Patagonia Lake

Arizona · Santa Cruz

188 acres mapped (USGS NHD)
12.6 km shoreline
County: Santa Cruz
Shoreline outline: USGS NHD

The pin marks the middle of the water, for directions. The shoreline on the map comes from USGS NHD.

Photos

Overview

Patagonia Lake State Park, established in 1975, sits in the rolling hills of southeastern Arizona off State Route 82, about 7 miles south of Patagonia. Its 265-acre, 2.5-mile-long lake was created by damming Sonoita Creek. It's a popular place for fishing, water skiing, camping and birding. The park also contains the Sonoita Creek State Natural Area, a rare Fremont cottonwood–Goodding willow riparian forest.

Fishing

Arizona State Parks says anglers here catch crappie, bass, bluegill, catfish and trout. Wikipedia lists reproducing largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, redear sunfish, flathead and channel catfish, and threadfin shad. Rainbow trout are stocked in the cooler months (every three weeks from October to March, per Wikipedia).

Species

Largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, redear sunfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish and threadfin shad, plus rainbow trout stocked in the cooler months.

Seasons

Trout stockings run October to March.

Regulations

Arizona Game and Fish Department regulations apply: https://www.azgfd.com/fishing-2/licenses-and-regulations/. Confirm statewide limits and any special rules for this water before you fish; this page is not a legal source.

Licensing

A valid Arizona fishing license is required for anglers 10 and older (AZGFD).

Access

The park has boat ramps and a marina. The entrance fee per vehicle (1–4 adults) is $20 Monday–Thursday and $25 Friday–Sunday and holidays, or $5 for an individual or bicycle. Gates close from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. On weekends, day use may temporarily close when the park is full, so call ahead at (520) 287-6965. The address is 400 Patagonia Lake Rd, Nogales, AZ 85621.

Boat ramps & launches

State park boat ramps.

Marinas & rentals

There's a marina, and the nearby Lakeside Market concessionaire rents motorized boats, kayaks and canoes and sells supplies (Arizona State Parks).

Amenities

Over 100 campsites, boat-in campsites, RV hookups, a beach, a picnic area with ramadas, tables and grills, a creek trail, a visitor center and a park store.

Activities

Fishing, water skiing, boating, camping, picnicking, hiking the creek trail, and birding (canyon towhee, vermilion flycatcher, Inca dove, several hummingbird species).

Water facts

Length: 2.5 mi. Area: about 250 acres (Wikipedia). Formed by a dam on Sonoita Creek. County: Santa Cruz.

Safety & advisories

ADEQ fish advisory: adults should limit flathead catfish to 2.5 oz (uncooked) per week, and children 12 and under to 2 oz per month (posted by Arizona State Parks).

Likely species (watershed)

Fathead Minnow, Grass Carp, Longfin Dace, Mosquitofish, Speckled Dace

Likely species come from USGS Aquatic GAP ranges for the whole watershed (HUC8). They show what may be here, not a count of this water.

Nearby waters

Peña Blanca Lake · 24.9 km (AZ)
Arivaca Lake · 38.4 km (AZ)
Parker Canyon Lake · 38.5 km (AZ)