Sacred Spaces Travel: Hiking around Patagonia

Recently I traveled to Patagonia, AZ to camp and enjoy the lake and surrounding area.

I. Hiking: Nature Conservancy Reserve - My first day I spent the afternoon hiking around the various trails, amounting to about 2 1/2 miles, along the creek, managed by the Nature Conservancy. This area is particularly suited for birding, but as I was visiting at the wrong time of year I saw very few birds. It was a pretty hike and I did see deer and a tarantula, (and lots of grasshoppers!) so I'll revisit this place in the spring and judge it then.

I setup camp for the night in the highly scenic, well maintained state park campground which provides sites close to the water and exceptional facilities. That evening I was treated to an amazing sunset, the likes of which I haven't seen around AZ in quite some time, largely due to the pathetic excuse for a monsoon season we had this year. Anyway, I finally was blessed by the intense, outrageous kind of sunset that photographers love, that seemed to go on forever. After that I enjoyed salmon cooked over the fire and then returned to the lake to watch the near full moon rise over the lake. It was quite the evening!

II. Hiking Sonoita Creek Natural Area - This would be the day for my big hike along the creek that flows out from Patagonia Lake. You need to acquire a permit at the Patagonia Lake entrance due to a limit on how many visitors the area is allowed per day. The hike begins in the natural area parking lot. My route was the Sonoita Creek trail, then out the NM & AZ Railroad trail as far as the campsite and back, up Cottonwood Loop, and continuing on a newer trail labeled Blackhawk that goes up to the west side of the lake and then back to the parking lot via an access road. All together this is about 7 miles of fairly easy travel, as the railroad trail is mostly flat and you'll only really go uphill on the return trip as you come out of the canyon back to the lake. I really enjoyed this easy, peaceful trail and the fall color along this interesting riparian area. If you like trails that follow along streams, as I do, this is one not to be missed. I spent lots of time leaving the trail to go down along the creek, gazing at the reflections of the golden trees against the blue water. If you don't mind getting your feet wet then just stay with the main trail (labeled "horses") which has several stream crossings keeping you right along the water. One of the "hiker" paths does wander far from the creek just to keep you from getting wet, but does provide a nice overlook of the canyon below. A unique contrast exists here, as a shallow canyon with water, plants, and sizable trees, is only a short distance below the typical desert landscape. After an enjoyable hike I crashed out for a nap on the edge of the lake before returning to the truck to head home. This was an amazing couple of days and one of my favorite trips this year. I'll be sure to return in the spring for birding season. Patagonia rocks!