Willcox sits just over an hour southeast of Safford in the Sulphur Springs Valley, across the county line in Cochise County. It's grown into one of southeastern Arizona's most recognizable small towns thanks to two very different draws: deep cowboy heritage and a thriving modern wine industry, with the surrounding region now producing over 70% of Arizona's wine grapes.
The town's character reflects both sides of that history — historic downtown buildings and cattle-country roots sit alongside a growing cluster of vineyards and tasting rooms that have turned Willcox into a genuine wine-tourism destination. It's also a natural staging point for visitors headed to Chiricahua National Monument, known for its dramatic rock formations, which lies a further drive southeast.
For anyone exploring the Gila Valley, Willcox makes a worthwhile day trip or overnight stop, especially when paired with a visit to the Chiricahuas. It's outside Graham County and the immediate Gila Valley, but close enough that many Safford-area visitors add it to their itinerary as a complementary stop with a distinctly different feel — vineyards and high desert grassland instead of river-valley farmland.