Lochiel

Lochiel is a largely abandoned former settlement in the southwestern part of the San Rafael Valley in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, roughly 25 miles east of Nogales near the U.S.-Mexico border. It sits along Washington Gulch, about a mile and a half west of the Santa Cruz River, and served as both a populated place and a border crossing point in its active years.

The community took root in the late 1870s and for many decades acted as a service hub for the surrounding ranches and the nearby mining towns of Washington Camp and Duquesne. By 1986 it had been largely abandoned, and today it qualifies as a ghost town. Visitors will find remnants of the old townsite within a scenic valley setting rather than a living community.

Access to this remote corner of southern Arizona requires planning. The area is best visited in the warmer months, though summer brings heat; winter conditions can make rural roads in this region difficult or impassable. Photography and sightseeing are the main draws for anyone making the trip out.