San Rafael Valley

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San Rafael Valley
San Rafael Valley Arizona 2014.JPG
The San Rafael Valley, facing east toward the Canelo Hills and the Huachuca Mountains.
Geography
Country United States
State Arizona
Communities Lochiel
Borders on Canelo Hills-N
Huachuca Mountains-E
Patagonia Mountains-W
Coordinates 31°23′0″N110°35′2″W / 31.38333°N 110.58389°W / 31.38333; -110.58389
River Santa Cruz River
San Rafael Valley

The San Rafael Valley is a high intermontane grass valley in eastern Santa Cruz County, Arizona. The valley is bounded to the west by the Patagonia Mountains, to the north and northeast by the Canelo Hills and to the east by the Huachuca Mountains in Cochise County. The valley forms the headwaters of the Santa Cruz River which flows south into Sonora, Mexico just east of the historic Lochiel townsite.

The San Rafael de la Zanja Land Grant lies in the valley center just north of Lochiel. The Nature Conservancy purchased the former land grant ranch in 1998 and Arizona established the "San Rafael State Natural Area" in the valley in 1999 on the southern part of that property. The protected areas are not open to the public. The land grant is privately owned. The State Natural Area is south of the land grant, and borders Mexico.[ citation needed ] The valley is a crucial migration path for jaguars, ocelots, and other wildlife. [1] In 2008, the San Rafael Ranch headquarters was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the "San Rafael Ranch Historic District". [2]

See also

References

  1. Spector, Megan (April 17, 2025). "Wildlife advocates oppose new 25-mile border wall plan". KVOA. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  2. "Arizona State Parks and Trails: San Rafael State Natural Area" . Retrieved June 15, 2024.