Patagonia Lake State Park

March 21: Annual Mariachi Festival: Noon to 5 pm. A number of Mariachi bands perform and there are a variety of food vendors on hand to feed your family. (520) 287-6965

Rent a canoe or a rowboat for the day, or bring your own boat and enjoy Patagonia Lake State Park.

Tucked away in the rolling hills of southeastern Arizona is a hidden treasure. Patagonia Lake State Park was established in 1975 as a state park and is an ideal place to find whitetail deer roaming the hills and great blue herons walking the shoreline. The campground overlooks a 265-acre man-made lake where anglers catch crappie, bass, bluegill, and catfish. Trout is stocked every three weeks from October through March. The tracks of the New Mexico/Arizona railroad lie beneath the lake and remnants of the old historic line may be found at the Nature Conservancy in Patagonia. Hikers can stroll along the beautiful creek trail and see a variety of birds such as the canyon towhee, Inca dove, vermilion flycatcher, black vulture, and several species of hummingbirds.

The park offers a beach, picnic area with ramadas, tables & grills, a creek trail, boat ramps, a marina, and the Lakeside Market. There is a campground, boat-in camp sites, restrooms, showers, and a dump station. The Lakeside Market offers boat rentals, fishing licenses, bait, ice, and more.

At two and a half miles long and 250 surface acres, Patagonia Lake State Park is popular for a variety of recreational activities, including water skiing, fishing, camping, picnicking, and hiking.

Created by the damming of Sonoita Creek, the lake is habitat for bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish, and is stocked with rainbow trout during the winter. For anglers' sake, the east half of the lake is designated a no wake area. A handicap fishing dock is located at the marina and behind the Sonoita Creek visitor center. Because the lake attracts a multitude of water sports enthusiasts during summer months, water skiing or towing a recreational device is prohibited on weekends and holidays from May 1 through September 31st.

Camping ranges from undeveloped spots to sites with water and electric hookups. Park conveniences include picnic ramadas, a swimming beach, and a marina store with boat rentals. Entry to the park is allowed from 4 am until 11 pm and access is from State Route 82 between Patagonia and Nogales. Park conveniences include picnic ramadas, a swimming beach, and a marina store with boat rentals.

Patagonia Lake State Park and the Sonoita Creek State Natural Area are located next to each other in Patagonia, Arizona. The Natural Area conserves the land in its natural state, so you won’t find restrooms or modern camping facilities in the Natural Area. Use Patagonia Lake State Park as your base camp to enjoy the hiking, horseback riding, and natural surroundings of the Sonoita Creek area. Please practice “Leave No Trace” ethics.

Upcoming Events

These special activities and programs are offered in addition to regularly scheduled daytime and twilight Pontoon Boat Tours, guided bird walks and Jr. Ranger programs. For information, call (520) 287-2791.

Tues. Jan. 6, 7 pm - A Nature Photo Tour of the Santa Cruz River Valley. Murray Bolesta. From the ground and air, beautiful images of an important water source shared by Arizona and Sonora, Mexico.

Thurs. Jan. 8, 7 pm - Bats: Demons or Darlings. Steven Haas. Animals of myths and legends, bats pollinate many plants we like to eat and eat many insects that irritate us.

Fri. Jan. 9, 9 am - Nature & History Hike. Greg Scott, retired teacher, Nogales. History of the Patagonia Lake area with a little nature thrown in. Three miles, three hours; start in Rio Rico. Registration required.

Sat. Jan. 10, 4:45 pm - Moonlight Hike. Walk up the Overlook Trail during sunset and moonrise with a guide. Moderate difficulty, incredible view! Registration required.

Tues. Jan. 13, 7 pm - History of the New Mexico & Arizona Railroad. Ride the rails back in time down Sonoita Creek (under Patagonia Lake!) with Jack Walsh.

Thurs. Jan. 15, 7 pm - Sonoita Creek: A Treasure of Natural History and Diversity. Join Ron Hummel, one of the founders of the Friends of Sonoita Creek and local nature enthusiast, for an overview of the life in and around the creek.

Tues. Jan. 20, 9 am - Nature & History Hike, from Patagonia Lake. Please register.

Tues. Jan. 20, 7 pm - Ghost Towns of SE Arizona. Settlers came to seek their fortune and left behind stories of hard times and adventures. Judy King presents a glimpse into the history of the hills around Patagonia.

Thurs. Jan. 22, 7 pm - An Introduction to Audubon’s Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch. Christine Haas will give an overview of the history and role of the ranch in conservation research in nearby Elgin, AZ.

Fri. Jan. 23, 8 am - Five-Mile Bird Hike. A guide will lead you through desert uplands into the Sonoita Creek riparian habitat from the Patagonia Lake Visitor Center. Registration required, limited to 12.

Tues. Jan. 27, 7 pm - White-Nosed Coatis: An Introduction to Arizona’s Most Curious Beast. These entertaining and busy beasts are relatives of racoons and live along Sonoita Creek. Christine Haas will explain their behavior and habitat needs.

Thurs. Jan. 29, 7pm - Addressing the Myths About the Patagonia Lake Dam and Water Quality. Get your questions answered and find out the rest of the story. Rob Van Zandt, Arizona State Parks, will speak to the specifics.

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