Another of my “happy places” in Southern Arizona is the Empire Ranch, one we have regularly visited as a family since the 1980s. A close friend of ours worked for BLM and lived on the property then, way before it was taken over by the Empire Ranch Foundation. Our friend showed us all the “magical” places on the Ranch, including Cienega Falls and the many places along the Creek that are now part of the conservation effort. We would regularly ride our horses all over and explore, and would primitively camp with our family and horses. Our grown children and grandchildren continue the tradition of primitive dry camping under the cottonwood trees during the Spring and Fall, with day trips in between. The “roads” and access have changed to many of those areas, some permanently closed. However, there is now signage and websites to help others discover the beauty and diversity of The Ranch (Empire/Cienega), as well as the annual Cowboy Festival in November each year (formerly known as the Grasslands Festival).
During our most recent trip to The Ranch (as we call it), I was finally physically able to revisit some of my old haunts and capture quite a few images. The water level at the Creek was very low so the water was the most stagnant I had ever witnessed. However, some retaining measures have been established to create more riparian areas so it has definitely changed from the flowing creek we knew 30+ years ago to more of a “Cienega” (marsh). Some parts of the creek are just stunning, and the Falls are still worth the difficult drive on what passes for a “road” (4 wheel drive with high clearance required), followed by a walk and then hike down treacherous, jagged rocks. The Ranch is filled with wildlife, most well know are the plentiful antelope. We have also encountered coatimundis, wild turkeys, deer and cattle on this working ranch. I’ve included a few images of wildlife I was able to capture in the last couple of years in another post, The Empire Ranch.
I started my creek journey in what is called the Empire Gulch (signage) where there is more and more riparian vegetation than ever before and moved on to some old spots where we used to camp and finally to the Falls. Hope you enjoy the pictoral journey.
The following is from the web page https://www.blm.gov/national-conservation-lands/arizona/las-cienegas
Today more than 45,000 acres of rolling grasslands and woodlands in southeastern Arizona are protected under the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area (NCA). The region’s oak-studded hills connect several “sky island” mountain ranges and lush riparian corridors. With its perennial flow, Cienega Creek forms the lifeblood of the NCA and supports a diverse plant and animal community. It is also rich in historic and cultural resources.
Thanks to the efforts of local governments, elected officials and the public, the Empire and Cienega ranches, along with portions of the adjacent Rose Tree and Vera Earl ranches, are now under public ownership and managed by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under the principles of multiple-use and ecosystem management for future generations to use and enjoy. The BLM has formed a partnership with the nonprofit Empire Ranch Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving the historic buildings and surrounding landscapes.
