20 Outdoors- Other to Explore in Santa Cruz County

The Coronado National Forest covers 1,780,000 acres of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. This Forest has eight Wilderness Areas, among which are some of the most biologically diverse in the nation. Views are spectacular from these mountains, and visitors may experience all four seasons during a single day's journey, wandering through the desert among giant saguaro cactus and colorful wildflowers in the morning.

The Elgin Distillery is the highest awarded craft distillery on the planet, which produces ultra premium award winning spirits using local ingredients and time tested techniques. Each spirit is meticulously crafted by hand, resulting in high quality spirits that are second to none. It is one of the iconic attraction in this area.

Josephine Saddle is a great stopping place for a hike going up Colby Canyon or to take a break for a longer hike. There are great views from the saddle, a pretty nice flat area. Also at the saddle area is the top of a water tank which provides a nice place to sit and dangle one’s legs while taking in the view.

The Las Cienegas National Conservation Area is a National Conservation Area of Arizona, located in the transitional zone between the Sonoran Desert and the Chihuahuan Desert. tMore han 45,000 acres of rolling grasslands and woodlands in Arizona’s Pima and Santa Cruz counties was protected as a National Conservation Area. The region’s rolling grasslands, oak-studded hills that connect several "sky island" mountain ranges, and lush riparian corridors attract both people and wildlife.

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.

Lightning Ridge Cellars is a perfect example of the best wines Arizona has to offer. They offer wines based on Italian heritage. Their estate wines are made from classic Italian varietals: Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Montepulciano, Primitivo, Malvasia and Muscat Canelli. Clay soils, long warm summers, cool nights and an old world style of winemaking provide the perfect combination to produce rich, full-bodied wines.

Montosa Canyon is a valley in Arizona and has an elevation of 959 metres. Montosa Canyon is situated south of Rex Well, and east of Diablo Wash. it is one of the iconic attraction in this area and also there are so many things to see.

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.

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.

Patagonia Lake State Park was established in 1975 as a state park and is an ideal place to find whitetail deer roaming the hills and great blue herons walking the shoreline.The park offers a beach, picnic area with ramadas, tables & grills, a creek trail, boat ramps, a marina, and the Lakeside Market. There is a campground, boat-in camp sites, restrooms, showers, and a dump station. The Lakeside Market offers boat rentals, fishing licenses, bait, ice, and more.

Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve is one of Santa Cruz County's most sought out birding hot spots. Owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy, it is actually one of the best bird watching havens in the Southwest. This lush riparian area provides habitat for over 200 species of birds. This site contains the first two miles of permanent flow of Sonoita Creek and the floodplains adjacent to the stream. The site contains very high biodiversity values.

The Paton Center for Hummingbirds is a place to explore and experience the special birds of southeast Arizona. It is dedicated to the celebration and conservation of hummingbirds—and all of southeast Arizona’s astounding biodiversity—through recreation, education, and sustainable living. 213 bird species have been reported for this cozy home lot on the outskirts of Patagonia, including Violet-crowned Hummingbirds, Gray Hawks, Varied Buntings, Thick-billed Kingbirds.

Rock Corral Canyon in the Tumacacori Mountains is better known to some as Arizona's Wild Chile Botanical Area, but few have been there. Towering from the desert floor are spectacular granite peaks and enormous standing rocks with Granite Peak being the most notable feature in the area. Numerous activities are available in the area such as picnicking, geocaching, camping, rock hounding, rock climbing, hiking, and more.

Rune Wines is an off-grid winery and tasting room in beautiful Sonoita. Visit Arizona’s only off-grid solar-powered winery and tasting room in Sonoita, Arizona. They are one of the only Arizona wineries that sources grapes from the best vineyards across the state, so you can truly taste the terroir of Arizona at Rune.

This is a high intermontane grass valley in eastern Santa Cruz, and it is bounded to the west by the Patagonia Mountains. This beautiful valley is the headwaters of the Santa Cruz River, which flows into Mexico then turns north back into the United States and eventually joins the Gila River. The riparian areas and native grass prairie are home to many species of plants and animals.

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.

Sonoita Creek State Natural Area is a haven for more than 315 species of birds, which was located at the base of the Santa Rita Mountains near Patagonia. There are 26 recorded cultural resource sites located within the Natural Area that all have an Arizona State Museum Site Number associated with them. These sites range from a Hohokam field house to the historic New Mexico and Arizona railroad grade

This beautiful wineyards sits on a hilltop in the rolling grasslands of Southern Arizona at an elevation of 5,000 feet. This is the oldest commercial vineyard and winery in Arizona. Sonoita Vineyards is now 3rd generation and includes over 30 acres of vines. Every bottle of wine is hand bottled, labeled, and capped in small batches at less than 2,000 bottles per vintage.

Sunnyside Canyon is a 2 mile moderately popular blue singletrack trail located near Sierra Vista Arizona. This multi-use trail can be used both directions. On average it takes 15 minutes to complete this trail.

Wilhelm Family Vineyards strives to grow ultra-premium grapes on a unique terroir in the high desert of Sonoita. Their vineyard produces nearly 10 tones of fruit yearly. Each year, fruit is removed to insure the vine can support the maturing and ripening within our short growing season.