Came here on a night walk early June. The park is well maintained and the guides were amazing. We did ice breakers to start and really enjoyed that each guide has their own expertise. We learned about the unique wildlife, rock formations, insects and constellations! I highly recommend. read more

Catalina State Park - Parks Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I went here for a night walk in June and had an amazing time with friends! The Rangers were so knowledgeable and friendly. I thought it was pretty cool the way they reflected pictures onto the ground of the animals they discussed. They taught us not just about the animals of the desert, but also about the rock formations, and constellations as well . They did an introduction before we set out on the trail and an icebreaker, which I also thought was a cool little activity to help us all feel more comfortable. I would definitely do this again, and recommend it for anyone who's never done it. This would be a great activity to bring an out-of-town friend on. FYI- the hell when you first start, the trail is pretty steep.. I was huffing and puffing a bit lol. If you have any knee injuries or struggle with steep land, you might want to sit this one out. The rest of the trail is flat after however the hill is needed to start and end the trail (it probably took like 1-2 minutes to scale it). Also to find the area where the hike starts, you'll want to drive all the way through the park until you get to the parking lot on the left. For some reason, I thought it would be pretty close to when you enter the park, however, it is a little drive. read more

Catalina State Park - Parks Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Beautiful park with great trails. Loved the Alamo Loop. 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. read more

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I have been to Catalina State Park to hike Romero Pools twice now. There is a $20 parking fee for a car 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! read more

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I am under instructions to walk after my new pacemaker 3 weeks ago. So today I chose the bird loop here. 40 minutes, 2 sets of stairs. With military ID only a 5.00 fee for myself. Did a walk , raised a sweat. Easy path to follow. read more

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Several accessible hiking trails for a variety of hikers. Can even book a horse riding experience with neighboring outfit. Plan to do that to get higher faster and easier. ($108 per person in March 2025). Enjoy read more

Catalina State Park - Parks Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

As a Tucson native, I can't even afford to camp there one night in the summer at 100° with a totally empty park because they charge $50 for a tent site never mind electric. They're obviously happy with getting long-term RV campers who can book a year ahead and get paid a lot more money than we do. This is BS. read more

I love the beauty. But it's on the too people-y spectrum when the weather is cool. As in the season of the birds (those snowy migratory kind, you know). I like to hike without seeing a bunch of people or the sounds of people. OR people. Lol. For me Mama Nature is best appreciated alone or with another who respects the sounds of nature. I've lived near here for the last 7 years & other than taking visitors & my 78 year old mom, I've been less than 10 times. This last hike, I lucked out as I kept taking random turns based on the absence or infrequency of others & finally got the away from it all vibe I craved. The scenery speaks for itself. Stunning fall/winter season, see my pics. It was glorious & if I could find that level of peace everytime, I'd come more frequently. Otherwise, I try & go on HOT days that drive away most visitors. It is well kept, lots of trail variety, nothing too hard but a great variance in trail length. Call me Aunty Social, lol but I'll save this park to impress guests & those who don't want a lot of elevation gain. The nature is beautiful, the crowds, um, not so much. read more

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We love it here. 2 weeks of great fun! A beautiful park surprisingly close to everything. Shower house is clean and neat. We have enjoyed watching the birds, listening to the coyotes and seeing the bats in the evening. Thank you to the volunteers who help the rangers keep this park running. read more

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My favorite hike in Arizona, so far. Our last and final day means it's our last hike and I think Emily was saving my favorite for last, unbeknownst to her and I. Her parents live 10 minutes from the park and we paid the $20 to get in, drove to the very end and started hiking. Side note: The pass you buy is good for the whole day so you can come and go as many times as you please during the day marked on the pass. Catalina State Park took my breath away at every turn, twist and new path. I think it's because it was a fairly easy hike, in my opinion, and I actually got to admire the scenery while walking. It does get frustrating to go out hiking and you spend 75% of your time looking at your feet so you don't roll an ankle. The sights, the scenery, the endless saguaro, the little lizards we saw scampering across rocks all made this place an amazing place to spend the morning. If you are in the area and love to hike, this place is one to put at the top of your list. Hiking stats: -Trek: Duo -Time: 1.5 hours -Distance: 3.21 miles read more

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Catalina State Park This beautiful state park was really near where I was staying and I was interested in seeing the Romero ruins trail, to see some Hohokam ruins and some wildflowers and of course birds. I have gone many times. For birds I would recommend going on one of the parks twice weekly volunteer docent birding hikes. You will see something different each time. I have seen different hummingbirds, Cactus wrens and their nests. Vermillion flycatcher, owls, Flickers, thrasher, grosbeaks, Phainopepla, ravens ,mocking birds, having gone the guided hike your eyes will be opened more each time you hike, The Romero ruins trail can be easy for someone who's fairly fit but has some areas to be careful at You can park at the second pull out. The trail does cross a wash area so if there's been recent rains it could be a area where you going to get wet. If you go directly to the ruines trail you'll move to the left at the fork. There's about 80 steps to the top of the hill You just take your time if your person of a certain age and you'll do fine coming down is always a little more difficult and you have to be careful. If I were taking kids I would only want to take kids to really listened and then didn't get too close to the edge. There's some great Saguaro cactus at the top of the hill and there's some benches along the trail to enjoy the wonderful views of the mountains. Once you're up at the top you can begin to see the archaeological site and mostly surface areas of the ruins. There's some great interpretive signs along the way so you can really have a sense of what you're seeing and get some great information to learn more. There's a Hohokam village where you can see the rock walls that surrounded the village and you can see some rock outlines of some homes if you have a good eye you can also see some pit areas and middens. There's some great interpretive material actually showing where the Romero ranchero was as well as the Hohokam village. There was also considerable looting of the site You can still see some of the holes were the pot hunters were looking for pots. There's some great views of the wash going down in the mountains It's just a really nice hike. After I did that hike and came down I noticed some wildflower fields across the way so I back to where the trail had split and took the trail to the right which is the Romero Canyon trail and went up about 90 steps so I could view the poppy fields and the other wildflower fields They had a nice flat area at the top of the stairs and again you could get some wonderful views of the valley and the mountains it was worth the extra hike up the stairs. Again you have to take your time slow is smooth and fast and safe both going up and down.. if you are going to take children you got to make sure that they're really well disciplined to stay on the trail cuz there's some really steep drops and there's no handrails or anything else the only safe place is to stay on the trail. There were some really nice poppy groves to see and I think the lupine were also plentiful and there was some groves of those as well and All in all identified over a dozen different wildflowers. The thing to remember is each time you visit it will be different.... Maybe no wildflowers or birds. Just try to enjoy what's there and remember it's a open wild place not a city park. Dress appropriately I always wear long pants and hiking boots and i try to be mindful of my surroundings. Check with volunteers at the gift shop or the entrance to get the skinny. read more

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I think this is the only state park I've been to that's across the street from a Walmart and Red Lobster lol. Despite the encroaching business commercialism in the area, the park itself is a beautiful and serene place to picnic, bird watch, or hike. We stopped here for a picnic and to hike. We got a lot of good picnicking done; hikes, not so much but there's always next time I say. There are multiple picnic spots and very well kept restrooms. You can't beat the view of the Catalina Mountains while noshing on a breakfast burrito and coffee. I attempted to go on an easy trail, the birding trail, but I will have to go on this trail next time with another adult instead of a tiny tot and dogs. The dogs were more interested in sniffing the world rather than taking a nature walk, and the kiddo wanted to play in the sandy wash area near the entrance to the trail. I think I made it about 100 ft when the slow-as-molasses dog decided to turn back. I took that as a sign that a longer hiking adventure will have to wait for a future visit. The sandy wash area is pretty cool and very scenic in itself and I got to hear some birds chattering with one another in the bushes nearby. It's overall a very peaceful place to spend a day. Details: - Very dog friendly! - Poop bags available at trail entrance (For birding trail at least) - Entrance fee $7 per car for up to 4 adults read more

Catalina State Park - You can't beat this view of the mountains when picnicking - Parks Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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There are a ton of great hiking options within the park and beautiful views. They now charge $10 per person in a vehicle so it cost us $20 for a couple of hours of hiking, which I think is ridiculous. I know the park doesn't have any control over that but there are tons of free options locally. Won't be back anytime soon unfortunately due to the price increase. read more

We came on a whim the day before heading home. My husband and I had been dying to hike. Catalina State park was close so we headed over to check out the Alamo Canyon Loop Trail. I was a bit taken aback at the $20 entrance fee for the two of us in the car, but we decided to pay and check out what the area had to offer. Looking over the pamphlet the ranger gave us I saw they had some ruins off one of the trails which is awesome as well as picnic areas and more, Views from the parking lot are amazing so I knew once the hike started it would be even better. From the looks of it a fire must've swept through years ago because there was a lot of burnt brush. The Alamo trail starts across from a good size parking area and is easy to follow for most of the loop. It is pretty steep in some areas and a lot of lose rock so if you don't handle that well it's not recommended without walking sticks and boots. While there can't any water during our hike it does show possible falls and water in the wash at different times of year or after a good rain. There was no shade most of the trail so go early and bring lots of water. While the hike is less than four miles it is a good workout. Mountain View's were beautiful and some of the saguaro cacti were very old. Wish we had more time to explore. My husband who loves to hike said it was one of his favorite trails he's done. read more

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Went camping there last weekend and apart from the unexpected 110 record breaking heat wave at the end of September... a great park to camp and hike. The electric campsites also had water hookups. The restrooms were extremely clean and well maintained... including the showers. Lots of beautiful trails... but when the temps being high... only early morning or evening walks. An amazing place for dark skies/ star gazing even with the naked eye. Because of the time of year (and weather) attaining a spot was feasible... but otherwise it's hard to score a camping spot. read more

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Our second time here, they have nice sites. Well maintained shower and restrooms. Park rangers are very friendly. No gates, campers can come in and out anytime during the night. Walmart and some restaurants are just across the street. read more

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I went there today only to find out that they changed enterance fee from 7.00 per car to 10.00 per person in the car. They also changed all the rates for everything and it's way out of hand. I was looking forward to getting a good walk in, discussing! It's a State park and the guy at the entrance said they have to pay taxes! What!!! Normally I always pay cash to get in!!! Ridiculous!!! Had to change my review!!! read more

Happy to be camped at Catalina State Park. Great dessert campground. Plenty of space between campsites, and some sites have water and electric. Dump station is near the front kiosk. We are here in May, and it is HOT. Not much shade to be found, but the wind kicks up in the afternoon, and the nights are cooling down to 63 or 65. Not many people camped here, I believe because of the heat. Great trails here for hikers, cyclists, and horses. I've seen quite a few roadrunners, and have seen first hand how they control the lizard population. The bathrooms and showers are A+. In the "A" loop, there is a soda machine and a small lending library (take a book, leave a book), located in the alcove between the men and women's restroom. Camp host on site. read more

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I visited Tucson in August. If you don't wake up at 6am for you hike, you'll be cutting it short for sure. It's hot by 8am. I took the Short hike, Romero ruin trail, as it was hot and I'm not really a morning person. The hike has no shade, but it was worth it. It's a beautiful hike. You'll definitely see saguaros up close. Make sure to wear hiking boots. It is sandy and there's many sharp plants out there. Take plenty of water. Use the all trails app to guide your hike. The entrance fee is $7 per car. They have a small gift shop and restrooms at the entrance. Dogs are allowed in the park read more

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Catalina State Park, Tucson, Arizona, May 27, 2023 They have water and electrical hook ups, but no sewer hook ups. They do have a dump station. The overall campsite is very well-maintained and there are lots of areas throughout the campground that are covered with a lot of picnic tables and plenty of parking. We pulled in on a Memorial weekend Saturday at about 1:15 PM. First order of business, after checking in, was to dump the black and gray water. We had been dry camping for about four days prior to our arrival. They have a nice water Spicket with about a 12 foot hose that you can use to flush your black water system as you are dumping. We got into site A-8, which is a pull through. We have stayed at this site before; however, there is actually an issue with the site. Because you have to take the one-way road to the site, it puts you into the site facing away from the picnic table and the camp site itself. Fortunately, no one was in site A-7 when we arrived and we were able to pull through their site and flip our rig round so that it was opening out to the campsite. The hook ups are then on the wrong side of your rig, so hopefully your water hose and electric chord are long enough to go under your rig and to the hook ups. Ours barely made it with only a couple feet to spare. It's about a 30 foot stretch depending on how you align your rig. There is a pretty substantial westerly sun exposure, so don't expect any shade. When we were here, it was 100° out and it was hard to get our rig to cool down. Fortunately, we were able to put up a tarp that blocked the sun and helped us to manage our heat. Other than those challenges, the site is fantastic. It's very large (40x80') with only one neighbor to the south. The bridal hiking trail is right next to the site. All the sites here have a picnic table and a standup barbecue grill. Trails are both hiking and biking. If you're looking for some more modern amenities, there is plenty of shopping and restaurants only a mile or so away. read more

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Went to Catalina State Park for a short pre-Thanksgiving hike. Read some reviews online and had to see this place for myself. The hiking trails are pretty well marked and the paths are clear. There are long hikes and short ones. I chose to walk the "nature trail". The trail is a loop, about 2 miles long all together. The scenery is that of mountains and desert plants (this is Arizona). Cactus, desert plants, and maybe some wildlife can be scene in abundance. It was a great visit. I liked it so much, I bought the year parking pass for $75. This is the third State Park that I've visited in Arizona. So far, I find that Arizona State Parks keep their grounds in excellent condition. read more

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Stayed one night in an RV spot..Loop B. Absolutely gorgeous, completely clean, quiet and delightful. Whoever is taking care of the restrooms deserves a raise. They were absolutely clean and lovely. Thanks for a great stay! read more

Came here with a friend to get some fresh air and sunshine. Not even sure what trails we hopped on but they were beautiful! We even saw some running water which was surprising and very cool! I noticed they had some animal exhibits in the parking lot on our way out which looked cool for kids. read more

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Lovely place with lots of great trails and so many big friendly dogs. Folks were great about keeping them on leash, unfortunately :). Lots of snow run off created several water crossings and rivers. read more

Catalina State Park - Parks Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

A great place to walk, hike or ride a bicycle. Trails and trails seem to go on forever. Friendly staff with plenty of parking. Unbelievable views read more

Catalina State Park is a gem for hikers, mountain bikers and outdoor lovers. There are tons of trails that range from flatish for walking to hiking. Catalina State Park is most famously known for its trail access to Romero Pools. There is a $7 entrance fee into the park or you can pay for an annual pass. Road access to the park is paved and very clean. You will find plenty of parking if you arrive early and clean bathrooms in the parking lot. There are also picnic tables for those looking to enjoy a bite before or after a hike. If you're looking for something easy, the Canyon Loop is the trail to go on. It's more of a walking trail with a few inclines and stairs but very manageable and great for dogs. Several trails are exposed so be sure to pack plenty of water and sunscreen. Some of the trails are closed due to the Bighorn Fires from this summer so keep an eye on the signage for the restricted areas. Weekdays are ideal if you want to avoid the crowds! read more

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Numerous trails to choose from but a favorite of mine is the two-mile loop. Photos are from January 2023 when water was flowing across the loop trail in about four places. Dry as dust when you are there in July so very different experience. The park is dog and horse friendly. There's a fee at the gate. An annual pass is a great value if you plan to visit a few times. If you are strapped for cash there may be the option to park just outside the gate and walk in. Not 100% sure though. Two parking lots. Restrooms. A gift shop was open in January on a Sunday when we visited. It gets busy on a nice weather weekend so parking gets full. No matter when you go please be prepared! Use a trail map (all trails app is great and free). Stay on the trail. Do not wander among the cacti. Wear hat and sunglasses. Supportive sneakers or hiking boots recommended. Sunscreen and SPF clothing highly recommended. Take water for each person and pets. Have fun! read more

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Gorgeous, breathtaking, spectacular! I can go on and on about how wonderful this state park is! I have hiked all the trails more than once and every time I do the views still get to me! The trails are always maintained, the rangers and helpful, and there's always something cool to see! We miss the nature program as it was such an awesome experience for the kids (and adults) to learn new things! Would love to see that come back! Until then they offer many other programs and activities such as star parties, music in the mountains and even guided hikes! read more

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Nice little gem tucked next to the mountain range, this regional park has trails for hiking, camping, and a nice picnic area at Trailhead. Park was effected during last years fires and the damage can be seen, the trails are in great shape and beautifully maintained. There seems to be a very involved Volunteer Team and could be seen around the Park (Thank U). We only did the birding trail (some great pics of a Hawk), and had a picnic in area near stage at picnic tables. It was a beautiful warm day with a breeze and you cannot beat the views while having lunch. Plenty more trails to explore and we will definitely be back to further explore the opportunities that this beautiful Park has to offer. read more

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Beautiful well marked trails. Did the romero canyon trail to the romero pools this past weekend - wildflowers in bloom (though it's definitely towards the end of the wildflowet season). Some water at the pools. Would recommend hiking early as it gets much hotter by 9ish. Day pass for the state park is 7$ (national park pass is NOT accepted as an fyi). read more

Catalina State Park - Romero canyon trail - Parks Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Catalina State Park offers an abundance of hiking options with several trails crossing into the Coronado National Forest. This review is for the popular Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pools. With a steep top section, we recommend that you add hiking poles to your gear for this one. Once you arrive at the park, drive to the furthest parking lot, which is across the street from the trailhead for the Birding, Nature, Sutherland and Romero Canyon Trails. Follow the signs across the Sutherland Wash, which flows seasonally. After you climb the hill on your left, Cathedral Rock will be dominant to your right as you approach the path to Montrose Pools. Past this point, no dogs are allowed since it's a big horn sheep area. The trail narrows and turns rocky as you wind your way up another 900 feet over 1.7 miles. The path rises and falls as you make your way down to the first set of pools. Should these be filled with fun-loving hikers splashing in the cold water, cross on over and pick up the Romero Canyon Trail. With a 10-minute walk, you'll find a quieter set of pools (the 'adult' pools as one ranger called them). When you've finished soaking in the beauty of the wilderness, use the same trail to make your way back to the parking lot. The descent is where those hiking poles come in handy. read more

Catalina State Park - Looking back at a resting point - Parks Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Yup. This is one beautiful park. It's well designed and it's well maintained. We hiked here today, (Sutherland, Canyon loop & Romero Canyon routes) had to cross washes 4 times that were flooded but it was worth it. Such a pretty place. It cost us $7 to enter. It's dog friendly for the most part. Ask when you enter about restricted areas. N read more

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Fantastic State Park in the Oro Valley area. We did a great hike followed by a picnic lunch. The view of the rugged Catalinas is awesome. $7 per day fee and your NP pass is not valid. We will be back. read more

This park is located near neighborhoods and shopping so it can get crowded. The fee is $7 a car of four people, and $3 each person more. The parking lot is large and paved. Unisex bathrooms are available. Dogs are allowed on leases. The trails are sandy and range easy to medium to difficult. We walked the Loop trail. We passed very old Saguaro cacti that had many arms--amazing. The river bed was dry and rocky and a few people walked there. Friends walked part of the Romero Trail which is closed off at one point due to a fire, and headed up to the dry pools which was more difficult hike. read more

Very belated, but we hoped to make it this year to this park but won't be able to. We love this park. The rangers are excellent and always willing to help. The park is really stunning. Lost our pup but he really loved the trails. He especially enjoyed it when he came across horses. There are lots of things close by. We got our leave date off by one so we didn't get out when we should have and the staff were all very nice and understanding. My apologies to the people waiting. Got out fast when we finally realized it. Really miss not making it this year. read more

Always a nice nature break, good views. Park is provides an inexpensive interlude to a Tucson visit

Nice campground! Beautiful views, spacious, clean sites. Would definitely come back and stay longer.

Absolutely stunning views! After the summer monsoon there are wild poppies everywhere and it's so green. There is nothing as beautiful as the Catalinas! There is a special Ramada that you can stop at and just take in the beauty .. facing the Catalinas peaks. So very beautiful. I usually just make a day trip if it but there are places to camp as well. read more

Catalina State Park - Parks Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We live near Catalina State Park and come often. The year pass is worth it if you think you'll be visiting at least 10 times a year or want to go explore other state parks. We take our kids "hiking" so we usually stick to the nature loop trail. I love that it's got signs and animal prints to keep the kids interested and moving to the next landmark. I've done a couple longer loops with girlfriends as well. The trails are great for trail running. read more

This little park is such a safe camping location for beginning or the not-so-outdoorsy wannabe campers. The campground has an extremely clean and heated bathroom with showers and mirrors. for $30 you can reserve a camping spot with a picnic table, grill, and water spout. And hey- if you forget something- Wal Mart and World Market are less than a 10 minute drive away. Even though you are close to a shopping hub in Oro Valley- once in the park- you feel completely separated from the urban sprawl. They have really nice hiking trails located in the park- also great for beginners. We usually do a hike in the evening after we set up camp and again in the morning. Check the schedule for educational events for families. We ran into an event today showing cool reptiles of the desert-with live frogs, snakes, and even a 14 year old gila monster. :) read more

Catalina State Park - Nice, clean, and warm restrooms. Best camping restrooms I've ever seen! - Parks Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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