Sabino Canyon, Tucson

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Can't think of a more lovely way to spend family vacation than taking the tram up into Sabino Canyon and then hiking down. Highly recommend bringing a picnic basket full of goodies and making an afternoon of it. The tempature is a little chilly in January, but it was still a wonderful outing.

This is a recreational area in the northeast part of Tucson. I didn't get a chance to spend a lot of time here. The environment is like that of Saguaro National Park, but it's a little more developed. There are paved roads and many of the hiking trails are adjacent to it (at least the ones that are close to the visitor's center). There is a $5 entrance fee, but if you want to take the shuttle deeper into the park (you can't drive) there is an additional fee. Apparantly there are some small waterfalls deeper into the park, but we didn't get a chance to see them.

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This is something to see. There is a tram that will take you to the top and back if you choose. It stops along the way, so you can get on and off whenever you like. On the way up, there is a guided tour, and the tram stops and waits at the top so that the riders can take their pictures. We rode the tram all the way to the top, took our pictures, and then rode it part of the way back down, getting off to walk the rest of the way down. The path we walked had a lot of different kinds of plants, including mistle toe ;-)

There were also people there who were, despite the heat, jogging, riding bikes, and setting up picnics along the path. Our tour guide warned that there had been mountain lion sightings within the past year, and they give you instructions for what to do in case you meet one, but I don't think it was too serious of a problem.

On the outkirts of Tucson lies this wonderful state park. You can hike though many different trails on the hills that rise above the canyon and it's beautiful river.

We chose to take the guided tour up, and found out a lot of interesting facts about the area. The ride down is silent so we decided to hike down along the river and it was beautiful.

I was jealous of the people running up the trail though, I wish I could do that. There were a lot of people here, so it's best to get there early so you can get tickets for the tour before they sell out, and so you don't get the worst heat of the day.

We explored Sabino Canyon on my last day in Tucson. It was 94 degrees in the shade and AT LEAST 106 in the direct sun but since it was such a dry heat I didn't mind it too much.

It was a bit disconcerting that they were so adament about their mountain lion warnings at the beginning of the tour, but I guess they had experienced an attack (and resulting death) the week before, so there was good reason.

The canyon was a great way to see and experience the desert as well as learn a bit of history on the tram ride. You can take the tram to any of 9 stops and walk whichever portion of the trail you'd like. It is very convenient for tourists of all abilities.

The desert was full of color during my visit due to the fact it had received a great amount of rain during the winter (unusual here), which was stored and exhibited in the plantlife during the late spring. Normally this desert receives its rain during the summer and it evaporates quickly due to the heat. The cool winter weather allowed the water to be stored in greater amounts.

Sabino Canyon is a pretty spot for hiking, walking or just taking a tram ride through the beautiful scenery. It's possible to ride to the top and walk back or hop on the tram at one of 9 stops. Most tourists to Tucson make this one of their visits.

The Sabino Canyon is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg in regards to the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Coronado National Forest. "In the eastern foothills of the Santa Catalina mountain range, Sabino Canyon is a world of natural beauty. Stunning vistas, the freshness of the morning air, the tranquility of running creek water, and the rugged backdrop of Thimble Peak. . .make this place so unique." Friends of Sabino Canyon


This was a great area, I wish I had more than a few hours to be there. I took the express visit with a group of customers, where you are herded onto a cattle car [tram] and whisked up the canyon road , pausing only to stop for literally just a few seconds at the 9 drop/pickup points. The tram driver we had was a well-seasoned chap who really didn't like people slowing him down or getting in his way. The paved road is solely for trams and park vehicles, and is barely wide enough at that so when a walker was crossing a bridge that the tram needed to cross the driver didn't like to wait. He would even berate you over the PA, and once rolling again he would continue to mumble under his breath. It would have been funny but he was pretty harsh.

Needless to say, my pictures were taken from a moving vehicle on a curving, twisting, turning, winding, rising, falling canyon road, so they're not the best. The tram trip leaves much to desire, and I suggest making a day of it and hiking the trails.

Sabino Canyon is another spectacular location for hiking, horseback riding, and bird watching. The creek at the bottom of the canyon flows nearly year-round, supporting an abundance of plant and animal life. It is not uncommon to spy a bobcat, deer, or the elusive Mountain Lion drinking from the creek, escaping the arid desert climate beneath the willow and cottonwood trees that grow along the gentle trickle of water. For scenic views of the Area, hop on a shuttle bus, which conduct 45 minute narrated tours. For those wanting to learn more about archeology, a nonprofit group researching the Sabino Canyon ruin offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about excavation and analysis of ancient sites, and conducts training programs and tours around the 1000 year old Hohokam settlement.