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    Recommended Reviews - Empire Ranch

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    Reviews With Photos

    Cochise Hideout
    Laura M.

    Empire Ranch: stopped by on a quirk; wow! Understated and open to public free of charge. Makes one appreciate the history of Our land. Enjoy!

    Entrance
    Melissa C.

    The views on the Empire Ranch / Las Cienegas National Conservation land are lovely. Rolling, grassy hills--often containing pronghorn and/or cattle--lead the eye to Whetstone and Mustang Mountains. You'll come back again and again. On one of your trips, take time to stop at the Empire Ranch headquarters. The Empire Ranch Foundation has restored some of the buildings and is in the process of restoring more. The Heritage Discovery Trail starts near the restrooms and heads toward Empire Gulch. You'll notice tall cottonwoods (live and fallen), numerous wildflowers (season dependent), and a significant variety of birds. When the trail circles back to the main ranch house, you can take yourself on a self-guided tour. The Foundation has restored the building and contents, as well as provided signage about the people who lived and worked on the ranch. Docent-led tours will be offered twice a month starting in August. The Empire Ranch / Las Cienegas National Conservation area offers scenic drives, wildlife/bird watching, hiking, horseback riding, and more. This gem is only about an hour from Tucson and about 30 minutes from Elgin or Patagonia. Check out the sites below for events and details. www.blm.gov/national-conservation-lands/arizona/las-cienegas www.empireranchfoundation.org/

    Location of the ranch buildings
    Delbert B.

    Really nice preserved cattle ranch. Wish they could of had a few horses in the corral. Making it more alive.

    Trail for walking
    Gail G.

    A beautiful Saturday for a drive. We left Green Valley at 10 am and arrived at the ranch about an hour later. We saw several cactus in bloom along the way as well as white desert poppies. The long and winding road to the ranch gave us the opportunity to see some cowgirls saddle up and prepare for a ride. We also watched a helicopter refuel with fire retardant. The ranch itself has a lot of history with markers well placed giving details of the property. We were able to do a self guided tour of the house and surrounding buildings. When everything returns to normal we will want to take in the abundant wineries and restaurants located in Sonoita, a short drive from the ranch.

    Chevron gas pump outside of Empire Ranch. Sadly, not working

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    Ask the Community - Empire Ranch

    Review Highlights - Empire Ranch

    I'm a big fan of the southwest and it's great to see this protected by the BLM and Empire Ranch Foundation.

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    Lehner Mammoth Kill Site - Trailhead near the plaque.  This is a 3-mile perimeter loop trail.

    Lehner Mammoth Kill Site

    3.0(2 reviews)
    58.9 km

    I live 11 miles from this place, but it's only been ten days since I found it. A friend lives…read morenearby and said this is where she parks her car and walks her dog on a three-mile loop down to the San Pedro River and back. She took me here with another dogwalker and I've been coming here daily ever since. There isn't much at the actual kill site other than a plaque describing how Ed Lehner in 1952, landowner of this site, who found butchering tools along with tapir, mammoth, bison and horse bones dating 11,000 years ago when Clovis people lived here. There's nothing here now but the plaque on a high spot in the area. It's now used mostly for other things: It's a great place to set up a telescope on a new moon, or a camera tripod for those gorgeous sun rises and sunsets, and moon rises and moon sets. You have a panoramic view of the Huachuca Mountains. About 50 meters east is a trail that locals use for their dogs and horses. It is a perimeter trail that loops around the field. Birders at the nearby San Pedro B&B use this trail along the river early in the mourning and near dusk to spot birds of all kinds. There are harriers that fly over the field looking for a meal. I would not suggest anyone come here after dusk, as it's six miles from the border with Mexico.

    Just a plaque. Nothing there. But nice to think there were mammoths there and was probably a kill…read moresite for prehistoric people.

    Photos
    Lehner Mammoth Kill Site - Plaque

    Plaque

    Lehner Mammoth Kill Site - View west toward mountains

    View west toward mountains

    Lehner Mammoth Kill Site

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    Rattlesnake Bridge - The rattle

    Rattlesnake Bridge

    3.7(21 reviews)
    66.8 kmIron Horse

    If you've read my Spruce Street Suspension Bridge review, you'd already know my partner is an urban…read moreplanner/transit advocate. Whenever we go somewhere new, we always check out that city's metro system or unique infrastructures. He wasn't with me on this trip so I decided to surprise him with a tale of my adventures to the Rattlesnake Bridge (this bridge has a rattlesnake tail...yes I sent him the picture to accompany the tale). I found this spot on Yelp and it was an adventure finding it in person. There is no parking next to it, so I had to park at Iron Horse park and walk around until I found an entrance to it. Note: If you're coming from that side, the ramp to the bridge is closer to the main street. I think my favorite part of the bridge was the rattlesnake tail at the end. It's fun to be able to say I've been inside a snake.

    This is what happens when true creativity, art and community improvement come together! The…read moreRattlesnake Bridge is a unique, functional piece of art that is as pleasing to look at as it is to use! There's a lot of road construction at his silver fanged head so we started at the back end and walked through, it's pretty cool to be in the belly of a snake!! It's not the best neighborhood area and there are folks that have decided to call the area home so be aware of your surroundings just like anywhere else nowadays! Perhaps the Tucson Art Academy could take an interest and clean it up, after all, it is an artists creation!

    Photos
    Rattlesnake Bridge - Inside "snake"

    Inside "snake"

    Rattlesnake Bridge - The rattle at one end

    The rattle at one end

    Rattlesnake Bridge - Inside bridge

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    Inside bridge

    The Paton Center for Hummingbirds

    The Paton Center for Hummingbirds

    4.5(34 reviews)
    18.6 km

    Fantastic find! The volunteers were great and the various hummingbirds made for a very pleasant…read moremorning. Will definitely be back!

    One of my favorite places in Arizona, and we come here a few times a year, so we can check out all…read morethe birds that come through this place. This place was started by a couple from New England, and they opened up their home for birders that wanted to check out birds. I am an avid birder, and I've been birding for 5 years now and really enjoy this activity. Birders are also a great group of people that really love to geek out about birds. Every time we are here, we manage to chat with some of the volunteers that work here, and each time, I get so much knowledge about birds! This last time we were here, the volunteer told us about a thick billed kingbird and its partner that were here with building their nest. They had set up a scope pointed right at a naked branch, and we got to see the pair! How exciting! This was also a new species for me! Yea! There are plenty of chairs that are put out on the front lawn, and you can sit and watch birds all day. Tons of different feeders are out here for the birds, but I saw plenty of squirrels also eating from the feeders. There is a suet feeder, and I got to see many nuthatches here, which are one of my favorite birds! There is a port of potty here for your use, but note that the house itself is closed to the public. They have a box filled with bird reference books and binoculars you can borrow. There is also a board set up and dates noted of which birds have frequented recently. It's definitely worth a visit if you enjoy birds, and even if you're not a bird enthusiast, this little sanctuary is quite calming, and the bird songs will make you happy and chipper!

    Photos
    The Paton Center for Hummingbirds
    The Paton Center for Hummingbirds
    The Paton Center for Hummingbirds

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    Empire Ranch - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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