Sierra Vista, Arizona

The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area in Arizona offers recreation opportunities, gorgeous sights, and archaeological artifacts. Because the park houses a large variety of mammals, fish, and reptiles, visitors of the conservation area enjoy bird watching, fishing, and hunting. Solo and guided hikes are also available. Guests can see the remnants of a Spanish fort or explore an abandoned mining town. The conservation area also contains the Murray Springs Clovis Site, where visitors can see the artifacts left behind by Native American civilizations. Guests can enjoy meals at picnic areas within the park, and gifts can be purchased at the San Pedro Gift Shop and Bookstore.

Address: San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, 4070 South Avenida Saracino, Sierra Vista, AZ 85615, Phone: 520-258-7200

Open year round, the Sierra Vista Farmers Market is a service used by Sierra Vista locals and visitors alike. Visitors can spend the day browsing the market, shopping for goods or enjoying food from meal vendors. Products for sale at the market include produce, dairy products, meat and fish, and eggs. Guests can also buy pastries, breads, nuts, and artisan snacks. Crafts are also available; local vendors sell pottery and hand carved wooden goods, as well as soaps and bath products. The Sierra Vista Farmers Market also features live music and special events that focus on community outreach.

Address: Sierra Vista Farmers Market, Veterans’ Memorial Park, 3105 E Fry Blvd., Sierra Vista, AZ 85635, Phone: 520-678-2638

Recommended Activities for Families

Brown’s Canyon Trail is a great site for outdoor recreation. The trail is 5.3 miles long and reaches an elevation of 5600 feet. Guests of Sierra Vista enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and cycling on the Brown’s Canyon Trail. Open throughout the year, guests can enjoy a mixture of sun and shade on this pavement and gravel path. The Brown’s Canyon Trail is located conveniently near to the Brown’s Canyon Ranch, which allows visitors to bike or hike past this historical site. During the spring, drinkable water is available on the trail. The trail is dog-friendly.

Address: Brown’s Canyon Trail, Buffalo Soldier Trail and Hwy. 92, Sierra Vista, AZ 85650

Located near the Huachuca Mountains, Garden Canyon has a variety of historical and natural sights for visitors to choose from. Guests can visit Garden Canyon Park, which offers picnic areas, waterfalls, and trees that draw birds and birdwatchers alike. Visitors can also look back through history by visiting one of the many ghost towns that populate the area. Garden Canyon is home to the ghost towns of Fairbank, Gleeson, and Pearce, which feature abandoned buildings from the towns’ past. Guests can also see abandoned mines. Garden Canyon is also home to Fort Huachuca, an 1877 military base that boasts 70,000 acres of land and an educational museum.

Address: Garden Canyon, Fort Huachuca, Squier Ave. 2, Sierra Vista, AZ 85650, Phone: 520-533-3000

Perfect for hiking, driving, and wildlife viewing, Carr Canyon offers breathtaking views of the San Pedro Valley and the town of Sierra Vista. Bird watching is particularly popular at Carr Canyon due to the wide variety of high-elevation and forest birds that pass through the canyon. Guests also report seeing mammals and reptiles throughout the canyon. While at the canyon, visitors can also check out the Carr House, which has been renovated to serve as a visitor’s center. For an extended stay, guests are invited to camp at Carr Canyon. The campground offers bathroom facilities, grills, and picnic tables.

Address: Carr Canyon Road, Sierra Vista, AZ 85650, Phone: 520-378-0311

Attractions for Couples

The Henry F. Hauser Museum and Gift Shop honors the life of Henry F. Hauser, a local athlete, soldier, and politician. Home to decades of Sierra Vista history, this museum chronicles the lives, businesses, and pastimes of Sierra Vista residents throughout time. The Henry F. Hauser Museum hosts traveling exhibits, presentations from the Sierra Public Library, and the Arizona Hall of Fame Quilt Documentation Project. Children can also enjoy an interactive kiosk that allows them to explore outdated technology, or become a Junior History Detective. Gifts, books, and décor are available for sale at the museum’s gift shop.

Address: 2950 E Tacoma St, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635, Phone: 520-439-2306

The Presidio of Santa Cruz de Terrenate is an abandoned Spanish military fortress. Although only ruins remain, this is historical site provides a glimpse into the history of the area. Guests can expect to see the remains of buildings like the barracks and chapel, each of which have been labeled and preserved by the Bureau of Land Management. Getting to this isolated fortress also allows guests to enjoy a short hike in the natural beauty of the area. There is no available food or water at the Presidio of Santa Cruz de Terrenate, but visitors are welcome to bring their own food and beverages.

Address: The Presidio of Santa Cruz de Terrenate, N. Kellar Road, Sierra Vista, AZ 85650, Phone: 520-439-6400

The Huachuca Art Association (HAA) promotes the growth of the Sierra Vista arts community. Guests can visit the Huachuca Arts Association Gallery and Studio for art exhibits, studio space, and art instruction, including special art classes for children. The Gallery includes a gift shop that highlights the work of local artists. Visitors can also enjoy the annual Art in the Park event. Located in the Sierra Vista Veterans Memorial Park, this festival features the multimedia creations of local artists, including ceramics, photographs, jewelry, and woodworking. Guests can browse the booths, support artists from the area, and enjoy snacks from food truck vendors.

Address: Huachuca Art Association, 1835 Paseo San Luis, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635, Phone: 520-803-1078