Year-round outdoor living in a sunny and dry climate is one of the main reasons people choose to buy a home in or relocate to Sierra Vista, a charming community nestled in the scenic mountains of southeastern Arizona.
With stunning panoramic vistas waiting around every corner, numerous national, state, and local parks located close by are ready any time for activities ranging from hiking and biking to boating and horseback riding.
Outdoor Lifestyle Activities in the Area
With an elevation of approximately 4,600 feet, Sierra Vista is an ideal home base for climbers who yearn to tackle the surrounding mountain peaks reaching as high as 10,000 feet. Numerous popular horse trails abound in the area, and there are even a few made famous in old Western movies. Hang gliding and caving are other more unusual activities available in neighboring mountainous areas.
Road and mountain biking are extremely popular in Sierra Vista due to the bicycle-friendly atmosphere the municipality promotes. The moderate climate offers perfect weather year round for the biking enthusiast, and hundreds of miles of rural roads with phenomenal scenery are ready and waiting for the long-distance cyclist.
Many miles of shared use paths exist in and around town for road bikes, with many more miles planned for installation. Mountain bikers are allowed to use knobby tires on several of the nearby mountain paths that range from challenging for novices to extremely skill-testing for experts.
Nearby Attractions for Active Living
The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, located a mere six miles from Sierra Vista, is a particularly spectacular expanse of protected public land where hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians can be spotted by the sharp eye of an outdoor enthusiast or avid birder.
Many trail heads exist for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, with volunteers providing guided walks on a regular basis. Camping, hunting, and fishing are other popular activities.
There are interpretive sites and weekend programs for children as well as historic and prehistoric sites for history buffs to get their fill, including a Spanish fortress, an old mining town, and an ancient site once populated by the earliest known human culture to inhabit North America, the Clovis people.
Parker Canyon Lake, located in the nearby Coronado National Forest, offers an exceptional hiking trail encircling the five mile long shoreline. Camping and sport fishing opportunities abound with boat rentals, a fishing pier, and a marina store providing fishing licenses and supplies. You can also rent kayaks, canoes and rowboats for a day of adventure on the water.
Hiking is a particularly popular pursuit in Ramsey Canyon Preserve, which contains a profusion of wildlife and is the reason people know Sierra Vista as the “Hummingbird Capital of the United States.”
A stream that flows from a natural spring provides the canyon with an abundance of moisture, enabling many plants and animals not found elsewhere in the desert environment to flourish in this unique and special conservation area.
An Active Community
For those who desire energetic pursuits in a more urban setting, the community offers several golf courses hosting two annual golf tournaments, a bike and skate court, and a massive aquatic center that features a beach entry, wave pool, and several water slides.
Purchasing a home in Sierra Vista is the perfect way to access all that the area has to offer those who seek an active outdoor lifestyle and meet friendly neighbors with similar interests. This active and energetic community presents more than ample opportunity to engage in year-round recreation and exercise.
