The Arizona National Scenic Trail runs through the eastern part of Pima County. Its route passes through the Santa Rita Mountains, the Rincon Mountains, the Santa Catalina Mountains and Colossal Cave Mountain Park. This route offers a particularly clear view of the county’s range of landscapes.
Trails on Different Scales
Tucson Mountain Park covers approximately 20,000 acres and has about 62 miles of non-motorized, shared-use trails. They are open to hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers. The Loop offers a different kind of trail: this 137-mile paved route is intended for cyclists and pedestrians. The two figures help distinguish between different types of trails: shared-use, non-motorized trails in Tucson Mountain Park, and a paved route for bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
Pima County’s natural resource parks also offer Sonoran Desert landscapes, diverse wildlife and connections to history. Visitors can take part in environmental education programs, birdwatching, hiking and mountain biking, and learn about the history of an old ranch. The county’s recreational trail network is accessible from public trailheads. This makes it possible to focus on nature, learning or outdoor activity in different ways during a visit, without reducing them to a single route.
Habitats and Traces of Human Settlement
Colossal Cave Mountain Park covers 2,400 acres. Its habitats include desert, grassland, dry caves and riparian areas. The Arizona National Scenic Trail crosses the park; alongside it, the different habitats tell the story of a landscape that is more than just desert. The park also contains evidence of human settlement spanning more than 1,000 years.
Agua Caliente Park offers a different natural setting: its 101 acres include a warm spring that flows year-round and a pond, both of which support diverse plant and animal life. The park combines its natural features with opportunities to learn about its history. The renovated 1870s ranch house contains a visitor center and an art gallery. The park also offers walks led by naturalists, as well as accessible paved and unpaved trails.
Evidence of human settlement at Agua Caliente Park also dates back about 5,500 years. Together with the evidence at Colossal Cave Mountain Park, it offers a glimpse into the different periods associated with the county’s landscapes.
Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain Park
The two separate districts of Saguaro National Park flank the city of Tucson in Pima County. The park’s two visitor centers offer restrooms, drinking fountains, maps, hiking trails, a scenic driving loop, programs and staff to assist visitors. These points of reference complement the landscape with practical information on site.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is on Tucson’s west side, adjacent to the western district of Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain Park. The museum’s Desert Loop Trail runs for half a mile through the Sonoran Desert and is a strenuous hike. Consider the distance and difficulty together: the short distance alone does not make this an easy stroll.
History, Architecture and Tucson’s Food Culture
The San Xavier del Bac Mission in Pima County is a National Historic Landmark. Its historic white stucco church was completed by the Franciscans in 1797. Elsewhere, history meets a vast landscape: RaĂşl M. Grijalva Canoa Ranch Conservation Park covers 4,800 acres of the original San Ignacio de la Canoa Grant. Historic Canoa Ranch is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Tucson can also be explored through its culinary traditions. Tepary beans, chiles, squash and corn are native crops cultivated by ancient cultures; the foodways of the Tohono O’odham Nation are part of a living culinary tradition. The Sonoran Dog Trail offers the chance to try the Sonoran Dog, an iconic local dish. Alongside trails, nature parks and historic sites, local food culture and its traditions offer another distinct way to explore the area.
Discover more destinations: Green Valley, Tucson, Marana, Sasabe, Oro Valley, Drexel Heights, Tortolita, Avra Valley, Ajo, Casas Adobes, Arivaca.
For the main travel guide: Arizona.
