entering the natural area. The rules of this park are not limited to the rules listed above. Additional park rules may be found at azstateparks.com. Established 1957 Sonoita Creek State Park SONOITA CREEK STATE NATURAL AREA Management Goals 02/23 Established in 1994, the mission of Sonoita Creek State Natural Area is to preserve this fragile riparian area and its surrounding environment. Encompassing a major portion of the Sonoita Creek and Coal Mine Spring watersheds, this is Arizona’s first significant natural area. The natural area protects not only the endangered Gila Topminnow and several special-status birds, but also historical and cultural relics. Low impact recreation such as hiking and bird watching co-exist with educational and scientific research at Sonoita Creek State Natural Area. Thank You for visiting! 400 Patagonia Lake, Patagonia, AZ 85624 (520) 287-2791 | 1-877-MYPARKS AZStateParks.com/sonoita-creek AZStateParks Like/Follow/Watch us on: 1-877-MYPARKS | AZStateParks.com Sonoita Creek State Natural Area is home to one of Arizona’s few permanently flowing streams and provides habitat for many rare species of fish, birds, and plants. Because of this, Arizona State Parks & Trails has distinct goals for managing this area. Maintaining natural surface water flow supports many of our other goals, including protecting and restoring riparian and upland habitat, maintaining diverse and healthy populations of native wildlife, as well as protecting existing populations of special-status, native wildlife. The natural area is also a cultural resource for Native communities historically connected to the area. We’re happy to receive visitors, but because of the sensitivity of the area, please p

$3.95 > COMPLIMENTARY Parks 2022/2023 Museums Trails YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE PARKS Night Skies Regional Maps Camping anD More! arizona State ParkS & TRAILS OFFICIAL PARTNERS SO TASTY EVERYONE WILL WANT A BITE. ©2020 Preferred Brands International. All rights reserved. Tasty Bite® has all-natural and organic ready-to-eat meals that are perfect for the trail. Look for the yellow pouch in the international aisle. tastybite.com *Keep wildlife wild; Donʼt feed the animals WELCOME A rizona’s state parks hold endless opportunities for recreation, learning and serenity. From the pine-covered slopes and iconic saguaros to the great rooms of historic buildings, courthouses, forts and more, these special places showcase the Grand Canyon State’s captivating destinations. These parks contribute much more than natural beauty, fresh air and cultural wonder. Arizona State Parks and Trails support thousands of jobs, contribute millions of dollars to our economy, and draw in visitors from all over the world. Enjoy all the outdoor adventures, preservation of historic destinations, conservation of natural resources, and the economic support in rural communities the parks provide. Thank you for joining us in Arizona’s state parks! Douglas A. Ducey Governor of the State of Arizona W elcome to Arizona’s state parks, where memories are waiting to be made, whatever your taste for adventure may be! Whether you’re visiting from out of state or you appreciate Arizona right from your doorstep, there is something for everyone at our beautiful state parks. It’s our greatest pleasure to preserve and protect the natural and cultural resources found here in the Grand Canyon State. With more than 65 years dedicated to this mission, Arizona State Parks and Trails ensures that the natural wonders and historic treasures remain for many generations to come. Discover something new and appreciate your favorite places all over again, here in Arizona’s state parks! Bob Broscheid Director, Arizona State Parks & Trails ARIZONA STATE PARKS & TRAILS 1 GEICO.COM/RV • 1-877-434-2678 • LOCAL OFFICE Some discounts, coverages, payment plans, and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. In the state of CA, program provided through Boat Association Insurance Services, license #0H87086. Motorcycle and ATV coverages are underwritten by GEICO Indemnity Company. Customer satisfaction based on an independent study conducted by Alan Newman Research, 2020. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2022 GEICO 21_782312631 CONTENTS American Park Network® publishes Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder™, OhRanger.com, and Oh, Ranger!® guides —a collection of visitor guides for public lands all across America­— and operates Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi in parks and public lands. American Park Network is an official partner of the National Forest Foundation, National Parks Conservation Association, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, American Hiking Society and the Student Conservation Association. PRINCIPALS Mark J. Saferstein - Founder & Editor-in-Chief Joel S. Saferstein Alex Frenkel TECHNOLOGY Scott Falconer EDITORIAL / PRODUCTION Editors: Sophie Macomber, Rachael Mamane, Hira Piracha, Amanda Strube, Theo Rossi, Lori Lee, Erika Skogg Photo Editors: Wendy Willis Production Managers: Mario Arce, Walter Jeronimo Lead Designer: Dennisse Cruz Graphic Designers: Michael Cohen, , Alberto Garcia, Alejandro Jeorge, Tatiana Hurtado, Emerson Martinez ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING (212) 581-3380 adsales@americanparknetwork.com Business Development: Randy Burton, Ron Frederick, Pat Keane, Kristi Rummel American Park Network 41 East 11th Street, 11th Floor New York, NY 10003 @OhRanger FOR MORE INFORMATION Distribution requests distribution@americanparknetwork.com Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi™ installation/sponsorship wifi@americanparknetwork.com ARIZONA STATE PARKS & TRAILS Welcome 1 Planyourvisit 4 important contacts 8 Preservation 10 history& culture 14 things to do 16 off-highwayvehicles 17 watchable wildlife 22 birdwatching 23 Camping 24 Centerfold Map water & heritage corridor 28 sedona/verde loop 36 CoPper corridor 44 cultural corridor 50 high countryloop 56 Just for kids 62 Gear upand Get ouT 63 roadtrip ideas 64 Sincere thanks to everyone at Arizona State Parks & Trails for their collaboration. Special appreciation to Game & Fish and the Arizona Office of Tourism. Cover: Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park All other photos are courtesy of Arizona State Parks & Trails unless otherwise indicated. ARIZONA STATE PARKS & TRAILS 3 PLAN YOUR VISIT T he beauty of Arizona is unparalleled in its diversity of landscapes. There’s so much to see and do in the state. Whether you have a day or several weeks, Arizona’s state parks