Ramsey Canyon Preserve — Attraction in Sierra Vista

I decided to take my little one on a hike this afternoon. Staff was friendly and admission was $5 for adults and free for kids. There were plenty of walking sticks available to use at the visitor center. My toddler and I really enjoyed the peaceful nature walk to the Sycamore point, followed by the steep climb to the top. We were unable to hike all of the way to the overlook point since I wasn't fully prepared with my small hiking backpack. We managed to climb halfway up before my little one had a potty accident. I had extra clothes, but they were in my car, which is why we stopped the hike and returned back to the car. In the future, I will remember to bring an extra outfit and snacks in a small backpack for my little one for future hikes. I did remember to pack my smartphone, beverages, hats, training pants, and bug spray. Fortunately, we didn't have to use any bug spray. Most of the trail is well-shaded so hats aren't necessary to wear. It is definitely worth seeing...a very beautiful hiking place and trails with plenty of deer, squirrels, butterflies, and birds to see. If you are hiking around lunch time or hiking all the way to the overlook point, then I recommend packing a small lunch, especially if you climbed the steep mountain like we did. You will be hungry and thirsty by the time that you reach the top. I heard from a friend that there is an easier alternate trail in order to get to the overlook point that doesn't involve the steep climb of the mountain...maybe we will try to look for that trail on a...

Great place for either a nice easy walk through the canyon or you can get your blood pumping hiking a little further to an ok overlook which climbs a few hundred feet in elevation. The vegetation is lush, with plenty of trees that provide a comfortable shade cover. There are waypoint signs along the trails telling you about the sights and history of the canyon and some of the people who called it home. I got there early in the morning and before I was more than 100 yards into the canyon the trail was swarming with over 24 deer and as many wild turkeys plucking food bits from the ground. They didn’t seem too bothered by my presence and I walked to within twenty feet of them before they felt the need to reluctantly clear the trail. There are a couple man-made ponds that, at the right time of year, I read are home to a plethora of Leopard frogs although the only thing I found in the ponds was a coati floating face down. This canyon was a bit of an oasis from the vast desert that surrounded it. Definitely worth it if you are up for a change of desert scenery and have a few hours for a...

This was our first visit, and we will definitely be back! Absolutely beautiful, and the scent of pine everywhere was wonderful. We had several wildlife encounters (see photos). We made it to the first viewing area of the Overlook. We would have loved to make it all the way to the top, but I was feeling it. Lots of steps on a fairly steep trail, thankfully there's lots of shade on the way. Will have to get to the top another time, when I'm in better shape. There are lots of benches along the way, and the map the volunteers gave us was helpful in seeing how much further we had to go! The map details about the numbered stops were very informative. There is so much to see here! Bring lots of water and wear your sunscreen, even with the intermittent shade. We're considering the annual membership pass since we will certainly be back. Thanks to the volunteers for helpful tips before starting our hike. *We had a Coues deer calmly graze very close to us, then cross the trail right in front of us. Unfortunately I tried uploading an .mov clip of this, and also after converting to...