Presidio Santa Cruz Terrenate

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.

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Presidio Santa Cruz Terrenate

Presidio Santa Cruz Terrenate is a historic site under the Bureau of Land Management near the San Pedro River in Arizona. It was built in 1776 to protect the Spanish against raids from the Apache warriors. The only evidence of this historical monument is the remains of adobe walls surrounding the Presidio. There is a 1.2-mile dirt trail that guides visitors from the parking area to the Presidio. You must avoid touching the structures as they are fragile. Bureau of Land Management camping is permitted, but visitors should bring food and water since there are no facilities within this area. Other activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing. Another exciting site is the ghost town of Fairbank, which is approximately three miles from the Presidio trailhead via AZ 82.

What to See and Do

Hiking and Biking

San Pedro River Trail: South from San Pedro House

The trail is long enough for hiking or biking. Also, it leads down the San Pedro River, and you might see tumbleweed, lizards, and cacti along the trail. Dogs are allowed only when they are on a leash.

Length: 10.7 miles

Intensity: Easy

Brown Canyon Trail

The Brown Canyon Trail is a popular area for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. It remains open year-round, and dogs are allowed on a leash. There are some areas where dogs are allowed off-leash.

Length: 5.3 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Ramsey Canyon and Hamburg Trail

The trail is challenging during the first mile that leads you on a gradual climb. Hikers may enjoy some solitude in the quieter times of the day. It is open year-round, but dogs are not allowed.

Length: 7.5 miles

Intensity: Hard

San Pedro House Trail

The San Pedro House Trail is a loop trail near Sierra Vista, Arizona, which is excellent for walking. There is no shade along the trail, but it is child-friendly and remains open year-round.

Length: 1.2 miles

Intensity: Easy

Fishing and Boating

The San Pedro River is the closest fishing spot to Presidio Santa Cruz Terrenate. The most popular fish species are channel and flathead catfish. The Rose Canyon Lake is another excellent spot for recreational fishing as it is home to brown trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout (fario). If you want to swim or go for a boat ride, consider Patagonia Lake. Visitors can swim in any part of the lake, excluding the boat launch areas.

Wildlife Viewing

At least 34 bird species live in the San Pedro River area. Some common species are the chipping sparrow, brewers sparrow, gray flycatcher, woodpecker, summer tanager, and ruby-crowned kinglet. Also, there are lizards, deer, and butterflies. The Ramsey Canyon Trail is another area for wildlife viewing. It is home to the Arizona gray squirrel, assorted frogs, bobcats, ridge-nosed rattlesnakes, mountain lions, and black bears.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding is allowed on the San Pedro River Trail located south of the San Pedro House. It is a long trail where you will enjoy the San Pedro River scenery. If you are lucky, you might come across some of the wildlife in the area.

Bureau of Land Management Camping

RV Camping

Presidio Santa Cruz Terrenate allows camping at $2 per person per night, but it doesn’t offer any amenities. An excellent RV camping area is the Double Adobe Campground, which offers over 100 campsites at $20 for two people per night. Amenities include restrooms with showers, 24-hour laundry, Wi-Fi, and RV hookups.

It is also possible to find Bureau of Land Management Campgrounds near the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. San Pedro RV Resort requires a reservation and charges $25 per night. Visitors access full hookups, cable TV, Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, showers, restrooms with flush toilets, trash bins, and hot tubs. Another reliable campground is Benson KOA. It is 40 miles north of the San Pedro House and is ideal for RV camping if you require more amenities. The campsites are large enough to fit up to 65 feet long RVs. Guests will access electric, water, and sewer hookups. Also, there are laundry facilities, showers, restrooms with flush toilets, a general store, and fire rings.

Free Camping

San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area allows dispersed camping year-round. It is about 1.2 miles from Sierra Vista and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. If it is your first-time camping on public land, you might need to know some of the regulations. Check the BLM camping near me guide as it’s an excellent information source for Bureau of Land Management free camping.

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Credit: Vanna Mae, @vannamaeart

Planning your Presidio Santa Cruz Terrenate BLM trip

Before planning your Presidio Santa Cruz Terrenate trip, the first thing is to know the area. The information will act as a guide on what you need to bring. For example, if you prefer developed camping, there could be campgrounds that offer significant amenities. In this case, you might only need to bring a few items. If you settle on dispersed camping, there won’t be any amenities. You will need to bring everything from water and food to power backups. Before leaving for your camping trip, check out our blog for more information about BLM camping.

Leave No Trace

It is crucial to leave a campsite in the best possible condition for future use. These areas are home to wildlife and natural vegetation that could be affected by destructive activities. If you are dry camping, limit your use of natural resources and collect trash around the campsite. If there is no trash bin, pack up the trash to be disposed of in the proper place. Avoid direct contact with wildlife by viewing from a distance. By following the policies that govern camping on public lands, you help promote environmental sustainability.

Presidio Santa Cruz Terrenate Location

To get to Presidio Santa Cruz Terrenate, drive on the Arizona State Route 82 for about 13 miles west of Tombstone. Continue until you pass the San Pedro River crossing at Fairbank. It should get you to North Keller Road. Here, there is a dirt road that you should follow for one mile before taking the trailhead to the right. The trail will get you to the parking lot.

Address: N Kellar Rd, Huachuca City, AZ 85616, United States

Ready to visit Presidio Santa Cruz Terrenate? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day of exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night, enjoying a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here's a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.