Travels With Two Sisters: The allure of water: Quenching a thirst for adventure

In the spring, we enjoy watching the birds building their nests, photographing the incredible display of spring blooms, listening to the “discussions” between the owls and ravens claiming their territories and smelling the blooms of the Texas mountain laurel.

During the summer months, we occasionally head to the mountains and canyons for cooler temperatures, soak our feet in whatever flowing or standing water we find and plan explorations in higher elevations. During the fall months, we love taking off to find the fall blooms, the red- and yellow-colored leaves along creeks and miss the call of the white winged doves.

Springtime, for us, always brings up a common desire — finding water. This state, with 128 lakes and five major rivers within its boundaries, offers its residents and visitors ample opportunities to spend time near water. During the last 15 years, we have explored and enjoyed dozens of lakes, ponds, reservoirs, creeks and rivers. We have soaked our feet in the Colorado River, stopped to admire the waterfall in Box Canyon, sat by the stream in Madera Canyon and walked along the beach near the London Bridge in Lake Havasu, to name a few.

Over the last four years, we have mentioned many of the sites in previous articles. Lately, however, we have had two separate requests to write an article on our favorite lakes, ponds, water preserves, etc. We have also received positive feedback on our article on the Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson. Upon requests, here is a listing of some of our favorite water “places” located in Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise county. Enjoy!

Pena Blanca Lake, located 18 miles northwest of downtown Nogales, can be accessed from Interstate 19 on the Pena Blanca/Ruby Road exit in Rio Rico. This 45-acre body of water is described as “the place to be” by hikers, birders, nature lovers and anglers. The reservoir, created in 1957 by the Arizona Department of Game and Fish, relies on the Pajarito Wash and annual precipitation for its water. This small body of water lies in a remote area of southern Arizona, surrounded by rolling hills and desert vegetation.

Standing by the edge of the lake, we immediately noticed the peace and quiet and it was easy to believe that we were alone in this beautiful setting. In the surrounding area, we located a boat ramp, fishing dock, restrooms and picnic areas. For those who yearn to escape the hustle and bustle of life in a quiet setting, this may be your “peaceful” place.

John F. Kennedy Park, located on South Mission Road in Tucson offers the public a wide variety of recreational opportunities. The park complex includes ramadas, restrooms, grills, sports fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, playgrounds, swimming pool and a 10-acre urban fishing lake. At the lake, several picnic tables and ramadas are available for public use and we always claim one of the ramadas that has a beautiful view of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

The size of this small lake always entices us to stroll around the lake while we have conversations with the friendly ducks, say hello to fellow wanderers and check the status of the cattails that grow along the eastern edge of the lake. For those who prefer shade, some shade trees are available and offer a cool place to relax. This is a quiet place to walk, think, read, chat, make new friends and just enjoy staring at the water in a desert environment.

Rose Canyon Lake, located in the Santa Catalina Mountains, can be accessed from the Catalina Highway in Tucson. The lake, located at the lower end of the Santa Catalina campground, is currently closed until 2025 in an effort to protect the environmental quality of the small, six-acre lake.

This small impressive lake, with its dark blue water, is surrounded by huge ponderosa pines and beautiful rock formations along the edge of the lake. Upon our visit, we were impressed with this beautiful, secluded place. We leisurely strolled along the edge of the water and we could feel the peace and comfort that this place offers. This would be a great place to read a book, absorb Mother Nature’s beauty, write a poem, dream or meditate. Although the site is currently closed, this is a site that is worthy of being included on a “To See” list.

Canoa Ranch Lake, located on East Frontage Road in Green Valley, is one of our very favorite sites in the local area. This small body of water is often referred to as the old fish pond. It has been restored and is currently a local attraction for bird watchers, walkers and nature lovers. As of September 2020, 250 different species of birds have been sighted at this location, making it the fifth hottest bird watching place in Pima County.

This is a site we have frequented on several occasions; we love to sit and watch the wildlife, spend time with friends, stroll along on the well-maintained paths, watch the moon rise, chat with fellow nature lovers and spend some time in an area where Shirley Jones walked. Great place to make duck friends, read, meditate, plan your next adventure and breathe in fresh air.

Lakeside Lake is located on East Stella Road in the Chuck-Ford Lakeside Park in Tucson. This 14-acre urban lake, located in a residential neighborhood, has picnic areas, ramadas, a small playground, basketball court, fishing areas, shade trees and huge green spaces. With a magnificent view of the Santa Catalina mountains, it is a beautiful place to leisurely stroll around the body of water.

When we visited the site in September 2018 we were impressed with this large, well-designed, beautiful outdoor space. On that day, we lingered awhile, admired the view, absorbed the warmth of the sun, watched the children at play and allowed ourselves the opportunity to appreciate our surroundings. This is a site where you may want to linger. Bring your camera, a chair, blanket, book, notepad…

Arivaca Lake, a 90-acre impoundment lake built by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, is located south of the town of Arivaca and can be accessed from Ruby Road. The drive to the lake is appealing to adventurers and explorers; the lake is accessed by a dirt road that winds and turns its way down to the body of water.

Arriving at the lake, a toilet and a boat ramp are the only amenities to be seen. This is a remote and primitive area surrounded by grasslands, mountains and cattle ranches. Water levels vary by season depending on the amount of precipitation. Recreational activities include bird watching, wildlife viewing, fishing, rock climbing, primitive camping, hiking, searching for Mexican fire agates and opals and boating (small boats). The remoteness of this area is very appealing. It is a great spot to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Patagonia Lake State Park, located on Route 82 between Patagonia and Nogales, is tucked away between rolling hills and shade trees. This site offers visitors the opportunity to rest or play in a beautiful environment. The 265-acre reservoir was created by the damming of the Sonoita Creek. This lake extends for over two miles, which attracts water skiers and boaters. Recreational activities, at this site, include swimming, boating, camping, daydreaming, hiking, reading, painting, birding, sun tanning, socializing, picnicking, napping on the beach, fishing, boat tours and so much more.

Cienega Creek Natural Preserve is noted as one of the most intact riparian areas in southern Arizona. The preserve consists of 4, 00 acres along 12 miles of Cienega Creek. In April 2014, we headed to Marsh Station Road in Vail to the Gabe Zimmerman Davidson Canyon Trailhead. We photographed the surrounding area, read the information signs, and headed down the steep, gravel path in search of the creek.

Walking down the path, we had excellent views of the river corridor, multiple cottonwood trees, the valley and some amazing rock formations. Eventually, we were on flat ground amongst beautiful mesquite, willow and cottonwood trees. In the huge riverbed, there was a small, but steady stream of water headed towards Pantano Wash.

We stayed in the riparian area for a while, enjoying the refreshing shade, listening to the various bird calls and relishing the melody of the running water. Hikers and adventurers should be prepared to enter a world of joyful sound — an area protected and preserved for us to enjoy.

Agua Caliente Park, located on East Roger Road in Tucson, is one of our favorite places to visit. This former ranch and health resort was well-known for its hot springs. Today, it is a public park for the enjoyment of everyone. Within the 100-acre park, visitors will find a beautiful pond surrounded by green grass and several of the biggest palm trees in the Tucson area.

Recreational opportunities at this site include picnicking, hiking, taking photos of the Santa Catalina mountains, birding, photography, wildlife viewing, sitting, watching the antics of the ducks and turtles, exploring the historic ranch house listed on the National Register of Historic Places, meditating and escaping from other responsibilities. At this site, it is easy to rejuvenate our spirit amongst the huge palm trees.

In this article, we have listed nine local sites where we have enjoyed the sound and sight of water. There are many other sites located in Pima, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties that offered us the opportunity to spend time near bodies of water.

Here are more options: Cave Creek Canyon in Portal, Ramsey Canyon in Sierra Vista, Las Lagunas de Anza in Nogales, Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve in Patagonia, Sahuarita Lake in Sahuarita, Madera Canyon in Green Valley, Arivaca Cienega in Arivaca, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in Sasabe, Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in McNeal and Florida Canyon (just north of Madera Canyon) to name a few.

Living in a state with 128 lakes and five major rivers has been a joy to explore several of them. No, we have not seen all of them! We will continue to search for more sites whenever we explore a new area of the state.