Patagonia Lake State Park

We are bummed that we cannot go to the two national monuments that were on our list to go to while camping here, so we opted to go see Patagonia Lake State Park.  And of course, picked a pretty warm day to go - was 93 when we stepped out of the truck after getting there.  This park is the product of a couple of business men who back in the 60's decided to make a resort community built around a lake.  Only the lake is man made - they dammed up the Sonoita Creek and thus created a 265 acre surface lake.  Boating, swimming, camping, hiking, and birding are the main attractions.  Very near Nogales, Mexico.

Patagonia Lake where Sonoita Creek enters

We stopped at the visitor's center to get more information and it was closed until Oct 15 when it opens for the next six months - the draw is for bird watchers.  There are a number of rare birds that migrate from the south up to this area but we were too early to see any.  We walked along the trail down to the water and had to zig zag past all the cows that roam freely in that area.  They were very docile but we were not taking any chances. And there were alot of them!  And bulls.  Were told to not get between a mom and her calf - trust us, we won't!

Ahh - hello

Horses a__?   No, cow butts.   Move off the trail!

Did see a green ratsnake - very long, very fast, not poisonous, but little scary none the less.  The water had a very peaceful look, serene.  Small frogs jumping in front of us, too fast to get pictures.  Cicadas yelling at us as we walked by.  A tree that had split and looked like an alligator - at first made me stop and stare at it - kinda spooky.

Green ratsnake

Heard a number of birds, did not see any, walked down to the water's edge - dodging cow poop all along - and noticed a man who was trimming some twigs and just staring at an area over the creek.  Jim lives near by in the community of Rio Rico and has been active in the bird watching program out of the state park.  He said that he was trying to figure out where to put an easy access for people to cross the creek, something that would be easy to maneuver for those physically challenged.  We stood and talked with him a bit, he relayed the history of the park and the silliness of those business men to have that plan when in fact they could not build there since it was state trust land.

 Alligator!

Sonoita Creek

We did not stay long - this park is definitely for camping and boating, and in the right time of year - birding.  It is not a pretty park in terms of foliage - juniper, sage, cottonwood trees, long grasses, scrub pines. And of course lots of barrel and prickly pear cactus.  Just a smidge too hot for us that day.