Cancel

Open app

Search

Sweetwater Preserve

4.9 (14 reviews)

Sweetwater Preserve Photos

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Sweetwater Preserve

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Barrel cactus
Steve S.

This is a wonderful place to take a hike. Bicycles and horses are also welcome. We hiked 3 miles here today, it's well marked and not heavily used. Note the damage to the saguaro cactus, it appears as though a fire ravaged this area maybe 50 years ago based on the only young saguaros being 4 feet tall or so.

Barrel of fun!
Roger M.

Sweetwater sweet trail system for hike or mountain bike. I am sweating spinning solo so sweetly! Hardpack sand & decomposed granite. All 13.7 miles singletracks per my GPS are fast rolling, up-down, curvaceous, and total elevation gain 700 feet. Have a blast spinning over rock hoppers, bunny bouncing and suspension popping pop-pop-pop along the way. Some sections are "quasi" technical. Desert flora and fauna so sweet and lush with Palo Verde, Ocotillo, Prickly Pear cactus, Creosote, lots and lots of giant Saguaro cactii, jojoba and Mesquite. Watch out, a jumping Cholla may hitch a ride on your fanny, arm or leg---ouch, those spines so hard to pull out. In and out of washes surrounded by the presence of mountains, blue skies, warm sunshine and fresh air---I bet you wish you were here with me. It is an Intermediate level ride at best but so sweet surely---Sweewater preserve! All you need is water and/or fat tires or trail shoes. Horses and dogs ok. I even saw hikers with 2 huge goats. Well designed park with lots of intersecting loops of varying distances throughout. Big parking lot.

Millions of memories can be made here. Just pick one.
Robyn Y.

What can I say Sweetwater Preserve? It's truly my fault that I didn't find you earlier. Getting that off my chest and in the open, I can sincerely say that if you love being outdoors and are active, Sweetwater Preserve is the place for you. Hiking? Walking? Mountain biking? There is something that can be had for everyone and millions of memories that can be made. Before we made the trip, we looked up best trails in Tucson to walk our dog. We learned that the trail is pet friendly (don't forget the doggie bags for waste as there isn't any supplied and something to carry it in- there aren't trash cans) and people friendly too. There are plenty of trails that you can choose to walk which are all connected with a series of networking. Another great perk of Sweetwater? There are signs posted throughout so you won't worry about getting lost, even if it is your first or one hundredth time. People on the path are friendly and considerate too. We encountered many people walking their dogs and on mountain bikes. When we heard the bike coming we moved to the side and allowed them to pass. Not one person passed and didn't say hi or thank you- the people are just as wonderful as the views. We try as a family to make memories and this was a trail that my 11 and 8 year old could join us on and they loved it. Plenty of places to stop for shade and the most amazing views.

Josie R.

Great hiking moderate trail. There are a variety of paths for those that want to challenge themselves or those that want to take an easier path. Beautiful scenery everywhere you hike. Bicycles and even pups are welcome. There were barely any bugs either. Just a lovely time! But go early to avoid the HEAT!!! The earlier the better.

Saguaros for days
Isabella J.

The Sweetwater Preserve is nestled among several parks on the west side of town. It's a popular pick for mountain bikers but is also great for trail walks and horseback riding. Dogs (on a leash) are welcome here too! I had no idea the preserve is over 700 acres until I stopped to read the informational signs. Pretty cool! As far as trail walking/hiking goes- I didn't find the terrain to be very challenging. But a mountain biker might have a different opinion in that- given that the trails are narrow, single track. So my assessment of the trails is for hikers/walkers. Anyway- there are various trails Interconnect- so you can connect to other trails that all loop around back to the parking lot, which is great. The entire loop is just over 7 miles. The trails start right off of the parking lot. Whiles there are signs along the way, the trails are not clearly marked. So make sure to stop and looks at the signs from time to time to make sure you're headed in the right direction. This is a great outdoor park. It's not too remote and the trails are clearly marked. Open dawn until dusk. Of course the ideal time of year to enjoy the desert is late fall through spring. Always bring plenty of water!

See all

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 17
Thanks 0
Love this 14
Oh no 0
Photo of Chuck M.
0
292
85

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Ask the Community - Sweetwater Preserve

Review Highlights - Sweetwater Preserve

The trails are clearly defined, there are a few points with maps, and signage to let you know what trail loop you're on.

Mentioned in 3 reviews

Read more highlights

Verify this business for free

People searched for Hiking 827 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Rillito River Park - Bat information

Rillito River Park

4.6(38 reviews)
8.5 miCampus Farm

Perfect place to walk with nice wide paved trails, plenty of parking close to restaurants and…read moreshopping. The smaller loop is just over a mile with longer options for your choosing . Walking under the Campbell overpass note the Bat signage and you can here the bast rustling overhead.Make sure you bring water and wear a hat and sunscreen because it sure heats up fast !

If you come to Tucson or live in the area, you should definitely take a stroll along the Rillito…read moreRiver path. There is a paved path great for cyclists, runners or walkers. Or if you prefer, you can walk/run/bike along the wild side on the packed sand next to the paved trail weaving your way through the mesa verde trees and mesquite. Bring your dogs too, they'll also enjoy it. Most of the year, the river bed is dry and filled with scrub brush common in the Sonoran desert, but occasionally in the spring when the snow melts in the mountains, or during the summer monsoon season, the river will completely fill and the water will rage. Some have even been known to try riding a raft when the water reaches the banks. (FYI, don't do this! It isn't safe.) There are several city parks like Brandi Fenton where you can park and start your journey. Best to look at maps online to find the closest entry point and parking location convenient to you; as the park does cross over a lot of streets. In the distance, you will be able to enjoy the view of Mt. Lemmon and the rest of the Santa Catalina mountain range as it turns different hues of pink, red, orange, brown depending on the time of day you come. Sunrise in the summer months and sunset in the winter are great times to go in order to stay comfortable temperature wise. The trail was an almost daily staple in our lives when we lived here and walked the dogs along the trail or cycled and ran with friends. Even returning, while driving through town, we couldn't help but stop and take a stroll down memory lane by revisiting this lovely gem in Tucson.

Photos
Rillito River Park - Mountain View from path

Mountain View from path

Rillito River Park - Bat Information

Bat Information

Rillito River Park - Scenery

See all

Scenery

Rio Vista Natural Resources Park

Rio Vista Natural Resources Park

4.2(9 reviews)
9.0 miPrince Tucson

Tucked away in the northern area of Tucson we found this beautiful memorial labyrinth. With…read morebenches, natural resources and regular care it's the perfect place for some tranquil meditation and contemplation. The drone footage was definitely necessary to capture the true size of this stunning landmark. There is a trail entrance on Cactus Blvd. with plenty of off street parking if the labyrinth is your destination. Although we didn't walk the entire trail, it's the perfect leisurely path for groups as they are wide and even. There's plenty to see from natural plants, critters and education. It's very well maintained and clean with benches to relax on and shade to cool off in.

What a very peaceful, beautiful park. Came with friends to walk the labyrinth. The surrounding area…read moreis so beautiful. It's hard to believe it's in the center of the city. If you just want a place to come and meditate, walk on the labyrinth, trail or sit on a bench and enjoy the Mountain View, this is a beautiful preserved peaceful park almost in the center of Tucson. I am unsure of the history of this place but labyrinth are a spiritual experience just to come and meditate as you walk around the earth to the center to find answers to questions you might be in life. Come and experience for yourself.

Photos
Rio Vista Natural Resources Park - The labyrinth

The labyrinth

Rio Vista Natural Resources Park - Labyrinth

Labyrinth

Rio Vista Natural Resources Park - Located right off the south side path between Campbell and country club

See all

Located right off the south side path between Campbell and country club

Garden of Gethsemane

Garden of Gethsemane

4.8(6 reviews)
7.2 miMenlo Park

Scratched, time-worn religious sculptures stand within the shade of the Congress Street Bridge,…read moreforming a lovely, peaceful sculpture garden. Quite miraculously, they've survived decades of floods, droughts, and vandalism. They exist because during World War I, a man named Felix Lucero lay seriously injured on a battlefield in France. Wounded and in agony, he proposed a deal with God: If he survived, he'd use his natural skills as a sculptor to create religious statues. After returning home from the war, Lucero set about making good on his word. In the late 1930s, he lived in Tucson, Arizona, in a shack beneath a bridge. From there, he began creating beautiful works of art. While in Tucson, Lucero spent years crafting detailed statues of religious figures out of sand and debris from the Santa Cruz River, which he then slathered in a protective coat of plaster. He created iconic Biblical scenes, including the Last Supper, Joseph and Mary, and Jesus on the crucifix. Though Lucero died in 1951, his work is still standing--which is amazing, considering the statues weren't built from lasting materials and have faced frequent vandalism over the years. Many are damaged, but they still stand tall. Dedicated locals have worked to salvage and repair the sculptures after each vandalism incident, and in the 1980s moved them to form this sculpture garden near the very bridge Lucero once lived beneath.

Really cool place! I've never seen anything like it. Lovely to reflect on the life of Jesus here…read moreand see amazing sculpture art.

Photos
Garden of Gethsemane
Garden of Gethsemane
Garden of Gethsemane

See all

Sweetwater Preserve - hiking - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...