Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area

Death After Dark Walking Tour
2026-05-17 20:00 - 22:30, 2026-05-03 20:00 - 22:30 (America/Phoenix) | Presidio San Augstin del Tucson, 196 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85701
Escape the heat and join Mauro Trejo on an after-dark and unique and macabre tour that covers some of the most memorable deaths that have taken place in Tucson’s history. From executions to suicides, and gunfights to accidents, this 2 mile tour will take you back in time to some of Tucson’s most fascinating tragedies.

Patagonia Lake Mariachi Festival - Saturday May 16th, 2026
2026-05-16 12:00 - 18:00 | Patagonia Lake State Park, 400 Patagonia Lake Rd, Patagonia,, A, 85621-1357, United States
Patagonia Lake State Park, Arizona
from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Celebrate more than 30 years of music, culture, and fun at the Mariachi Festival at Patagonia Lake State Park!
Join the festivities on May 16, 2026, from 9 AM to 6 PM for a day filled with vibrant mariachi performances, folkloric dancers, delicious food vendors, and Arizona wines. Enjoy the scenic beauty of Patagonia Lake while experiencing the rich traditions of mariachi music.
For more information, please visit this link.

Santa Cruz River History Tour
2026-05-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, 85745
This two-mile walking tour is led by Mauro Trejo and focuses on our relationship with the Santa Cruz River, how it supported Tucson’s early residents, and the factors in the 19th and 20th century that affected its demise.
The tour begins at Tucson’s Mission Gardens and includes the sites of the former Spanish mission and the O’odham village that was the origin of our modern city. Attendees also visit Tucson’s tallest tree and the Garden of Gethsemane, a holy site of statues made by WWI veteran and artist Felix Lucero in the 1940s.

Guided Birding Walks at Patagonia Sonoita Creek
2026-05-16 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-09 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-02 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-25 08:00 - 17:00 | Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve Visitor Center, 150 Blue Haven Road, Patagonia, Arizona, 85624, United States
Join us for guided birding walks at Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve in Southern Arizona on Saturday mornings, starting November 1st, 2025!
Learn about the resident and migrating birds, ranging from gray hawks to vermilion flycatchers to thick-billed kingbirds. Tours will also touch on the environmental history of the region surrounding the preserve. Birders of all levels are welcome.
The start time of the walks will vary depending on the point in the season, so be sure to check the sign-up form to see when they will begin each week. The fee is $8 per person, or $5 for Santa Cruz/Cochise County residents and TNC members. Free to Patagonia/Sonoita/Elgin residents and children under 17. Registration is required.
Please bring comfortable clothes and footwear to walk 1-2 miles, a water bottle, sun protection and snacks. We suggest bringing your own binoculars, but the preserve has a limited number available for checkout. Read more about preserve regulations here.
For more information, contact Preserve Manager Aaron at aaron.mrotek@tnc.org.

Guided Birding Walks at Patagonia Lake State Park
2026-05-15 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-11 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-08 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-04 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-01 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-27 09:00 - 12:00 | Patagonia Lake, 400 Patagonia Lake Rd, Patagonia,, AZ, 85624, United States
Guided bird walks are back!​ Join park rangers at the Birding Trail kiosk (next to campsite #12) for a ranger-led hike to learn about the diverse avian wildlife at Patagonia Lake and Sonoita Creek.
The event repeats each Friday and Monday at 9:00 a.m.​ For more information, These walks are limited to 15 people. Sign up in advance at the Visitor Center or by calling (520) 287-2791 or please visit https://azstateparks.com/patagonia-lake/events/bird-walk-patagonia​

Birds of Mission Garden
2026-05-14 08:00 - 09:30 | Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, 85745
At Mission Garden, meet at the front gate

Walk around beautiful Mission Garden with one of the garden’s expert birders. We’ll look for seasonal and resident birds and learn to identify some common calls and songs. The garden is a good place for beginning and intermediate birders to learn about many of the birds common to the greater Tucson area. Check in with the roadrunners. We always check the hummingbird feeder! Take the opportunity to learn about the history of Tucson’s agriculture and some of the crops that have been important here.

Monthly Bird Walk
2026-05-14 08:00 - 09:30 | Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, 85745
Walk around Mission Garden to look for seasonal and resident birds. Learn to identify some common calls and songs of the birds here. The garden is a good place for beginning and intermediate birders to learn about many of the birds common to the greater Tucson area. Check in with Kevin (the roadrunner) and our resident chickens. We always check the hummingbird feeder to see what hummingbirds are visiting it!
Walks usually last about one and half hours. Walking is easy in the garden and the paths, while not paved, are made of compacted material that is ADA compatible and suitable for wheelchairs and walkers. The length of this walk is 0.50 to 0.75 mile.

Living Lab & Learning Center Tour
2026-05-09 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-04-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Watershed Management Group, 1137 N Dodge Blvd., Tucson, AZ, 85716
Our guided Living Lab Tours happen every 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. You’ll be led through our demonstration site by one of our Docents to learn about our many water harvesting systems firsthand.

Turquoise Trail Walking Tour
2026-05-09 07:00 - 09:30 | Presidio San Augstin del Tucson, 196 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85701
Let one of our knowledgeable docents lead you on a walk along the 2.5-mile Turquoise Trail through Downtown Tucson to see historic buildings and hear stories that make Tucson’s history special. Pre-registration required.

Walk the Anza Trail at Tumacácori National Historical Park
2026-05-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Tumacácori National Historical Park, 1891 E Frontage Rd, Tumacacori, 85640, United States
Join an Anza Trail park ranger at Tumacácori National Historical Park for a guided walk!
-Meet at the mission church at 10 am
-Walk to the Santa Cruz River along the Anza Trail
-Return around 11:30 am
We’ll be walking along the same route the Anza expedition followed 250 years ago! This is an easy trail but expect uneven and unpaved surfaces. It’s a 1- to 2-mile roundtrip journey. Bring comfortable shoes, sun protection, water, and an interest in natural and cultural history!

February 13, 2026 from 10:00 – 11:30 am

March 13, 2026 from 10:00 – 11:30 am

April 10, 2026 from 10:00 – 11:30 am

May 8, 2026 from 10:00 – 11:30 am

1891 I-19 Frontage Rd, Tumacacori, AZ 85640

Healing Herb Walk
2026-05-02 09:00 - 10:00 | Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, 85745
Learn about some of the 50 medicinal plants in Mission Garden’s Moore Medicinal Garden. The plants are native to the American Southwest deserts and in many cases have been used for millennia. Modern herbalists are keeping this tradition alive at Mission Garden.

ASARCO
2026-04-30 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-04-29 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-04-28 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-04-25 09:30 - 10:30 | ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center, 1421 W Pima Mine Rd, Sahuarita, 85629, United States
The ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center & Mine Tours’ vision has been to educate communities on the vital importance of the copper mining industry to civilization, to educate students and teachers in earth sciences, and to preserve Arizona’s mining history.’
Join the mine tour for a firsthand look at the copper transformation process. Ticketed mine tours are approximately 65 minutes long.
Tours at 9:30 am, 11:15 am, 1:15 pm, & 3:00 pm
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE MINE TOUR

Closed-toed shoes are required to take the tour. No Crocs, sandals, or flip-flops will be allowed.
We suggest bringing a water bottle (filtered water station is available in the Center).
Please dress comfortably.

ASARCO Self Guided Center Tours
2026-04-30 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-29 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-28 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-25 09:00 - 17:00 | ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center, 1421 W Pima Mine Rd, Sahuarita, 85629, United States
Since we opened our doors in 1997, the ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center & Mine Tours’ vision has been to educate communities on the vital importance of the copper mining industry to our civilization, to educate students and teachers in earth sciences, and to preserve Arizona’s mining history.
We invite you to take our free self-guided tour of the center’s indoor and outdoor exhibits, which walks through the copper transformation process. Afterward, peruse the Company Store for unique and educational gifts.

Archaeology Day
2026-04-25 08:00 - 11:00 | Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, 85745
At our monthly (fourth Saturday) Archaeology Day, representatives of Tucson’s archaeology community come to Mission Garden to teach practical hands-on skills. Archaeology Southwest will be doing their Hands-on Archaeology program. It allows kids of all ages to try out fascinating ancient technologies. Old Pueblo Archaeology Center is represented at these events, also presenting interactive programs about things like pinch pots, pendants, and cordage. John Palacio speaks about and demonstrates making replicas of petroglyphs. Come join in any time between 8am and 11am.
