We live in a National Heritage Area

There are only 63 National Heritage Areas in the United States and Tucson is in one!  National Heritage Areas (NHA) are designated by Congress as places where “natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape”. Unlike National Parks, NHAs are lived-in landscapes which support recreation, tourism and education as well as preservation.

The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area (SCVNHA) is situated in the watershed of the Santa Cruz River within Pima and Santa Cruz counties in southeastern Arizona.  It covers 3,300 square miles and includes the cities of Marana, Tucson, Green Valley, and Nogales from north to south. It also includes some of the best hiking areas in the State of Arizona.

The majority of TAT’s 31 trails are in the SCVNHA.

• You can find a hike that suits your abilities in the spectacular Catalina and Santa Rita mountains or hike a section of the historic Juan Bautista de Anza trail or stroll through a city park in Tucson or Patagonia.

• You can visit world-class birding destinations in Madera Canyon and Sweetwater Wetland Park. Why go further than your backyard to visit 2 National Parks and 3 State Parks?

• Or hike a section of the 800-mile Arizona National Scenic Trail and maybe meet a backpacker on her way to Utah or Mexico.

• And if you prefer history to hiking, take walking tours of Spanish Colonial, Mexican and American Territorial heritage preserves.

  
  

SCVNHA has it all!

The non-profit Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance, Inc. (SCVHA) is the local coordinating entity of the SCVNHA.  SCVHA has been partnering with TAT since our inception. It was the brainchild of Lesley Kontowicz, SCVHA Executive Director, to license the TAT trail descriptions and post our photos, videos and descriptions on their SCVHA trail page. This symbiosis benefits both websites by reaching a larger community of hikers with disabilities. Also, the SCVHA funds TAT’s work to describe more trails in rural communities from end-to-end in SCVNHA.

Check out SCVNHA's website where you can learn more about what they have to offer, or donate to help them promote outdoor adventures in our National Heritage Area.

You can also Donate to TAT to help us spread the word about accessible trails in the Santa Cruz Valley and Southern Arizona.

Hike on!  TAT Team