Astronomy
Away from the city lights, the beautiful New Mexico Bootheel night sky offers Bortle 1 skies. Whether simple stargazing, capturing the milkyway to astrophotography, the night sky is unbeatable.
For astronomers, Valley Vista Getaway latitude and longitude are: N 31.9195 W -108.97669 Elevation is 4,222 ft. / 1.225 meters Valley Vista Getaway Clear Sky Chart Valley Vista Getaway Weather Station |
Birdwatching
Some of the best bird watching in the United States can be found in the Portal, Arizona and Cave Creek Canyon area of the Chiricahua Mountains about 15 to 30 miles from Valley Vista Getaway. Over 300 species of birds can be found here throughout the year. In the spring and summer many rare Mexican birds come to the area to nest.
Best time to visit: Late April and May - migration time May and June - Arizona breeds and owls Late July and August - hummingbird migration Winter - sparrows and hawks Valley Vista Getaway Bird Feeding Area Bird Checklist Birders Map to Cave Creek Canyon Portal Birding Spots Map Birding Locations near Portal, AZ Birds Around the Chiricahua Mtns |
Hiking
The Chiricahua Mountains offers an assortment of hiking opportunities with hundreds of miles of trails. Up to date info on these trails and their status is limited.
Be sure to stop by the Cave Creek Canyon Visitor Center to pick up a trail map and to get tips on recent wildlife sightings and trail conditions. The Visitor Center is staffed by members of the Friends of Cave Creek. The Granite Gap Hiking Trail is off of Hwy 80 north of Valley Vista Getaway about 18 miles. Granite Gap Hiking Trail Cave Creek Canyon Chiricahua Mtns Hiking trails Southern AZ Hiking Project Southern AZ Hiking Guide USFS Chiricahua Trails click here for the weekly Hike Report |
Geocaching
There are numerous geocaches in the valley from Animas and Rodeo, New Mexico to Portal, AZ. You can spend a day in search of treasure.
Geocaching |
Dining Out
There are several nice local restaurants in Animas, Rodeo and Portal that offer both dine-in and take-out.
PW's Sky Island Grill and Grocery Portal Lodge and Cafe Rodeo Grocery and Cafe |
Museums & Galleries
Portal and Rodeo feature several unique museums.
Chiricahua Desert Museum, located at the intersection of Route 80 and Portal Road, has a large gift shop and one of the best rattlesnake displays in the Southwest. Chiricahua Gallery, located in a former church in Rodeo, offers an excellent selection of hand crafted items and original art work. The American Museum of Natural History operates its famous Southwestern Research Station in the canyon about 4 miles from the ranger station. Scientists come from all over the world to study the area’s unique reptiles, amphibians, insects, plants, mammals, and birds. The gift shop is open daily from 8:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 5:00pm. |
History Buffs
The Chiricahua mountains were once the home of the Apaches. You can visit the Geronimo Monument a short 18 miles south on Highway 80. Other sites of historical significance within a couple of hours from Valley Vista Getaway include the famous lawman’s John Slaughter Ranch, Tombstone, Cochise Strong Hold in the Coronado Mountains, Fort Bowie and the grave site of gun fighter, Johnny Ringo.
Cochise Stronghold Geronimo Monument Johnny Ringo Grave Site Tombstone John Slaughter Ranch Fort Bowie National Historic Site Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument |
Day Trips
There are many great day road trips from Valley Vista Getaway. Take a drive to Douglas and have lunch at the historic Gadsden Motel, watch a reenactment of the gunfight at OK Corral in Tombstone or take a tour of Queens Mine in Bisbee. There is always plenty to do and see.
Bisbee Queens Mine Historic Bisbee Historic Lowell Tombstone Gadsden Hotel Kartchner Caverns State Park Chiricahua National Monument Cave Creek Canyon Visitor Information Center Hatch "Chili Capital of the World" |