To return by a different route, continue southwest on 82 to Nogales and then follow Interstate 19 north to Tucson. The 850-acre preserve, operated by The Nature Conservancy, makes a splendid side trip on a visit to Patagonia. Fed by underground springs and runoff from storms, the year-round creek supports a diverse array of plant and animal life. Stately cottonwoods, willows and other lush stream-side vegetation line the watercourse. Other animals spotted at the site include mountain lions, bobcats, javelina, white-tail deer, coyotes and desert tortoises.
Trails winding through the preserve invite a leisurely stroll.
The preserve is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. To reach the preserve from Arizona 82 in Patagonia, go west on Fourth Avenue, turn south on Pennsylvania Avenue, cross the creek and go about one mile to the entrance. The silver ore petered out decades ago. But now this one-time mining center southeast of Tucson has found another kind of mother lode. It's flourishing anew as a day-trip destination for tourists in search of peace, quiet and Old West ambience.