The Canelo Hills have a rich cultural history, with evidence of human habitation dating back thousands of years. The area was once inhabited by various indigenous groups, including the Hohokam, Mogollon, and Apache, who left behind artifacts such as pottery, tools, and rock art.

The southern end of the Canelo Hills contain evidence for a volcanic caldera, the Parker Canyon Caldera. This caldera is mapped as a kidney shaped feature stretching from just north of Canelo Pass some 15 miles to the southeast into the Huachucas and underlying the eastern portion of the San Rafael Valley. The Jurassic volcanics in the area consist of rhyolite welded tuff containing large exotic blocks of limestone, quartzite.

The sinlge-track trail throughout this route is part of the The Arizona Trail system. The AZT is an 800+ mile recreation trail from Mexico to Utah that climbs and descends from one Sky Island mountain range to another, traversing biomes ranging from mountain ranges to canyons to deserts and forests. About 73% of the trail is on National Forest lands, with the remaining 27% a mix of Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Arizona State Parks, and county, private, and municipal lands.

The establishment of mining camps and cattle ranches in the late 1800s created a need for rail transportation, which led to the construction of the New Mexico & Arizona Railroad in 1882. The railroad connected Nogales (to the south) to the mainline of the Southern Pacific Railroad in Benson (to the north). The railroad became a major factor in the area’s development, as it allowed ranchers to ship up to 3000 head of cattle per day and it allowed the mining industry to transport ore. The railroad also played a significant role in the creation of new towns, including Patagonia, which was founded in 1896 and named after Rollin Rice Richardson. The railway was also used by military officers during the final campaign against Geronimo in 1886 to quickly move troops and equipment to their destination. Picture of the old railroad depot in Patagonia. [Green Valley Recreation Hiking Club]

Archaeological evidence suggests that this area was inhabited by various Native American tribes for thousands of years prior to the arrival of European explorers. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers arrived and established missions to convert the Native Americans to Christianity. However, these missions were abandoned by the early 18th century. In the mid-19th century, American prospectors and miners began to explore the area in search of gold and silver. This led to the establishment of several mining towns in the region, including Harshaw, Duquesne, and Mowry. Patagonia itself was founded in the 1880s as a railroad town, serving as a transportation hub for the surrounding mining communities. Today, the town is a thriving community with a rich history and a strong commitment to preserving its cultural heritage. [Wikipedia]

Harshaw Creek is a 15-mile stream in that flows towards Patagonia where it joins with Sonoita Creek. It is named after David Tecumseh Harshaw, who settled along its banks in the mid-1870s. The creek and its tributaries were a hub of gold and silver mining activity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and several towns and mining camps sprang up in the area during this time. The creek flows through a narrow, steep-walled valley with a riparian corridor of cottonwood, willow, sycamore, and other plants. (Absolutely gorgeous!) The creek is mostly ephemeral, and its flow is greatest after the summer monsoon and winter snowstorms.

The valley represents one of the finest stands of native grassland in the State. These grasslands have not suffered the problems of shrubs and cactus invasion nor have they been taken over by exotic plant species that affect so much of this vegetation type elsewhere in the State and the Southwest. The valley extends over 90,000 acres and lies at the headwaters of the Santa Cruz River between the Patagonia Mountains, Huachuca Mountains, and the Canelo Hills. Marshy springs feed the river and the floodplain that includes several swampy stretches. The valley is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. White-tailed deer, mule deer, and javelina are the most common species. Pronghorn antelope were reintroduced in the valley in the 1950s and the herd now numbers about 60 animals. Rare species found in this area include Canelo lady’s tresses, Mexican garter snake, Huachuca tiger salamander, Gila topminnow, Gila chub, Sprague’s pipit, and Baird’s sparrow. Cattle ranching has been the predominant activity in the San Rafael Valley for approximately 175 years. The valley’s pristine condition is due largely to the land stewardship by the ranchers. [Arizona State Parks]