Mount Wrightson is one of the best hikes I have done in the Tucson area!…read more We hiked the Old Baldy trail with a large group, starting at 6:45 am. The trail is mostly tree-covered on the way up, and on this windy day we were all relatively cold rather than hot, despite what was a 4,400 ft elevation gain and a total of 11.08 miles. The hike took us 7 hours total, including some stops for rest and lunch. There is a very steady incline, making the trail easier than I expected for the amount of elevation gain. Only in the last mile to the top does it get noticeably steeper and more rocky. I liked how the trail was very straightforward, with very few intersecting paths, making it hard to get turned around. We only saw a handful of other hikers, many of which we passed by several times. With a long and challenging hike, it is nice to build rapport with and have encouragement from other hikers. The views at the top were incredible and truly make you feel like you are on top of the world! I would recommend starting early and coming prepared with friends, lunch, lots of snacks and water, and layers. It may be challenging, but you won't regret it!

This is a 10.4 mile (11.4 according to alltrails) out and back moderate/slightly strenuous hike…read moreabout 2 hours south of Phoenix (40 min south of Tucson). Total elevation gain is ~4100' (actually more than Humphreys). Alltrails rates it difficult but elevation gain is stead/constant throughout the 5 mile ascent. It gets a little rockier at the top, but there's no scrambling/rock climbing involved- no scootin' down necessary here! Breathtaking panoramic views from the summit, and there's a geocache box here too. Very clearly defined trail the entire way (I didn't get lost a single time). I passed 4-5 groups in tota, but I hiked this on a weekday. Started around 830am. It was 55 degrees and slightly cloudy. Made it to the summit in 2h31min and came back down in 1h31min. Dogs allowed on leash, restrooms at trailhead. @azfitfoodfun

The Abrego Trailhead provides access to the Anza National Historic Trail. The trailhead is located…read morein the Green Valley area immediately east of Abrego Drive approximately one mile south of Continental Road. It has a shade structure, 15 vehicle spaces including 2 that are accessible, and 4 horse rig parking spaces. Open sunrise to sunset. Dogs permitted on leash. Excellent picnicking area for large groups with electric outlets. One water spout but you need your own Sillcock key.

Tumacacori National Historical Park is totally worth the short drive from Tucson. The grounds are…read morelovely and so full of rich history. Walking inside of the old mission is like walking back in time. One can almost imagine the daily lives, religious practices and hardships. I love history and thoroughly enjoyed this magnificent monument.

A beautiful historical place to walk and explore around amidst the ruins of three Spanish colonial…read moremissions. It illustrates the blending cultures of Native Americans and European peoples. Exploring the park is highly immersive and at the same time very calming. It is a short drive from Tucson to the park and is definitely worth a visit.

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.

This has been a favorite place for us to camp. If you're in the area for hunting or a quick weekend…read moreget away with the family. Part of the grounds has hookups and part is dry. It's remote and quiet at night, except for the friendly neighborhood donkey. The staff is always very friendly and helpful.

I camp. A lot! I'm not a big fan of campgrounds. I call that…read morefancy camping. I'd rather pull off a SR or fire road somewhere and boondock in the woods. That being said, one of my absolute favorite places is La Siesta Campground. It's incomparable! It has all the creature comforts you could possibly desire and (I cannot stress this part enough) 5 star hospitality! Definitely a home away from home. It can be the most peaceful place, or an excellent meeting ground for friends; both old and new. Already have the next 2 trips here planned and there will always be many more!

Beautiful trail that runs along the Santa Cruz River. Water runs year round and you can hike along…read morethe river under a canopy of beautiful cottonwood trees!

This spot is great for bird enthusiasts and bird curious folks alike. Birding takes place in those…read morearea all year round and they have signage throughout displaying which birds you can can expect to see during each month which is really cool. The garden is also lovely with tons of native wild flowers. We saw a good amount of hummingbirds as well. They have a handful of binoculars but we brought our own. There are some benches for those who want to sit for a while, wait and watch. I'll continue to bring my daughter here to explore birds together. A nice activity for all ages.

Fantastic find! The volunteers were great and the various hummingbirds made for a very pleasant…read moremorning. Will definitely be back!

We love Patagonia Lake for a day trip. The park has much to offer including fishing, picnicking,…read morebird watching, recreational water activities like boating, kayaking, and paddle boarding. The lake has beautiful views too. Our favorite part is the "beach". We love to set out pop up out and enjoy the lake for the day. We love that it's not too far from Tucson as well!

Visiting this location offers a pleasant escape from the city. The serene lake provides a tranquil…read moreatmosphere. Numerous children are currently enjoying the final days of summer. Please note that the Visitor Center is presently undergoing renovations. Ample picnic tables are available throughout the area. Public restrooms are maintained to a high standard of cleanliness. This destination is highly recommended for individuals interested in water activities such as kayaking, canoeing, and boating. Boat rentals are also available on-site.

I hike the Cochise Trail ever few years. There's a lot to see here: rock formations, vistas,…read morebirds, insects and rattlesnakes, and is a challenging hike of ten miles. I usually start this from the west side, driving through Tombstone and taking Middlemarch road north of town for nine miles before turning north on a forest road. This road is a dirt road that gets very rutted the last two miles as it follows a dry wash. This wash fills into a creek during active monsoon season, so a high-clearance vehicle is necessary. Unlike the east side, parking and dry camping on the west side is free. The trail climbs immediately for 1.75 miles before hitting the western Stronghold and from here it's a gradual descent to the eastern trailhead and campground. The only source of water is at Halfmoon tank, a cattle pond about halfway up or down the trail, depending on which direction you start this hike. Lots of butterflies were in the area in September. During active monsoon season, the creek will run and the waterfall on the western side is a sight to behold. My hiking party rests here near the restrooms before returning the way we came. There was no water in the campground last month when I last did this hike. Dogs are allowed The only negative thing about this hike is its remoteness and accessibility. From Sierra Vista it's a two-hour drive each way. Add another five miles for the hike and it's a day-long adventure.

Well we came yesterday to get out of town and visit the dragoon hills…read more This campground is officially closed to all but hikers. They say mountain bikes are permitted but we are riders and I think the trails are too narrow. And slots where you can t pedal. I say hike. So no parking, bathrooms or camping or potable water. But you can park outside the gates. A few did, like us. Since we are new to the site, we only went to the water tank. Lots of shade along the way. Caves. Huge Rock formations. Hawks circling above hunting. Butterflies, BlueJays. Lots to see. I m going to go back while the weather is still cool. It is normally Officially Closed July to September due to extreme temps. Great to use your imagination about where the Apache's would have hidden in wait to protect the Stronghold.

I booked the ladder tour for my husband and I for his birthday. Adam was our tour guide. We had a…read moregreat time! I am claustrophobic and let Adam know and he was very understanding and encouraging. He definitely helped me feel at ease and I was able to finish the entire tour. Adam is very passionate about caving and it really shows. We've been in multiple caves and on tours so I wasn't sure if this would be anything special. It absolutely was and I was pleasantly surprised. There were a few activities we got to do that I haven't ever experienced before like playing "drums" on stalactites and "painting" on the wall with a flashlight. We learned a lot about the history of the cave and heard some interesting and fun stories. We also got to explore a little bit on our own here and there off to the sides of the path which my husband really enjoyed. The ladder part is at the end and it was a lot of fun and almost like an obstacle course. We had a great time here and I'm really glad we came!

Fun tour of cave with some good history. Good that the cost supports back the park. Our guide was…read morevery knowledgeable and friendly. The path is very accessible so it isn't hard to walk. The lighting is great showing off great cave features and photos to take. Just no flash Although cool, I would say I've been to nicer caves, but if this is your first cave visit it is probably worth it. Enjoy!