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Think about the West - emotions stir at the sound of the word - far-reaching
deserts, sprawling ranches, Indian strongholds
and Army outposts. The West - America's frontier.
You should experience this glorious land. Come visit Sierra
Vista for it is here where you can lose yourself in the splendor of the magnificent
Huachuca canyons; where you can watch Nature's most wondrous creations,
the tiny hummingbirds as they sip nectar from flowers; and where you
can visit a historic military post with its roots deeply embedded into
the decades of Indian wars.
It is here where you will find an attachment to the Old West with
Fort Huachuca's historic museum detailing the contribution of the Buffalo
Soldiers and the era of the Apache Wars; where western songs and verse
are performed at the Arizona Folklore Preserve by Arizona's State Balladeer;
where events are devoted to the preservation of the cowboy way of life
and the heritage of the West; and where sunset trail rides lead into
the mountains.
It is here also where evidence of prehistoric man has been preserved
at the archaeological sites; where petroglyphs and pictographs depict
the life of earlier man; where the Spanish explorer Coronado first
entered the US; and where ghost town ruins reflect the futile hope
of settlers to tame the arid land.
Today, Sierra Vista is a small city with big city amenities and a
small town attitude. You will find affordable and charming lodging
in one of our 1,200 hotel, motel and bed and breakfast rooms and a
variety of ethnic and cultural choices for dining. A local 18-hole
golf course lies in the shadows of the majestic mountains; the indoor
Aquatic Center provides hours of fun for the family in the wave pool
and tube slides. Our night skies are an astral delight with bright stars
seen from horizon to horizon, and for a closer look, our observatories
will accommodate you.
There's more! Come during our lofty hot air balloon festival, during cars or art in the park, or perhaps during the toe-tapping
Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering. Enjoy a symphony or a ballet.
Come alone or bring the family - you'll love Sierra
Vista.
Request Free Sierra Vista Travel Info!
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Activities |
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 Outdoor
Activities:
In abundance! The southeastern
corner of Arizona, specifically the Sierra Vista area, is one of the
foremost locations in Arizona for those interested in natural scenic
beauty and viewing wildlife and bird life. The city is ringed with
the mountain ranges of the Coronado
National Forest. Hiking, biking,
hang gliding, and caving are just some of the active sports available
to the visitor. Other activities are observatory stargazing, hot air
ballooning and wave surfing.
Southeastern Arizona is an eco-crossroad. Habitats and species from
the Sierra Madre of Mexico, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sonoran and
Chiricahuan deserts can all be found in this area. The "sky islands" – referring
to the abrupt rise of mountains from flatlands - shelter uncommon and
diverse species of wildlife, plant life and bird life. The bird watching
and wildlife viewing areas are world-renowned. Hundreds of species
of birds fly to or through the Sierra Vista area during their seasonal
migration. Unique wildlife, such as the coatimundi and javelina, make
the grasslands and mountains their home.
Some of the premier wildlife and bird life locations and distances
from Sierra Vista are The Nature Conservancy's Ramsey Canyon Preserve
(7 miles), San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (6 miles),
Miller Canyon (13 miles) and the Environmental Operations Park (4 miles).
Some of the other natural attractions are Kartchner
Caverns State Park (19 miles), Coronado National
Memorial (15 miles), Chiricahua
National Monument (90 miles), and the Murray Springs Clovis Site (5 miles).
In addition to Sierra Vista's rich
cultural history, the area is also well known for hiking, biking,
and birding.
Garden Canyon on Fort Huachuca:
In addition to containing some of the most diverse plant and animal
life in the Huachuca Mountains, Garden Canyon is the site of  ongoing
archeological studies at a prehistoric village near the mouth of the
canyon. At higher
elevations there is rock art which includes black
and red rock paintings possibly dating to 1200 AD as well as eye catching
white eagle paintings believed to have been done by Apache artists
in the 18th century. No Fee.
The Nature Conservancy - Ramsey Canyon Preserve:
Famous among birders and other naturalists for over a century,
this 380-acre property in the middle elevations of the canyon
provides excellent birding opportunities from April through September.
Hummingbirds (including Magnificent, Blue-throated and White-eared)
abound. Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Dusky-capped Flycatcher and
Painted Redstart are common inSummer, while Arizona Woodpecker
and Bridled Titmouse are here year-round. Coues's White-tailed
Deer and White-nosed Coati are common. No RV's over 18 feet or
trailers of any size permitted. To reach Ramsey Canyon, take
Hwy 92 south for seven miles from Sierra Vista to the 327 mile
marker, turn right on Ramsey Canyon Road and follow it to its
end. The road is paved to within a few yards of the Preserve
entrance. Open daily, Mar-Oct: 8 am to 5 pm. Nov-Feb: 9 am to
4 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Admission $5/person or $3/person for Conservancy members and
Cochise County residents.
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area:
The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, 40 miles of lush
riparian vegetation, features an abundance of plant and animal life.
The SPRNCA runs along the San Pedro River, from the Mexican border
north to nearly Saint David and has ten access points. In addition to wildlife
the NCA contains the sites of several mining towns, such as Charleston,
Millville, Fairbank and Contention City. Evidence of prehistoric cultures
can be found at the Murray Springs Clovis Site and the ruins of a Spanish
presidio represent the colonial period. The Nature Conservancy has
listed the San Pedro as one of the 10 "Last Great Places" in the U.S.
The area is generally closed to private vehicular traffic, except by
special permit. Find visitor information at the San Pedro House on
Hwy 90, 6 miles east of Sierra Vista.
Boating, Camping & Fishing:
Parker Canyon Lake -
This National Forest Recreation Site is a 133-acre fishing lake
on the west side of the Huachuca Mountains. A small marina and
64-unit campground are located adjacent to the lake.
Patagonia Lake State Park - This lake, created
by the damming of Sonoita Creek is filled with bass, crappie, bluegill,
and catfish. In 1998 a 12-year-old lad broke state and world records
when he caught a two-pound, two-ounce Green Sunfish Hybrid in the
lake. The park also offers camping, hiking and picnicking.
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Spectator Sports:
Almost any time of year one can equine events such as rodeos and horse racing. Visit the website for more information.
Fort Huachuca has hosted the All-Army Boxing Championships for the
past 15 years. This two-day event in January of each year is open to
the public. Winners of the Championships comprise the All-Army men's
and women's team to compete against all other Armed Forces branches
in the Armed Forces competitions and the U.S. Nationals.
During the latter part of October the Harvest Time (Soccer) Shootout
brings school teams from all over Arizona to compete in this exciting
and competitive sport. School age category requirements are for ages
under 10, 12, 14 and 16. Placement trophies are awarded.
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Current Events |
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There is an abundance of activities available in Sierra Vista for participants
of all ages and ability levels, from hikes and guided walks, nature classes and talks, to concerts and ballets, and don't forget Arizona's Official State Balladeer performs at the Arizona Folklore Preserve! For other events see our website.
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Cities and Towns |
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Sierra Vista.
Located 70 miles southeast of Tucson, this thriving community of nearly 40,000
is the regional center of southeastern Arizona and the home of historic Fort
Huachuca. Surrounded by the breathtaking natural beauty of majestic mountain
ranges and the San Pedro River, Sierra Vista boasts a temperate year-round climate,
abundant sunshine, and clean, fresh air. Daily flights to Sierra Vista are available, airport code FHU.
Request Free Sierra Vista Travel Info!
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