Following the Coronado Expedition of 1540, cattle ranching took hold in the Southwest in the 1600s, providing the region with more than 300 years of ranching history and traditions. In that time, rangelands were destroyed and recovered, giving deep roots to the region’s culture of stewardship. With its vast landscapes, varying terrains, and dry winds, today’s ranchers learned early that, for the land to take care of them, they must take care of it first. It is knowledge passed down from the preceding generations, for many of the ranching families of the Southwest have as much history as the cattle, and their operations can be traced back many decades. 

Join us for a full day of visiting two of the largest, historic ranches in Santa Cruz County.  Beginning with the Empire Ranch, now part of the Las Cienegas Conservation Area, with historian Alison Bunting we’ll hear about life 100 yrs ago.  On to the San Ignacio del Babacomari Mexican Land Grant, comprising Arizona’s largest contiguous private land parcel, where we’ll have a catered lunch and learn how the Apaches forced the Ellias family to abandon their ranch, and the defense of the private land rights were protected from the U.S. government and went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. From there we will travel over the Canelo Hills and look out over the magnificent San Rafael Valley, where we’ll check out the “headwaters” of the Santa Cruz River as it heads South into Mexico, and then again as it returns Northward. The San Rafael Valley is one of the nation’s primary last stands of vast native grasslands. If you loved the Ranching to Vineyards Tour you’ll love this even more as it is the prequel to that tour. 

Activity Level: Walking up to 1 mile at a leisurely pace on uneven surfaces. 

Tour fee includes transportation from Tubac and lunch: $105/members; $115/non-members. 

Sponsored in part by grants from the AZ Community Foundation and the Santa Cruz Community Foundation.

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CANCELLATION POLICY:

- Cancel on or before November 3: option to receive a full refund (less $25 cancellation fee) OR a to receive a credit for a future equivalent tour

- Cancel after November 3: NO refunds but a credit for a future tour may be offered