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!

Linda Vista has all the great views…read more Our first hike during this vacation at Honey Bee Canyon Park had a few difficulties that we didn't anticipate, so we made sure to plan for this hike a little better. It helped that Emily had been here before and knew the area from previous hikes here. We found an easy-to-access parking lot and were able to immediately hop on a trail and start hiking. The prior hike was mostly flat, so, it was nice that the loop that we took was mostly going up and down with some switchbacks here and there. It really gets your heart rate going. There really isn't much to say about the hiking when you are left speechless from the views. Maybe seeing the mountains every day gets old but for someone who lives in Central Illinois, the change in landscape and scenery was a welcoming change. If you need or want a challenge, this trail will get you sweaty. We saw a lot of people out here running the paths. While I don't have any links or addresses to post below, you'll have no problem finding it via Apple or Google Maps. Hiking stats: -Trek: Duo -Time: 1.25 hours -Distance: 2.15 miles

Nice trail with different trail options and a nice city view. Would recommend using alltrails for…read morethe short and longer loop, it can be a bit confusing which path to take, even with this not being my first time doing the trail. If doing in the morning, it's nice to start the trail clockwise (go to the left path at the trailhead) because most of the sun will be towards your back. There really is no shade throughout. Also, very nice sunset view but wouldn't recommend doing during sunset time as it gets too dark even with a light and it's a bit scary to navigate. I'd also highly recommend having thicker hiking boots since it's very rocky. There is a trailhead with some parking, but also plenty parking in different lots not too far away more towards Oracle RD.

I cannot believe living in Tucson and making my first trip to Pima Canyon Trail! This is honestly…read moremy favorite hiking trail I have been on in Tucson. I love that it is easy to get to and that the trail head is immediately off of the parking lot. It is enjoyable for most activity levels. After about a mile or two, some may want to turn around because it gets to being a moderate hike. One way according to the map is about 6.2 miles. My husband and I turned at about 3 miles doing out and back totaling 6 miles. I would love to come back with more provisions and do the whole trail. Before you get to halfway, there are some beautiful streams and an area with water, grass, and cottonwoods. You feel like you have completely escaped Tucson. The views on the entire hike are wonderful. If only I could ever dream to afford any of the beautiful houses near there. What a bonus to be able to see some really beautiful homes! A must try hike!

Not one that I do real often, as I am not a big fan of the first mile or two "approach". Very…read morerocky and uneven. Once you start climbing the canyon it's fabulous. The canyon is half of the best challenging loop hike in Tucson: up Pima Canyon, down Finger Rock (or vice versa). You better be in shape for this one. Pima Canyon boasts some of the best (free) access of the Catalina trailheads. You can get there by going east on Magee from Oracle Rd, or north from Sunrise/Ina. This makes it easier to get to for us Oro Valley dwellers. This trail is *very* popular. Despite the generous parking lot it can get filled by 9AM forcing you to park on the road, so get there early.

Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. Oro Valley, AZ. Dec, 2025. We were staying at a resort in the Oro…read moreValley, and checking out various places to take our daily walk. My husband stumbled upon this preserve, and what a find it was! On the site of a former golf course, the preserve boosts a 6.2 mile, eight-foot-wide concrete path that winds through the property providing visitors with views of the Catalina and Tortolita mountains, examples of varied Sonoran Desert vegetation, and the opportunity to view wildlife. The Preserve is surrounded by residential neighborhoods, and we could see homes around the edges. We walked a bit over three miles, and saw a fair number of walkers and bicyclists. Virtually everyone greeted us as we passed. Based on their website, it seems that there are active efforts to protect this valuable resource. The Preserve is open from dawn to dusk and temporary parking, with a well-maintained port-a-potty is located at 945 W. Vistoso Highlands Dr.

This location used to be a golf course which closed in 2018. Once it closed, residents of Oro…read moreValley fought to keep it as a nature preserve instead of letting developers turn it into more housing. The reisdents won and there's plans to completely redo the area into a preserve. In the meantime though, it's open to the public as a walking, hiking or biking trail. You can see the remnants of the old golf course while taking in some stunning views. The pathways are nice and wide as they used to be for the golf carts. Such a hidden gem in Oro Valley....I hope however that folks will come and explore this place. It's beautiful and absolutely deserves to stay as it is.

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.

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.

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.

I have been wanting to do this hike and finally got to do it today! It was low 50s when we started…read morejust before 7:00 am. Starting from the parking lot at Sabino Canyon we had plenty of sun until the Phoneline Trail split off into Blackett's Ridge. We then had some shade until we got further up the mountain. The trail is rocky with a lot of switchbacks. I would definitely recommend good hiking shoes! The trail is pretty hard since it is so steep, but it is rewarding. Getting to the top is an accomplishment the views are beautiful! If you are afraid of heights stop at the "end of trail sign" but if you are feeling good, taking a few more steps will give you an even greater appreciation of the "ridge" in Blackett's Ridge. Just be sure to take caution! I would definitely recommend this hike and I would 100% do it again!

I had heard about Blackett's Ridge all the time while hiking in Sabino to Seven Falls, but never…read moregave it much thought until checking it out a couple months ago. The initial stage is fairly level and shouldn't tire you out; however, once you've passed that part, it's a steady set of inclined switchbacks for what seems like a good while. Upon getting to the top, you begin to realize why it was worth the ascent--a fantastic view of the Tucson valley and the surrounding mountains! Be sure to bring plenty of water (esp in summertime) to stay hydrated as there are no fountains to my knowledge beyond the parking lot/visitor center. Also, being that this is inside Sabino, be aware the charge to enter is $5, and on busy weekends there's no guarantee you will quickly find a parking spot (you sometimes have to drive around until you either see a car pulling out or see people walking toward the lot. Have fun and safe travels!

I like this mountain range. If it weren't a two-hour drive from Sierra Vista, I'd hike here more…read moreoften. I've done all the trails in the past five years. Because this is a low-elevation range dominated by saguaros, hiking here is best done in the cooler months. The trails are maintained by local volunteers. To get to the ample parking lot, you must drive toward the resort. Just tell the guard you are here to hike and s/he'll let you through. Ask for a map, as there aren't always maps available at the parking lot. There are flush bathrooms by the trail head. One does not need a high clearance vehicle to get to the parking lot. All trails start here by the wash. The trails are color-coordinated and well-marked. My favorite trails are the ridge trails, where views in all directions surround you. The Wild Mustang trail is perhaps my favorite, with views toward the north at Mount Lemmon. The northern part of this range was recently expanded. I've seen a few crested saguaros here. There is also an old corral there that has water in the rainy season. Trails are dog-friendly, but many dog owners just leave their bagged feces along the trail. Please take that crap with you! This is my only complaint about this park.

Tortolita Mountain Park is a local gem with 12 trails of varying lengths and difficulty. 8 may be…read moreused for mountain biking and 2 for horseback riding. The trail system also is used for the annual Move Across 2 Ranges hosted by Marana (Tortolita Mountain Park) and Oro Valley (Catalina State Park), which always sells out. My partner and I enjoy the long-distance views of Picacho Peak from Upper Javelina Trail and views Of the Santa Ritas from Alamo Springs Trail. All of the trails are well-groomed. We always use poles and bring plenty of water so we can cover more ground.