TUBAC PRESIDIO STATE HISTORIC PARK

Tubac Presidio State Historic Park’s primary purpose is to preserve the ruins of the oldest Spanish Presidio site in Arizona, San Ignacio de Tubac, which was established in 1752.  Featuring the Tubac Presidio Museum, Archaeological Excavation Exhibit, Otero Hall, Rojas House, hiking and equestrian trails, wildlife viewing and picnic grounds, this beautiful historic state park offers something for everyone.  For more information, visit www.Tubacpp.com

WHIPPLE OBSERVATORY

The Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory is the largest field installation of the Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory outside Cambridge, MA. Guests of the facility can tour the working research center and observatory atop Mt. Hopkins, and after a catered lunch, you’ll ride down the ten-mile road on a bicycle to the base of the mountain. For more information visit https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/flwo/visitors-center

BIRD WATCHING & HIKING

WHERE TO BIRD-WATCH & HIKE

While bird-watching and hiking in southern Arizona enthusiasts must remember that elevation and climate will affect your experience.  Geologic history has created green and considerably wetter mountain ranges called “sky islands,” which are surrounded by arid desert and grasslands.

Four distinct regions and their wildlife and plants converge in the Santa Cruz River Valley.  This is where the Rocky Mountains meet Mexico’s Sierra Madre, the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts meets, and where a major flyway fills riparian woodlands with song and color during the spring.

Rainfall averages 12 inches for the area but varies widely with elevation, as do the temperatures.  This resulting mix produces one of the richest regions of bird diversity on the continent, with over 500 different species on record.

THE JUAN BAUTISTA DE ANZA TRAIL

In 1776 Spanish Captain Juan Bautista de Anza led nearly 300 people over 1,200 miles from Nogales to establish a new mission in San Francisco.  Our world-class resort is located right along the most popular section of the trail.  From Tubac to Tumacácori the trail is flat and runs 3.5 miles as it follows the Santa Cruz River.  Visitors can hike or follow the trail on horseback; bikes are allowed but discouraged.  For more information visit www.nps.gov.

MADERA CANYON & NATURE TRAIL

Madera (Spanish for ‘lumber’ or ‘wood’) Canyon was given its name because it was a major source of timber over a century ago.  But it quickly became known for its diverse wildlife and the cool relief it offered from the desert sun.  More than 240 species of birds live in this nurturing environment, with April and May being the best months to view most species.
Madera Nature Trail can be reached from a streamside route that offers a beautiful introduction to the diverse array of plant and animal life.  The trail then continues to the Roundup Picnic Area and features incredible views of Mt. Wrightson, lower Madera Canyon and the Santa Cruz Valley.  For those more adventurous, there are numerous trails that take you deeper into the Santa Rita Range all the way to the top of Mt. Wrightson.  For more information visitwww.fs.fed.us.

PATAGONIA-SONOITA CREEK PRESERVE

Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve is one of the few remaining permanent streams and the richest riparian habitat in the region.  This serene area of open water allows birds to thrive in the desert.  For more information visitwww.nature.org.

RAMSEY CANYON PRESERVE

Ramsey Canyon Preserve is known as the “Hummingbird Capital of the United States.”  Fourteen species of hummers are a part of the more than 150 species of birds found in the preserve, making this peaceful environment one of the best bird-watching spots in the world.  Ramsey Canyon is also part of The Nature Conservancy’s international conservation program.  For more information visit www.nature.org.

BICYCLE RENTAL & SCENIC JOGGING TRAILS

The mountains, river beds, back roads and numerous scenic trails surrounding our world-class resort offer bicyclists and joggers the perfect opportunity to explore the desert.  Bicycle rental is available for our guests at guest services.

CAVE EXPLORATION

KARTCHNER CAVERNS STATE PARK

Southeastern Arizona is home to a stunning limestone cave.  Tour guides lead you through this fascinating underground landscape where you’ll see calcite formations, stalactites dripping like icicles and giant stalagmites reaching up from the ground.  The Discovery Center features museums exhibits, regional displays, theater, a large gift shop and educational info.  For more information visit www.azstateparks.com.

BOATING & FISHING

PATAGONIA LAKE STATE PARK

Southeastern Arizona holds a hidden treasure.  At Patagonia Lake you’ll find whitetail deer roaming the hills and great blue herons walking the shoreline.  This 265-acre man-made lake is brimming with crappie, bass, bluegill and catfish; trout is stocked every three weeks (Oct. – March).  For more information visit www.azstateparks.com.

PEÑA BLANCA LAKE

This man-made lake is situated on 49 acres of Peña Blanca Canyon in the foothills of Pajarito Mountain.  Created in 1957 for recreational use, the lake is a popular tourist destination and features fishing, boating, hunting, wildlife and hiking.  For more information visit http://www.fs.fed.us.

Cultural Historic Sites

TUBAC PRECIDIO STATE PARK

TUMACÁCORI NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

Tumacácori NHP is located in the historic Pimería Alta (Land of the Upper Pimas), which includes much of southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico.  The ruins of three Spanish colonial missions are protected here: Tumacácori, Guevavi and Calabazas.  These missions are among more than twenty established in the region by Father Kino and other Jesuits, which were expanded by Franciscan missionaries.

The San José de Tumacácori Mission

Established in 1691, this is the oldest mission in Arizona.  For many years it was a visita (visiting station) of the Guevavi mission.  After the Pima rebellion of 1751, the mission was moved to its present site and renamed San José de Tumacácori.

The Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi Mission

Fathers Kino and Salvatierra established this mission and named it San Gabriel de Guevavi.  Subsequent missionaries called it San Rafael and San Miguel, resulting in its common historical name of Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi.

The San Cayetano de Calabazas Mission

Father Francisco Xavier Pauer established this mission in 1756.  Construction of its church was half complete in 1761, but it would be another 12 years until the entire mission was fully functional in 1773.

Tumacácori National Historical Park is located four miles away from our world-class resort.  For more information visit www.nps.gov/tuma.

TUBAC CENTER OF THE ARTS

Tubac Center of the Arts is a non-profit community center that fosters the creativity of artistic talent throughout the surrounding region.  Located one mile from our world-class resort, the center features three galleries with over 3,500 square feet of exhibit space, a performance stage, art library, gallery shop and office space.  For more information visit www.tubacarts.org.

PIMERIA ALTA MUSEUM

The first Spaniard set foot in the Santa Cruz Valley in 1539, decades before the first settlement at Jamestown or the Mayflower landing.  Father Kino eventually named this land Pimería Alta for the Pima Indians.  Throughout the centuries this historic region has seen an array of cultures clash over its lands.  In 1948 the Pimeria Alta Historical Society was created to preserve, protect, and promote its past through tours, lectures and special exhibits.  The museum is located 30 minutes south of our world-class resort.  For more information visit www.nogaleshistory.com

TITAN MISSILE MUSEUM

For nearly 40 years the United States and Soviet Union engaged in an unprecedented arms race during the Cold War.  Both nations built massive missile sites aimed at the other country that could be launched in seconds.  The largest of these intercontinental missiles was the Titan II.  Now decommissioned, Titan Missile Museum allows visitors to get an up-close look at an unarmed Titan II rocket, its three-ton blast doors and eight-foot thick silo walls.  The museum is located 30 minutes north of our world-class resort.  For more information visit www.titanmissilemuseum.org.

ASARCO MINERAL DISCOVERY CENTER

Located 30 minutes north of our world-class resort, the ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center allows visitors to learn about copper and the mining industry.  Featuring an award-winning exhibit center, mine tours, video theater, exhibits, cactus garden and picnic area, the center is free to tour—you’ll even get to stand at the edge of an open-pit mine!  For more information visit www.asarco.com.