Find Hiking Trails
- Take a look at some trails broken down by skill level.
- See a 360 degree view of some of the area’s best hikes.
- We also have a page listing ten of our favorite hikes around Tucson.
- You can find a map of trails in Eastern Pima County here.
- Trailvoyant, a great site with trail maps and routes can be found here.
Hiking the Mountains Around Tucson
Five mountain ranges, most of which are protected as parkland, surround Tucson and offer hundreds of miles of trails for hikers to explore. Saguaro National Park East or West offer popular hikes, or travel to Oro Valley and visit Catalina State Park. Landscapes range from sandy desert dotted with cacti to rustling groves of aspen and pine, making hiking an all-season sport in Tucson, Arizona.
- Santa Catalina Mountains to the North
- Rincon Mountains to the East
- Santa Rita Mountains to the South
- Tucson Mountains to the West
- Tortolita Mountains to the Northwest
- Arizona National Scenic Trail
Tucson Urban Trails
With weather like ours, you don’t have to get out of town to get back to the great outdoors. Tucson’s urban trails are a great way to unwind, get some exercise and soak up the sun or stars just minutes from wherever you may be in the city.
“The Loop” is an ongoing project of more than 100 car-free miles of trails around Tucson and connecting to our neighboring communities of Marana and Oro Valley. It’s great for walking, biking, skating, and even horseback riding. If it doesn’t have an engine, it’s good to go on The Loop.
This 11-mile trail winds through Tucson’s north side along the Rillito Riverbed, from Craycroft Road near mid-town nearly all the way to Interstate 10 on the city’s northwest side. Don’t worry about starting at either end—you can access the trail at lots of points along the way.
Located along the banks of the Santa Cruz Riverbed west of downtown Tucson, this flat, paved trail runs south from Grant Road to 29th Street. The trail includes a portion of the Anza National Historic Trail.
More Hiking in Southern Arizona
The Sonoran Desert and the northwestern tip of the Chihuahuan Desert both stretch into Southern Arizona, a region of hundreds of square miles that extends south to the Mexican border.
Just north of Tucson, Picacho Peak is a favorite for hikers and rock climbers, especially in spring when seas of wildflowers seem to set the ground on fire with more color than you’d ever expect in a desert.
South of Tucson, the Chiricahua Mountains, Huachuca Mountains, and Dragoon Mountains also offer some of the best hiking trails in Southern Arizona.
Hiking permits are required for some areas and can be obtained from Coronado National Forest.
Source: Visit Tucson https://www.visittucson.org/things-to-do/hiking
