Their interactive Heritage Experiences Map can help guide the way. Use it to explore your options, create itineraries based on specific interests, and plan your journey through Southern Arizona’s most distinctive landscapes.
CLICK HERE to explore the Heritage Experiences Map and start discovering the Santa Cruz Valley.
A LANDSCAPE SHAPED BY WATER.
STORIES
SHAPED BY
TIME.
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, THE SANTA CRUZ RIVER AND ITS WATERSHED HAVE SHAPED THE LAND—AND THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THIS REMARKABLE REGION HOME.
From Nogales to Marana, Oro Valley to Elgin, the watershed forms the backbone of the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area, connecting an abundant landscape rich with history, culture, and natural beauty. Here, you’ll discover places that tell the story of Southern Arizona: Native American communities and traditions, centuries of desert farming, historic missions and ranches, the vibrant culture of the US-Mexico borderlands, diverse ecosystems, important bird habitats, and the Sky Islands that frame the valley.
Experience them throughout the 3,300 square miles of the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area.
SANTA CRUZ VALLEY NATIONAL
HERITAGE AREA
// santacruzheritage.org