Peña Blanca Canyon - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

A beautiful reservoir in Arizona, which offers year-round outdoor and water recreation. Surrounded by grassy hills, Peña Blanca Lake, near Nogales, AZ is the perfect outdoor retreat. This is a popular recreation spot for visitors from neighboring Nogales, Arizona and nearby communities in Mexico. On weekends, and some weekdays, during the peak summer season, this area can be quite crowded.

The Atascosa Mountains is a mountain range in western Santa Cruz County, Arizona. It is sandwiched between the larger Tumacacori Mountains to the north, and a small east–west border range to the south, the Pajarito Mountains. The highest peak is Atascosa Peak at 6,440 feet (1,963 m); adjacent to the northeast is Ramanote Peak, 6,047 feet . Pena Blanca Lake on Ruby Road, arising from the lowest elevations of Calabasas Canyon–are part of the Atascosa's southern border.

A tributary stream of the Santa Cruz River in Santa Cruz County. It offers camp sites, hiking, and picnic areas for day use, and overlooks beautiful Patagonia Lake State Park.

Pajarita Wilderness is a 7,553-acre property in Coronado National Forest against the Sonora border. The array of canyons that make up the area sit at the western end of the Pajarito Mountains, and form a well-known migration route for birds. Sycamore Canyon is the centerpiece of the wilderness, a riparian forest that supports more than 160 bird species.

Las Lagunas is a lush Natural Wetlands smack dab off the I-19 Freeway just 8 miles from the Mexican borderThis trail is great for walking and other nature trips, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. The site is managed by Santa Fe Ranch Foundation and the Las Lagunas de Anza outreach group.

The New Mexico & Arizona Railroad Trail, also known as the Railroad Grade Trail, is a rustic hiking and equestrian trail in the Sonoita Creek State Natural Area outside of Patagonia, Arizona. The area provides prime habitat for birds, including rare ones, best viewed in March through September or late April through May.