Las Cienegas NCA & Empire Ranch

About

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area is a sweep of rolling grassland southeast of Tucson, roughly an hour's drive away, where Cienega Creek runs year-round. At its center is the Empire Ranch, a working cattle ranch for nearly 150 years, with a 22-room adobe and wood ranch house that dates to 1870. General visits are free, and the area is open daily from sunrise to sunset. You can step into parts of the ranch house through the front breezeway, then walk the half-mile Heritage Discovery Trail past the old outbuildings and interpretive signs. Pack your own water and a picnic for the tables near the ranch headquarters. The grasslands are good for birdwatching and wildlife viewing, and an audio tour plays automatically on your phone as you drive near the site.