Las Cienegas Site (Empire Ranch)

Las Cienegas is a regular club observing site used for dark site star parties. While still suffering from some light pollution from Tucson and Sierra Vista the site offers reasonably dark skies and an open horizon allowing deep sky observing and astrophotography. Travel time is about 45 minutes from central Tucson.

The ranch, also known as the Las Cienegas Natural Conservation Area, is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is available for public use. Further information, rules of use and an interesting history of the area can be found at this BLM link.

The site offers access by several miles of gravel road that is passable by any vehicle. The road can be somewhat rough and may require you to go slow at a couple spots. There is a vault toilet (we suggest you bring your own toilet paper) located at the site but no running water. You should have drinking water and any other comforts with you when you come. The site is at about 4600ft of elevation and will be about 10-15 degrees cooler than Tucson, come prepared for cool nights.

Directions to Las Cienegas

Take I-10 East from Tucson and turn off at Exit 281 (Route 83 Sonoita-Patagonia Highway South). Travel south on Route 83 for about 19 miles and watch for the green and white milepost 40 sign along the right side of the road. Approximately ¼ mile past milepost 40, turn left into Las Cienegas. The road is dirt and has some "washboarding" so don't go too fast. At about the 2.9 mile point there will be a fork in the road. Stay to the right. When the road ends in a "T", take a left. You will cross a
concrete section of the road down in a wash. Just up the hill from the wash (about .2 mile), turn left. Just ahead of you (.1 mile) will be the end of an abandoned airstrip with a covered ramada. The club members have been setting up several tenths of a mile down the runway. If you arrive after dark, as a courtesy to other members, use only your parking lights to approach the set-up location.

The TAAA had been setting up at the end of the airstrip just in front of the covered ramada. Club members usually set up several tenths of a mile down the runway. If you arrive after dark, as a courtesy to other members, use only your parking lights to approach the setup location.