Location

AZ State Parks  Find a Park

Sonoita Creek Locator Map

Driving Directions  Park Map

Elevation 3,750 feet   Fees

Contact the Park:
(520) 287-2791
Sonoita Creek NA
400 Lake Patagonia Rd
Patagonia, AZ 85624

Facilities

Visitor Center Restrooms Exhibits Group: Day Use Areas Camping Picnic Areas/Shelters Hiking Trails Equestrian Trails Wildlife Viewing

Nearest Services: 12 miles

Click icons for more info

511 Speed Code

511 logo

Park's Speed Code: 4240#

What is 511?

Fees

Park Entrance Fees:
Pay at Patagonia Lake SP Entrance Station
Per Vehicle (1-4 Adults): $10.00
Individual: $3.00

Obtain day use permit from Visitor Center for entry into Sonoita Creek. Permit is limited to 30 individuals per day.

Camping Fees:
Primitive hike-in site: $12

Fee Schedule

Friends Group

Friends of Sonoita Creek

Friends of Sonoita Creek, a non-profit organization

Sonoita Creek State Natural Area

Visitor Center

8 am to 4:30 pm. Open Saturdays and Sundays.

Saturday & Sunday Pontoon Boat Tours

9:00 am & 10:15 am: Avian Adventure Tour, East end of the Lake
11:30 am: Lake Discovery Tour, West end of the Lake
Twilight Tour (Call for Start Time): Enjoy a twilight tour of the lake tour that will end before the evening program.
$5.00 per person and pre-registration is required. Sign up at the Visitor Center or call (520) 287-2791.

Moonlight Hikes

Experience the wonderful view of Sonoita Creek and Patagonia Lake by moonlight. Wear sturdy shoes; bring water, a flashlight, and perhaps a walking stick. Trail is moderately difficult with a 350 ft. elevation gain.  Meet at Visitor Center. Call to register (520-287-2791). Day use park entrance fees apply ($10 per vehicle up to four persons in that vehicle).

  • Monday January 9 sunset at 5:35 pm; meet at 4:30
  • Tuesday February 7 sunset at 6:01 pm;meet at at 5:00
  • Thursday March 8 sunset at 6:26 pm; meet at at 5:30
  • Friday April 6 sunset at 6:47 pm; meet at at 5:30

Junior Ranger Activities

Saturdays 2 pm. (Oct. 15 - April 15) For children 6 to 12 years.
Sundays 10 am. (Oct. 15 - April 15) For children 6 to 12 years.

Hike

Jan. 24, 9 am: Blackhawk Trail/Vista Loop in the Sonoita Creek Natural Area. Discover the diversity of scenery and history in the Natural Area on this beautiful hike. Approximately 5 miles. Meet at the Visitor Center and carpool to the trailhead. Call to register 520-287-2791.

Bird Walks

Mondays 9 am. (Oct. 24 - April 16) At the Birding Trailhead at the east end of the campground.

Sonoita Creek State Natural Area is always open, and the Visitor Center is open Saturday and Sunday from 8 am - 4:30 pm. Permits for hiking, hunting and horseback riding in the Natural Area can be obtained from the Patagonia Lake State Park gatehouse or by calling (520) 287-6965.

Saturday Evening Programs

Saturday Evening Programs start at 7 pm and day use park entrance fees apply ($10 per vehicle up to four persons in that vehicle).

  • February 4: Why Was There a Train Here & What Happened to It?, by David Kiefner
  • February 11: Ghost Towns of Santa Cruz County, by Kings
  • February 18: Birds of Patagonia Lake and Sonoita Creek, by Lockwoods
  • February 25: An Introduction to the Sonoita Creek State Natural Area, by Jen Parks
  • March 3: Bird Threats, by Bob Handfield
  • March 10: Beavers as Ecosystem Engineers, by Karla Pelz
  • March 17: Birds of Patagonia Lake and Sonoita Creek, by Lockwoods
  • March 24: Geology of Arizona & Sonoita Creek State Natural Area, by Bob Handfield
  • March 31: National Parks of the Western US, by Bob Handfield
  • April 7: Sonoita Creek and Riparian Areas of the West, by Bob Handfield
  • April 14: Birds of Patagonia Lake and Sonoita Creek, by Lockwoods


Ride your horse from Patagonia Lake to Rio Rico, AZ, through Sonoita Creek State Natural Area. Hiking, camping, bird watching and school field trips are also available.

Established in 1994, Sonoita Creek State Natural Area's mission 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 the State of Arizona's first significant Natural Area.

The Natural Area protects not only the endangered Gila Topminnow and serveral special-status birds, but also historical and cultural relics. Low impact recreations such as hiking, and bird watching co-exist with education and scientific research of Sonoita Creek State Natural Area.

Habitat

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 and the Chihuahuan Desert. Representative species from each zone can be observed within its boundaries.

Park & Natural AreaSonoita Creek State Natural Area and Patagonia Lake State Park are located next to each other in Patagonia, Arizona. The Natural Area conserves the land in its natural state, so you won’t find restrooms or modern camping facilities in the Natural Area.

Use Patagonia Lake State Park as your base camp to enjoy the hiking, horseback riding, and natural surroundings of the Sonoita Creek area. Please practice “Leave No Trace” ethics.


Because of a reduction in staffing at the Park, currently the program is not being offered.

Educational Curriculum for School Field Trips

Healthy Water Education Program: For Grades 3 through 6
A curriculum called The Healthy Water Education Program was developed at Sonoita Creek State Natural Area by State Park and educators several years ago for use with grades 3 to 6. It is available for use by teachers or parents. The curriculum includes activities for learning about water temperature, PH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity through water testing. Students learn to use microscopes to observe and identify microscopic animals in lake water. The chapter on Pollution is from a fish's point of view. The activities and concepts are aligned with the State Science Curriculum Standards.

Download Healthy Water Education Program Curriculum (PDF Document 1.6 MB PDF)
Download Healthy Water Journal (PDF Document 460 KB PDF) Please print out a journal for each student. Can be printed 2-sided.

Learn about Curriculums at other Arizona State Parks (Curriculums)


New Mexico and Arizona Railroad

Sections of this railroad once paralleled Sonoita Creek from Patagonia to Rio Rico. The New Mexico and Arizona Railroad Trail follows the old railroad bed. Remains of the past can be seen in the form of culverts, bridge abutments, pilings, spikes and rails. Please leave these artifacts for others to enjoy.

Management Goals

  • Maintain natural surface water flow.
  • Protect and restore riparian habitat.
  • Protect and restore upland habitat.
  • Maintain diverse and healthly population of native wildlife.
  • Protect existing populations of special-status native wildlife species.
  • Protect cultural resources.
  • Provide opportunities for appropriate public use for recreaion, resource interpretation, environmental education, and scientific research.
  • Develop mutually beneficial partnerships that facilitate resource management and protection within the Sonoita Creek watershed.

Top of Page (Top)     Park Rules (Next)

Arizona State Parks   [Skip]   Home   Find a Park   Arizona Map   Fee Schedule

Western Region

Northern Region

Eastern Region

Southern Region