Best done *very* early in the morning before the heat and crowds hit. There are some very steep…read moresections, but the blacktop paving makes it doable. Don't bother with a map - once you are on the trail it is nearly impossible to get off-trail. Bring 2x the water you think you'll need. All that heavy breathing means you'll lose a lot of hydration through the lungs. It's an epic view at sunrise - too bad my ugly mug spoiled the photo!

Almost every time i am in Tucson, and have a couple of hours, I make a beeline for this short,…read moremoderate hike that is so rewarding! I love Tumamoc Hill, just such a gorgeous hike and a great short workout. The total distance of this in and out hike is 3 miles with about 700 feet elevation gain. Tonight, I partly ran up and down this trail and loved every minute of it! The views are so sick and I am mesmerized each time I am here. You will always see me grinning ear to ear when doing this hike. I have seen so much wildlife here, mule deers, all kinds of birds, saw hummingbirds tonight and all sorts of cacti species and many are blooming. And the views of mountains and clouds are just breathaking! So gorgeous!! Definitely come here for a bit of a nature buzz, your heart and mind will be so happy!

there are several great hikes here: 1. Up and down the tram…read moreroad - great if you want to walk on pavement 2. Phoneline - ride the tram to the top and hike down. Tough on the knees. 3. Blackett's Ridge: scenic shorter & steeper - good option if you ware limited on time. 4. Seven Falls: best waterfall in Southern AZ when there's water. Check before you hike as it's not a great hike if there's no falls. 5. Take the tram to the end and hike up and over to Hutch's Pool. Take the tram down. For the adventurous types. The tram is worth doing if you aren't going to hike up. You'll learn a lot from the headphone lecture. This is a must-see if you are visiting Tucson.

Back again, my Wife is going to do Phone Line Trail at the top of Sabino with 3 friends…read more Tough trail. i ll be back at 2 to pick her up. Starts at 0830. all good.

An amazing hike! Start early, bring gloves, lunch/snacks, and water!…read more My friends and I hiked to the peak via the Sunset trail, taking the loop back down the Hunter trail (7.1 mi). The first part of the hike is very easy, just out in the open. Though, once you start climbing you are climbing! The gardening gloves we brought helped us feel more secure, so that we didn't lose our grip. Honestly, the pictures made it look more scary than doing it, but if you are afraid of heights do take caution. The cables felt very secure and I felt safe the whole time. The top is very rewarding! There are a lot of bees though, so I wouldn't recommend hanging out there too long. We ended up having our lunch at on of the campsite benches in the shade at the end of the Hunter trail, which was very nice. The last part of the hike is walking on the road, but we didn't mind it after the steep and rocky decline. The bathrooms in the park are incredibly nice for a state park and there were also water bottle fillers. This was a great hike and the Park is also very well-maintained!

I checked out Picacho Peak State Park, not to be confused with Pikachu, on a Saturday afternoon…read more Located between Phoenix and Tuscon, Picacho was a hike unlike any I've done before. After arriving, you have to pay a $10 entrance fee per person to hike (a bit annoying for a state park but o well). You're given a pamphlet about the park and then it's time for what you came for. We did Hunter's Trail and there was a good amount of parking close to the start of the trail. It's a difficult trail on Alltrails and for good reason. There are parts of the hike where it's so narrow that only one person can go through at the time. There are other parts of the hike where there are steep inclines. And not only that. You'll have to climb using the cables that have been attached to the rock formations. Pro tip: bring gloves. That also means you have to be careful on the way down as you're going down on a decline. Which will be hard on your knees. It's all worth it though, because once you climb the mountain, you'll have breathtaking views of the park. And you'll be so high up that you can see both Tucson and Phoenix in the distance. All in all, if you go at a decent pace, the hike will take you 3-4 hours. There's at least one other trail. And you can also camp in the state park. Last but not least, there's a little museum in the visitor's center. And plenty of facilities. You'll get quite the workout!

Great 17 mile loop trial in Sabino Canyon in Tucson. Bear Canyon is located in the Sabino Canyon…read moreRecreation Area of the Coronado National Forest. The trail starts at the recreation center where either you can walk to the trailhead or take a shuttle for a fee. There is another smaller parking area off of Bear Canyon Road that you can access the trailhead from that isn't in the recreation area. Once parked, you follow an easy rocky wash to the recreation area. Accessing the trail from this parking lot makes the hike a little shorter. But finding a spot to park can be difficult because the lot only holds about 15 cars. Attractions you can visit in Bear Canyon are Seven Falls and Thimble Peak. The rest of this review is for the Seven Falls Trail portion of the Bear Canyon Loop Trail. This hike reminded me of the West Fork Trail in Northern AZ but with less shade. There is a restroom at the Bear Canyon overlook picnic area. The Seven Falls trail is 8 miles out-and-back and has seven water crossings along the way. I was able to walk across the rocks, but plan on getting your feet wet (or bring water shoes). There are lots of Saguaro and Prickly Pear Cactus along this rocky path. After the crossings, there is an incline and then downhill portion until you get to the base of the falls. The waterfall cascades down a rock face and is gorgeous. This hike is really popular and gets crowded during the middle of the day and weekends. I really enjoyed hiking it. The best way to enjoy this hike and avoid lots of people is to start early. And as always when you hike in Arizona, bring water and sunscreen.

I was in the area to hike Seven Falls which is a trail you can get off off Bear Canyon Trail. It…read moreis in in the Sabino Canyon Recreational Center and parking was $5 bucks. For Seven Falls you can start off right from the parking and work your way up to the fails or you can get tickets and a ride the tram up for 4 miles, if you take the tram, you are still hiking 8 miles so don't feel like you're not getting your distance in if that's your thing. I recommend doing the Seven Falls hike either in the early spring if the creeks aren't flowing to high or the fall, most of the hike is not shaded, but you do like 7 creek crossings and do get wet , so plan on wearing waterproof shoes. This was an Arizona bucket list hike for me so I really enjoyed it. The Seven Falls are worth it! Come early to get a parking spot . Distance (with tram ride) 8.2 Miles, but I am sure the .2 depends on where you park, elevation gain about 900ft, difficulty moderate, you don't have to scale rocks or scramble, you can easily climb. Amenities are at the center, and it's real flushing toilets. No, you can't bring your dog on this.

I love Gates Pass. There is such a nice energy here. I didn't get to hike too much, but the views…read morefor sunset are amazing. I have great memories visiting with my dad and coworkers. I will definitely be back to visit. The desert has such a special place in my heart and gates pass is definitely a great place to stop and take it all in.

Visited Gates Pass in Tucson, AZ and specifically the Gates Pass Scenic Lookout for sunset and it…read morewas breathtaking! As you look around, there are 360 views of different colors and hues illuminating the sky, and making for a spectacular sunset! There is plenty of parking and if you hike up maybe .2 miles you can get to the top of the mountain where the views are even better! Coming up here on a weekday, it wasn't too busy and you can get wonderful, Instagram worthy, unobstructed photos! There are lots of hiking trails and walking paths all around which is also a huge plus! I am obsessed with this spot and can't wait to visit again! Highly recommend to visitors and locals near and far!

First rule of the cave.. no pictures lol. Hence, no pictures are attached. They say it's because of…read moreaccidents reported from people not paying attention. Also, basically nothing is allowed in the cave. They had lockers that takes quarters but as far as I saw, no machine, you have to exchange with cash soooo prepare ahead. Leaving things in the car felt some what okay but not my favorite. I would appreciate if they had more security. They say they are not government funded so everything comes from public support. This was such a cool experience. You can tell the amount of work and detail they've put into the cave and preserving it. Truly different than other caves I've been to. There are two different parts of the cave you can choose from. If you can't do both my preference was the big room tour. I felt there was more to it, more things to see. Also, (sorry parents) perhaps the age limit made it more enjoyable too. Our tour guide Charles was INCREDIBLE. We did both tours back to back 0945 big room tour and 12 rotunda. Timing was perfect. Enough time to use the restroom and eat a snack. We brought our snacks, their cafe was closed. It would be an enjoyable experience to eat a packed lunch outside not sure if it's 100% allowed. Beginning of April was a GORGEOUS day. There's a McDonald about 12 min away. The big room tour is a man made/marked out, well paved easy walk/route. If you're worried about endurance or handiaccesible, it seems very accessible. The rotunda seemed a bit more incline but still well paved. You can wear white shoes and you wouldn't get dirty lol. I don't recommend open toes shoes/sandals because the Floor is very moist/wet. BOOK AHEAD. At least 2 weeks ahead to get the slots you want. If you're by yourself then a lot easier. It sells out quickly Restrooms were very clean and plentiful. As you wait for your tour guide before taking the tram to the cave there are another set of restrooms so that's appreciated. They want you to get there 30 min before. There really wasn't anything much to do ahead, it's just a simple check in. They have a mini museum that's nice to look around. You can get some good pictures outside prior or after the tour. Are both caves a must see, my bf says yes. I'm in between. If I would go back I would choose the big room tour again but that also has limited time opening due to the bats. As an AZ local or visiting this is a very enjoyable spot

As much as I love going underground and at this point have about 15 caves explored in AZ under my…read morebelt, I only finally made it to this one this weekend. Our caving group was having our winter conference here and it was really nice to use the visitor center's auditorium for our all day presentations. I learned about the invertebrates that live in caves, herpetology, bats and lots of other really fun topics about caves! Auditorium was very comfortable and all the IT worked great and the projector and acoustics were perfect. Seats also very comfortable. Later that day, some of us signed up for the headlamp tour of the Big Room that started at 5:30pm, which is only offered on Saturdays in the fall/winter. I was able to use my own headlamp and helmet. This tour is $50 and the price is higher than their regular tours, which is $30 for adults and all the lights in the cavern are on. The tour was good and I'm glad the proceeds of my ticket go to support this park. Phones aren't allowed into the cavern, so I took no pics. We also stayed in one of the 4 cabins on the campgrounds and it was fabulous. Cabin was super cozy and can sleep 6, one bed and two bunk beds. Cabins also come with a dining table, microwave and small fridge. Bathrooms right across from the cabin. Porch on the front and also a picnic table available. Fire pit also available. I had firewood but we could not make a fire because of rain. This was definitely glamping! And it was lovely. I would definitely do this again. Saw some fun turkeys too! A few things to note here, there is a Bat Cave Cafe on site open 11am - 2pm, however, it was difficult to get anything here as there was only one person working and a lot of us here. I brought my lunch from home. Night headlamp tour was fun but for $50, not sure how it differs from the day tours. But, do know that AZ state taxes don't go to supoort this park, so your tour ticket supports this park, so I can be OK with that. Its pretty amazing that two college students crawled their way thru a 10-12 inch sinkhole and then found this place! I am still in awe of this amazing discovery! And this is well before all the fancy equipment was available like lidar to help with uncovering new caves. And, once these guys, Tufts and Tenen found this cavern in 1974, they kept it a secret for awhile to protect against vandalism and damage. And in 1999, the cavern was open to the public. As someone who deeply loves caves, seeing this place was like one of the best sojourns for me! Im so glad I came to see this show cave! And please, let's all do our part to make sure caves are conserved so we can all enjoy them for a long time to come.

First Impressions:…read more Very clean, fun, and breathtaking in terms of views! Interactions: We had a few interactions in the shop up there, and they were very friendly and welcoming. Service: Can't speak to this as we didn't buy anything, but again want to emphasize how nice everyone was in the shops up there. Value: This was an amazing experience. I don't think I've ever been up a ski lift before, and I think the total time you get going up and down is roughly anywhere 10-18 mins up and same length back down. It moves very slow and I don't hate that. When you get to the top, you can get off and just walk around up there and get some amazing views. I believe we paid for two $34/35ish bucks. Well worth it! Recommendation: If your looking to do something for fun the weekend and want some amazing views, you should definitely check out the ski valley lift. It's fun and can be pretty relaxing going up and down! Will be back next time!

Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Highway, AZ. Early Dec, 2025. Mount Lemmon, the highest peak…read more(9,175') in the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, is managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service as part of the Coronado National Forest. (Fun Fact: Mt. Lemmon is named after Sara Plummer Lemmon, an amateur botanist and the first white woman to climb to the summit in 1881. It is one of the few peaks in the U.S. named after a woman). Our objective was to drive the Catalina Highway Scenic Drive (27 miles) to the Mount Lemmon summit. This is the only paved road that leads to the upper reaches of the Santa Catalina Range, and is one of the most scenic highways in the southwest. Because the road starts in the lower Sonoran vegetative life zone and climbs to high forests, it offers the biological equivalent of driving from the deserts of Mexico to the forests of Canada in only 27 miles. Before proceeding on the drive, we downloaded a free app entitled "Mt. Lemmon Science Tour" by the University of Arizona, which provided excellent commentary on the Sky islands, rocks, life zones, water, forest, and fire, that was well-synced with our drive up the mountain as it evolved. This is a windy, slow drive with the posted speed limit of 35 MPH or less on most sections. Plus, you're sharing the road with bicyclists riding in both directions. The road is paved, and is well-designed with frequent pull-offs and stops that allow for vista views or just to take a rest. A few of our favorite and recommended stops include: *Babad Do'ag for its excellent vistas of the desert environment and saguaros. *Gordon Hirabayashi Campground (and Historical Recreation Area). I've reviewed this separately on Yelp. *The Palisades Visitor Center, with family-friendly exhibits, brochures and general information, and a small gift shop. *Windy Point Vista, for sweeping views. *High-elevation picnic areas at Box Elder, Alder, Loma Linda, or Inspiration Rock. *Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley, where there is a restaurant and ski lift rides ($). We were disappointed that the entrance road to Rose Canyon Lake was closed on the day that we visited. This is a Forest Service fee area. A day-use pass is $8 per vehicle, and can be purchased on-line or at the Palisades Visitors Center on-route. We didn't have time to hike on the day that we visited but there are miles and miles of trails of varying length and difficulty. While there are restrooms with pit toilets at multiple sites, but there is no potable water nor service stations. I've posted a handout about the area that I picked up at the Visitors Center. Only Spanish-language brochures were available.

Beautiful park with great trails. Loved the Alamo Loop…read more They need to train their campground hosts better. They drove passed a family with a live wood fire several times, which are prohibited. They didn't say anything to the grandparents constantly driving the UTV in circles around the campground for 3 days (wrong direction sometimes) and letting the grandkids steer. Then, at the dump station, there were 3 of us in line and the last guy who pulled out of the site closest to the dump blocked road exiting our loop and rather than making him go around and come back parked on the side, he made me move (middle vehicles) so the guy blocking the road could pull forward. If it's a flat area, we usually multi-task (hook up the tow car at the dump while rooting and rinsing the black tank) and we're done hooking up well before we're done emptying and rinsing the black tank. Not today. The Barney Fife campground host played the I'm in charge roll. Then after I moved he told me to move to a different spot that would have had me park off the asphalt in the dirt, which isn't allowed. What a putz.

I have been to Catalina State Park to hike Romero Pools twice now. There is a $20 parking fee for a…read morecar of 2-4 people, which is a bit pricey, but the hike is worth it! There are bathrooms that are kept relatively clean and stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer at the trailhead. The hike to Romero Pools is about 6 miles out and back, and it is hard to get lost on the trail. After the first mile, there are not any more trails intersecting with the Romero Pools trail. The trail is rocky but very rewarding, as you are able to see your progress of climbing the mountain almost the whole time. Last fall there was not any water in the pools, but this year with all the rain, we saw plenty of waterfalls, streams, and pools. It is very peaceful to sit by the water at the end, and some people I was with even went in the water. While I cannot speak much on the other trails in this park, I do recommend giving Romero Pools a try if you are up for morning adventure!

Honeybee Canyon Loop Trail. Oro Valley, AZ. Late Nov, 2025. We wanted to do an easy morning hike,…read moreand the Honeybee Canyon Park was close to our resort. This family-friendly park offers about three miles of hiking trails, and we decided to do the Honeybee Canyon Loop Trail. Being mostly flat, most of the trails are rated "easy", but there are a few short areas where the slope is a bit steep and you need to ascend/descend on slippery sand or gravel. Entrance to the park and parking are free; there are about 20 parking spaces. Per my AllTrails app, we walked about 1.6 miles on a route that included the rock dam, but turned back without completing the loop as it was starting to get hot, there was limited shade in the desert, and, most importantly, there's limited signage on the trail (or anywhere in the park for that matter) so we kept going off-trail. This would've been a 5-star review if the signage was better to keep us on trail.

Lovely trail and park. Open low bush shrubs for popular backyard birding. And a paved path to…read morerestrooms, but hard packed gravel the rest of the trails.