Oh, What to Do?
Hike SNP from the property. Horseback riding, Colossal Cave Mountain Park, Mountain Bike Trails, Golfing, and Jeep tours are less than five minutes away. Thirty minutes away are the thirteen vineyards & wine tasting in Sonoita, the Historic Empire Ranch, and the Cienega Preserve. Just a little farther are Kartchner Caverns, the Amerind Foundation, and the historic towns of Tubac, Bisbee, and Tombstone. Or just relax, play billiards, birdwatch, view a DVD, or take a nature walk without leaving the property.
Things to Do
in this Little Arizona Paradise
Rincon Creek Ranch is comprised of 100 acres in the Rincon Valley about 20 minutes southeast of Tucson. The property adjoins Saguaro National Park, and has gated trail access to the Saguaro National Park trail system footsteps from your casita door. Access to The Arizona Trail is approximately three miles away. Each casita has its own covered porch and seating, with expansive, unspoiled, views of Saguaro National Park and the Rincon Mountains. Combined with luxurious, top tier accommodations, and consummate privacy, Rincon Creek Ranch is the perfect place to relax and retreat.
Other Activities Available at the Ranch:
-
Nature trail (1.5 miles)
-
Birding
-
Billiards (pool)
-
Shuffleboard
-
Gym
-
Massages
Just a Few Minutes Away...
A 1 ½ mile nature / jogging trail surrounds the property, and a Zen Garden is currently under construction. Rincon Creek bisects the property and the extensive riparian habitat is home to many species of birds and other wildlife. Horseback riding, Colossal Cave Mountain Park, Mountain Bike Trails, Golfing, and JeepTours are less than five minutes away. Thirty minutes away are thirteen vineyards & wine tasting in Sonoita, the Historic Empire Ranch, and the Cienega Preserve. Just a little farther are Kartchner Caverns, the Amerind Foundation, and the historic towns of Tubac, Bisbee and Tombstone.
Horseback Riding
Great Horseback riding can be found just minutes down the road from RCR. We highly recommend Rocking K Ranch Stables located at 13401 E. Old Spanish Trail, Vail AZ 8564. Contact Merry Armor at (520) 248-2454.
At Colossal Cave Mountain Park, wander down to the Posta Quemada Ranch and take a horseback ride with Boomerang Riding Adventures. Located at 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail, Vail AZ 85641, (928) 487-0364
​
Desert and Mountain Hiking
Surrounded by four mountain ranges, hiking opportunities abound at RCR! On the property is a well signed 1.4 mile loop trail. Footsteps from the casitas is access to the 67,000 acre Saguaro National Park/Rincon Mountains trail system. About 20 minutes away, at the East ends of Speedway and Broadway Boulevards, is the SNP Cactus Forest trail system. For hiking among pine trees and oak, Madera Canyon with its trailheads starting at 4500 feet at summiting at 9146 feet on Mt Wrightson is just over an hour away.
Mountain and Road Cycling
Tucson is a world class bicycling destination offering numerous mountain bike trails and more than 136 miles of paved paths and bike lanes in and around the city. Popular mountain biking near the Ranch can be found via the Saguaro National Park East Loma Alta Trail Head, The Arizona Trail, and Fantasy Island. The new Valencia Road extension with bike lane provides quick access to The Loop & Fantasy Island, and bike lane along Old Spanish Trail leads to the Saguaro National Park loop or anywhere in the city.
Willcox Wine Country
Aridous Wine Company: https://www.ariduswineco.com/
Birds and Barrels: https://birdsandbarrels.com/
Bodega-Pierce: http://www.bodegapierce.com/
Carlson Creek Vineyard: https://carlsoncreek.com/
Coronado Vineyards: http://coronadovineyards.com/
Flying Leap Vineyards: https://www.flyingleapvineyards.com/locations/willcox-tasting-room-art-gallery/
Golden Rule Vineyards: https://www.goldenrulevineyards.com/
High Lonesome Vineyard: http://www.highlonesomevineyard.com/
Keeling-Schaefer Vineyards: http://keelingschaefervineyards.com/
Kief-Joshua Vineyards: http://www.kj-vineyards.com/about-willcox.asp
Pillsbury Wine Company: http://www.pillsburywine.com/
Sandor Vineyards: https://sandorvineyards.com/
Zarpara Vineyard: http://www.zarpara.com/
Willcox Wine Country: http://willcoxwinecountry.org/about/
Wines of Willcox: http://www.willcoxwines.com/
Sonoita-Elgin Vineyards
Rune Wines: https://www.runewines.com/
Arizona Hops & Vines: http://azhopsandvines.com/
Dos Cabezas Wineworks: http://www.doscabezas.com/
Wilhelm Family Vineyards: http://wilhelmvineyards.com/
Rancho Rossa Vineyards: https://www.ranchorossa.com/
Elgin Winery & Distillery: http://elginwines.com/
Callaghan Vineyards: http://callaghanvineyards.com/
Flying Leap Vineyards, Inc.: http://www.flyingleapvineyards.com/
Kief-Joshua Vineyards: http://kj-vineyards.com/
Sonoita Vineyards: https://www.sonoitavineyards.com/
Lightning Ridge Cellars: http://lightningridgecellars.com/
Hannah's Hill Vineyards: http://www.hannahshill.com/
Silverstrike Winery (Tombstone): http://www.silverstrikewinery.com/
Charron Vineyards (Vail): http://www.charronvineyards.com/
Colossal Cave
This natural wonder is just 5 minutes away, and is a must see! Offered tours vary from the Classic 40 minute guided walking tour to the more adventurous Ladder Tour to the ultimate underground climbing Wild Tour. Gift shop and cafe on the premises. Campground and seasonal horseback riding.
Kartchner Caverns
Discovered in 1974 in the Whetstone Mountains this cave has been preserved and developed to allow visitors a truly pristine cave experience. Exceptional bat sanctuary and viewing opportunity. Managed by Arizona State Parks.
Empire Ranch
Homesteaded in the 1860's, the Ranch was subsequently acquired by Walter Vail and partners, who then along with his brother Edward significantly expanded the Ranch to over 100,000 acres including satellite ranches, mining, cattle, and water rights operations. The name was chosen to honor their native New York. The scene of many western films, today the Ranch is protected and managed in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management. Popular among Birders and History Buffs.
Cienega Creek Natural Preserve
This 4000 acre nature preserve protects 12 miles of the perennial Cienega Creek. The area is home to abundant wildlife and is a popular birding area. The Three Bridges crossing is a popular railroad viewing and photography area, Arizona Trail access into the creek preserve via the Gabe Zimmerman parking lot. Closest access (10 Minutes) from Rincon Creek Ranch is at the bridge crossing on Colossal Cave Road one-half mile west from Camino Loma Alta.
The City of Tucson Fred Enke course offers golfers an interesting and challenging approach to golf course design. The major features of the course are its vast teeing areas, large greens, strategic bunkers and sand traps, and most important of all, its concept as a semi-arid, limited turf course. Twenty-three minutes from the Ranch.
Tucson Attraction Favorites
Pima Air and Space Museum: https://pimaair.org/
Reid Park Zoo: https://reidparkzoo.org/
Tucson Botanical Gardens: https://tucsonbotanical.org/
Mini-Time Machine: https://theminitimemachine.org/
Tucson Museum of Art: https://www.tucsonmuseumofart.org/
Southern AZ Transportation Museum: http://tucsonhistoricdepot.org/
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: http://www.desertmuseum.org/
Mission San Xavier del Bac: http://www.sanxaviermission.org/
Arizona Historical Society Museum: https://arizonahistoricalsociety.org/museum/arizona-history-museum/
ASARCO Mine Tours: https://www.asarco.com/about-us/asarco-mineral-discovery-center/mine-tours/
Titan Missile Museum: https://titanmissilemuseum.org/
Kitt Peak National Observatory: https://www.noao.edu/kpno/
Tucson Speedway: https://www.tucsonspeedway.com/
Tucson Dragway: https://www.tucsondragway.com/\
Tucson Children's Museum: https://www.childrensmuseumtucson.org/
Tombstone
Step back in time and enjoy the Old West Atmosphere of the “Town Too Tough To Die!”, Tombstone, Arizona. Walk the very same streets where Wyatt Earp and his brothers enjoyed the company of the likes of Doc Holliday! Step inside the historic buildings where a game of Faro or Poker would have called to the weary miner or even inside the silver mine where that precious dollar was once earned! Stand where the legendary stories of the past actually occurred and encapsulate yourself in our authentic Wild West History!