I recently found that this is s great place to pick up the bike/walking trail. The trail is very…read morewell maintained and appears to have memorials along the path (I'm guessing from donors?). I've been several times and have had mostly good experiences. There are the occasional homeless folks who walk/live in park or in wash along path but they've not bothered me. It still seems relatively safe because you're very close to major roads but not so close you're getting exhaust from cars. The only other thing I don't love is the religious folks who sit near parking lot. I don't want to be solicited for anything in a public park but maybe it's a good place for recruitment. Otherwise I'll be back every week to get me and my pup some mileage!

Nice park with a sizable parking lot....It has a nice playscape and covered picnic area. I came to…read morebike the Rialto River Trail, which is nice and wide. Many bikers do not follow proper passing etiquette though, so be careful! I rode six miles and it was a good workout. There were some hills that had me a bit red in the face, sad but true. Along the river trail you will see hummingbirds, lizards and quail, which made it even more fantastic. You will not see water though...the river is dry, dry-like the desert. Speaking of which, bring water. You will pass bathrooms along the 12 mile (24 mile round trip) trail. I had a hard time following the trail, it must take a jog or something...what can I say, clearly, I am new to this.

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.

This place has always been my go to place. I love the absolutely scenery and the view when you get…read moreto the top. This place has also some parking spots where they have a nice view and you can also walk as well to the rock place.. been coming over 4 yrs now and love when it's sunset it's a beautiful view of it. All the way to the top it's a resort when winter comes you can ski, also camping place or walking trail and picnic area as well. Pets is allowed as well. It's a must go...

Reid Park is a great place to go for some fresh air, space to roam, and to connect with nature…read more The tall trees grow around the duck ponds, which is filled with a variety of birds. Check out the fountain, the kids play area, picnic ramadas, and the center fountain. There is plenty of room to plop for a picnic or paint sesh.

Despite the recent influx of homeless people in the park and what seems to be a lack of leadership…read moreaddressing the issue, I still find the path to be relatively safe overall. You do occasionally run across people sleeping along the trail and some unpleasant situations, but the loop itself is still enjoyable. It's about a nice 2-mile path that circles around the zoo, park, and golf course. Only a small portion of the trail is lit at night, but there are a few drinking fountains along the way. Overall it's still a decent place for a walk, bicycle or jog during the day.

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.

Came here on a night walk early June. The park is well maintained and the guides were amazing. We…read moredid 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.

I went here for a night walk in June and had an amazing time with friends! The Rangers were so…read moreknowledgeable 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.

Nice quiet place for an urban desert walk. Great to take your dog for a brisk walk, short but you…read morecan do trail repeats. For me, with walker, too difficult on the unpaved trails. I was disappointed, thought it might be more accessible. I did the paved portion twice after slogging through the natural paths. I recommend getting out to this nice little park.

This is a great little hidden park within the Tucson mountains. Lots of paved short trails that can…read morebe combined for a good workout. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the trail maps, maps are clearly available and markers to insure a safe and transitions between the paths. Accessible to the disabled. Lots of wildlife including rattlesnakes in the area so watch your step!

We hiked this trail today. It's a great trail that Pima County maintains. We enjoyed hiking this…read moretrail. I'd rate it as intermediate, there are numerous steps that add to this trails challenge. This is a dog friendly trail but please pick up any droppings. There is a marker at the beginning of the trail outlining the rules to follow.

Beautiful trail in the Tucson area; easily accessible with any vehicle and there is plenty of…read moreparking at the trailhead. The trail is dog friendly which is a huge plus! Although it starts out a little steep, it's a great trail for beginners through expert hikers. This trail gives you multiple overlooks of Tucson from the east side.

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!