Hiking & History along the San Pedro River | Sierra Vista Arizona | SPRNCA

It’s a short walk from the San Pedro House to the San Pedro River which, according to The Nature Conservancy, “is the last major, undammed desert river in the American Southwest, and is of major ecological importance as it hosts two-thirds of the avian diversity in the United States, including 100 species of breeding birds and almost 300 species of migrating birds.”
The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA) was established in 1988 to help protect the river. The SPRNCA is about 2½ miles wide. It starts at the U.S - Mexico border and ends about 40 miles north near St. David. It encompasses many historical areas , including the Murray Springs Clovis site, the Presidio Santa Cruz de Terranate, and the ghost towns of Lewis Springs, Little Boquillas Ranch, Fairbank and Charleston. The river eventually joins the Gila River near Winkelman, Arizona.
I started my 3-mile hike at the San Pedro House, an old ranch house built in the 1930s, headed to the river and Kingfisher Pond, and then looped back to the house. If you’re looking for a longer hike, you can hike any or all of the sections of the 30-mile-long San Pedro River Trail. If you’re not up for a long hike just wander around the San Pedro House area and watch the birds come and go. There are plenty of benches near the house to sit and enjoy the scene. Beautiful and peaceful!
0:00 Let's go!
0:42 The river
1:13 San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area
1:48 History
3:17 Monsoon season caution
3:47 Route
www.sanpedroriver.org/RiverRou...
www.myheraldreview.com/news/a...
San Pedro House www.blm.gov/visit/san-pedro-h...
Other historical sites in this area: www.blm.gov/visit/san-pedro
Hummingbird banding sabo.org/hummingbirds/humming...
Directions (www.blm.gov/national-conserva...
San Pedro Riparian NCA is 6 miles east of Sierra Vista, Arizona. From Tucson, take Interstate 10 east 40 miles to Arizona Route 90. Follow the highway south through Huachuca City to Fry Boulevard in Sierra Vista. Follow this street for six miles east until you reach the San Pedro House.
You can also get to San Pedro Riparian NCA via:
• Arizona Route 80, near St. David;
• Arizona Route 82 at Millville Historic Townsite;
• Hereford Road at Hereford Bridge; and
• Arizona Route 92 at Palominas.
best hikes in Arizona
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drone flight San Pedro River

[@idrvplanes]

I have not been there since the 1970’s. Thank You for bringing back great memories of family outings.

[@karenflynnhikes]

I'm glad you enjoyed seeing the area again!

[@DouglasGreen562]

What a gem of an area 👍

[@myrrhmadelove]

hi, great videos and info.

[@alanturner3551]

Lovely video and interesting historical tidbits!

[@karenflynnhikes]

Yes, there's a lot of history in this area!

[@ezas123ful]

Great aerial views!

[@karenflynnhikes]

I got a drone recently and really enjoy checking out the view from above. It really helps put the landscape into perspective.

[@cturnerb]

I love learning more about the history of this area. We've only lived here a little over four years and there is a lot to see and learn. Thank you.

[@karenflynnhikes]

It's an amazing area! You can't ever run out of things to see and do outdoors.

[@karenflynnhikes]

For directions to the San Pedro House, and for more information, click the "...more" link above. If you 're interested in other flat hikes near the San Pedro, like to Little Boquillas Ranch, Fairbank, the Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate and more, check out this playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLdPtpqqxOOHgqFEvkuCwvxgdIr_QkKBk2

[@SoniCido]

Wish we could thin out the cottonwoods and shrubs

[@roderichroby6236]

Cottonwoods provide lots of shade and bird nesting areas, but they pull SO much water out of any stream or river. The San Francisco, through Clifton, Eagle Creek by Morenci, the Gila, the Verde, some areas of the Salt and others. Removal of maybe every 3rd or 4th tree might help increase flow? But then you have unsightly stumps and difficult removal of large trees in remote areas.