Las Cienegas National Conservation Area - Entrance

Call it 3.75 stars rounded up based on a winter holidays visit. Not a bad place. Did not see any of the pronghorns advertised here, and shooting on birds was a struggle, with an 80-90 percent overcast slate gray sky after the sunrise hinted at sun. Might have spent more time there with better light, and allowing for this being an initial "sampling" trip of just over half a day. I did see several... Call it 3.75 stars rounded up based on a winter holidays visit. Not a bad place. Did not see any of the pronghorns advertised here, and shooting on birds was a struggle, with an 80-90 percent overcast slate gray sky after the sunrise hinted at sun. Might have spent more time there with better light, and allowing for this being an initial "sampling" trip of just over half a day. I did see several Gila woodpeckers as well as the ladderbacks, a few quail, scads of zebraheads and butterbutt warblers and more, such as the black phoebe on Oak Creek. The old Empire Ranch stuff was decently interesting. The biggest concern of warmer-weather visiting, were I here at another time of year, would be the amount of ATV traffic I suspect this place often gets. There was enough of that on the day I was here, and I had seen plenty the day before in lower elevations to the southwest. So with that, while this place is probably even more decent in spring and fall, it's surely not a 5-star place.

I came here to spend some time away from town with my wife and dog to scope out the area. We came out to work on training and she had a blast. There’s tons of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Make sure you wear high tops or boots to combat brush getting in your shoes. Some of the roads are washed out so bring a vehicle with enough clearance for certain areas. We’re definitely gonna come back... I came here to spend some time away from town with my wife and dog to scope out the area. We came out to work on training and she had a blast. There’s tons of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Make sure you wear high tops or boots to combat brush getting in your shoes. Some of the roads are washed out so bring a vehicle with enough clearance for certain areas. We’re definitely gonna come back and explore more.

I came here to spend some time away from town with my wife and dog to scope out the area. We came out to work on training and she had a blast. There’s tons of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Make sure you wear high tops or boots to combat brush getting in your shoes. Some of the roads are washed out so bring a vehicle with enough clearance for certain areas. We’re definitely gonna come back... I came here to spend some time away from town with my wife and dog to scope out the area. We came out to work on training and she had a blast. There’s tons of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Make sure you wear high tops or boots to combat brush getting in your shoes. Some of the roads are washed out so bring a vehicle with enough clearance for certain areas. We’re definitely gonna come back and explore more.

Quiet boondocking spot an hour or so Southeast of Tucson AZ. Not a lot of sites, but some are spread out enough that you cannot see your neighbor. Far enough from any roads that it can be very peaceful. Quail, Prairie dogs, coyote calling in the distance, and cows are the main animals we observed. Beautiful prairie that is also used as a working ranch. Foothills and mountains on all sides. The cam... Quiet boondocking spot an hour or so Southeast of Tucson AZ. Not a lot of sites, but some are spread out enough that you cannot see your neighbor. Far enough from any roads that it can be very peaceful. Quail, Prairie dogs, coyote calling in the distance, and cows are the main animals we observed. Beautiful prairie that is also used as a working ranch. Foothills and mountains on all sides. The camping sites are level hard packed, and remarkably clean... So please keep it that way by making sure you leave no trace, and pack out what you pack in! There are no services, so bring plenty of water etc....

Quiet boondocking spot an hour or so Southeast of Tucson AZ. Not a lot of sites, but some are spread out enough that you cannot see your neighbor. Far enough from any roads that it can be very peaceful. Quail, Prairie dogs, coyote calling in the distance, and cows are the main animals we observed. Beautiful prairie that is also used as a working ranch. Foothills and mountains on all sides. The cam... Quiet boondocking spot an hour or so Southeast of Tucson AZ. Not a lot of sites, but some are spread out enough that you cannot see your neighbor. Far enough from any roads that it can be very peaceful. Quail, Prairie dogs, coyote calling in the distance, and cows are the main animals we observed. Beautiful prairie that is also used as a working ranch. Foothills and mountains on all sides. The camping sites are level hard packed, and remarkably clean... So please keep it that way by making sure you leave no trace, and pack out what you pack in! There are no services, so bring plenty of water etc....