Pictures courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona -San Pedro Riparian NCA.
Campground Overview:
The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, under the management of the Bureau of Land Management, contains nearly 57,000 acres of public land, stretching some 40 miles in a narrow band from Sierra Vista to St. David near I-10.
Designated by Congress in 1988, the region is specially designated to protect an extensive network of similar riparian systems throughout the American Southwest. One of the most important riparian areas in the United States, the San Pedro River runs through the Chihuahuan Desert and the Sonoran Desert in southeastern Arizona. The river’s stretch is home to more than 80 species of mammals, two native species and several introduced species of fish, more than 40 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 100 species of breeding birds. It also provides invaluable habitat for 250 species of migrant and wintering birds and contains archaeological sites representing the remains of human occupation from 13,000 years ago.
The area provides ample opportunities for wildlife viewing, as well as visiting historic and prehistoric sites. Picnickers, hikers, equestrians, and hunters are welcome, and primitive camping is allowed. Saturday morning guided walks are provided by Friends of the San Pedro, starting from the San Pedro House.
Only backcountry camping is available, and a permit is required. Overnight camping is allowed in backcountry areas, but not in parking areas. Permits are required for overnight camping and are available seven days a week from the “self service pay stations” at all visitor parking areas
Campground at a Glance
Level: |
Dispersed |
Season: |
Year-Round |
Nearby City: |
Sierra Vista |
Fishing: |
San Pedro River |
Campground Website: |
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area |
Campground Map: |
Click Here |
Reservations: |
First-come, first-served basis |
Location: |
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
Southeastern Arizona has a wealth of cultural, historical and natural resources. There are many opportunities for half or full day, side trips in the surrounding area. Walk back into the Old West and stand in the footprints of the Earp brothers at the OK Corral, relive the mining boomtown days on Brewery Gulch or explore the remnants of old forts or Indian hideouts. Get out and hike on the lush riparian areas of the San Pedro River or add to your “life lists” at nearby.
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area contains about 40 miles of the upper San Pedro River, was designated by Congress as a National Conservation Area (NCA) on November 18, 1988. The primary purpose for the designation is to protect and enhance the desert riparian ecosystem, a rare remnant of what was once an extensive network of similar riparian systems throughout the Southwest. Many recreational opportunities are available within the conservation area.
Murray Springs Clovis Site, a significant archaeological site that contains an undisturbed stratigraphic record of the past 40,000 years. Excavations were conducted by the University of Arizona from 1966 to 1971. People first arrived in this area 11,000 years ago. They belonged to what we now call the Clovis Culture and were the earliest known people to have inhabited North America. Named after the distinctive and beautifully crafted Clovis spear points they made, they were expert hunters of the large mammals of the last Ice Age. An interpretive trail leads visitors through the site.
Fairbank Historic Townsite is a “ghost town” located within the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, along the San Pedro River. Its life as a town began with the construction of a railroad in 1881, and it soon became an important depot as well as the closest railroad stop to Tombstone, then one of the largest western cities (15,000 in 1882).
A few buildings remain standing including a school house, hotel and stagecoach stable, and a small workshop. A trail leads to the town’s nearby cemetery which sits on a small hill overlooking the surrounding area. The area is open for the public to enjoy.
The Spanish Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate is the most intact remaining example of a once-extensive network of similar presidios. These fortresses marked the northern extension of New Spain into the New World. Only a stone foundation and a few remaining adobe wall remnants mark the location of an isolated and dangerous military station.
The San Pedro House, located 9 miles east of Sierra Vista on State Highway 90, is a popular trailhead for birdwatchers, hikers, and mountain bikers. The Friends of San Pedro operate a bookstore and information center.
Coronado National Memorial commemorates the first organized expedition into the Southwest by conquistador Francisco Vásquez de Coronado. The memorial is located in a natural setting on the international border on the southeast flank of the Huachuca Mountains south of Sierra Vista, Arizona. The memorial confirms the ties that bind the United States and Mexico. The Memorial includes a small visitor center and gives visitors access to the surrounding area. With over eight miles of hiking trails, Coronado National Memorial is a great place to explore the outdoors.
Coronado Cave Trail takes explorers up the hillside to the mouth of an large cave. The cave may have been used by humans as a shelter and hideout by middle archaic people (up to 8000 years ago) and more recently by the Chiricahua Apache and other Apache peoples, Mexican and European miners, and settlers. Parts of the cave ceilings have been marked by earlier visitors with fire and carvings, some date back to Francisco Vásquez de Coronado and others are dated around the late 1800’s. AZ Camp Guide had the opportunity to visit the cave in March 2018. If you find yourself in this part of the world, it is worth the trip and great way to spend the afternoon.
Kartchner Caverns State Park was discovered in November 1974, by Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts. They were exploring the limestone hills at the eastern base of the Whetstone Mountains. They were looking “for a cave no one had ever found” and found it. The two kept the cave a secret until February 1978 when they told the property owners, James and Lois Kartchner, about their awesome discovery. Today, the park is managed by Arizona State Parks and includes daily cave tours into the caverns, a discovery center and café, numerous trails for exploring the area, and a picnic Areas and campground.
Nearby Campgrounds:
Campground full or want to see what’s around? Try one of these campgrounds located nearby
