Two days exploring Tucson and Sabino Canyon
Explore a desert oasis and enjoy Tucson’s unique food culture with this two-day itinerary featuring adventures in Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.
Day 1
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A taste of Tucson and a day at an oasis
Enjoy breakfast or brunch
Begin your day at a Tucson eatery. There are plenty of places to enjoy coffee or get brunch in one of Tucson’s districts, including Mercado, Barrio Viejo, Downtown, or Fourth Avenue. As a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Tucson is known for its unique culinary heritage. The metro area has the longest agricultural history of any city in the United States, spanning over 4,000 years. Choose one of the area's many restaurants or enjoy a farmer's market featuring heirloom ingredients.
Get oriented
Drive to Sabino Canyon Recreation Area’s visitor center to get updates on trail conditions, weather, and learn about Coronado National Forest. Stop by the Sabino Canyon store in the visitor center operated by Western National Parks for sun protection essentials. Don’t forget to fill up your water bottle. If taking the Sabino Canyon Crawler to a trailhead, be sure to purchase your tickets.
Go for a swim
Sabino Creek is one of the recreation area's key features, providing a refuge for desert wildlife. If water is running in the canyon, make the hike up to Seven Falls via the Bear Canyon Trail (8.4 miles roundtrip, or take Bear Canyon Shuttle to the Seven Falls Trailhead for a 0.25-mile hike one way). The Sabino Canyon Tour stop 6 also offers access to a popular beach area. If water is not present in the canyon, hike up the tram road (3.8 miles one way) to the top of the tram road (or take the Sabino Canyon Tour to stop 9) and then hike 4 miles along the Sabino Canyon Trail to West Fork to Hutch’s Pool, which has water year-round.
Catch a sunset and enjoy dinner
After your return hike, enjoy a famous Arizona sunset. Then, spend the night in Tucson and enjoy dinner at one of the city’s many notable restaurants, which include James Beard Award semifinalists, finalists, and winners. Tucson's culinary traditions incorporate Indigenous, Sonoran Mexican, and Spanish colonial influences. Enjoy a meal at a restaurant or, in the right season, experience one of the city's many food festivals.
Day 2
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Picnics, photography, and wildlife viewing
Look for desert wildlife
Return to Sabino Canyon in the early morning for the best chance of spotting birds or wildlife. The Sonoran Desert, part of which is protected in Sabino Canyon, is considered one of the most biodiverse in the world. Keep an eye out for desert bighorn sheep, javelina, Gila monsters, or desert tortoises as you hike along the tram road or the Dam Loop (2.5 miles). Birders will want to watch for great horned owls and many species of hummingbirds.
If you're looking for an alternate way to experience Sabino, you can also take a bike ride. Note that the park is only open to bikes on certain days and times, so do your research ahead of time.
Picnic lunch and afternoon hiking
Stop at one of the few picnic areas for lunch in the shade. If you're up for a hike with ridgeline line views, including those of Thimble Peak and Mount Lemmon, take on the challenging Phoneline Trail (9.1 mile out-and-back from visitor center) or Blackett's Ridge (5.8-mile loop). Santa Catalina Mountains surrounding Sabino are known as sky islands. Sky islands are named because the ecosystems at the top, which are very different from those in the lowlands due to the altitude, are like "islands" in a "sea" of a surrounding desert.
If you're looking for a more moderate hike, walk the 0.5-mile Sabino Canyon Walkway.
Evening photography and dark skies
Take advantage of the golden hour for photos of the sunset along the creek bed or over the Santa Catalina Mountains. Be sure to pick up a keepsake at the Sabino Canyon store in the visitor center. If you're looking for more to do and want to enjoy Tucson's dark skies, enjoy a nighttime program at nearby Saguaro National Park, or take a scenic drive to an overlook on the Catalina Highway.
Optional add-on
Saguaro National Park
To see a different side of the Sonoran Desert, spend a day in Saguaro National Park’s East District.
Visit smart
Check the time
While the recreation area is open 24/7 to hiking, the visitor center has different hours. Check for information about guided hikes, lectures, and other interpretive programs.
Take the tram
The Sabino Canyon Crawler offers the Sabino Canyon Tour, which includes a narrated tour. Both the Sabino Canyon and Bear Canyon trams provide transportation to several trailheads.
Buy a pass
Sabino Canyon offers daily and weekly passes at a self-pay and staffed station. Entrance fees support Coronado National Forest.
Be bike aware
Bikes are allowed in Sabino Canyon but only on specific hours and days. Check with staff for details about when and where you are allowed to ride.
Visit with respect
This site is on the homelands of many Indigenous peoples. Visit with respect: pack out all trash, respect wildlife, and stay on trail.
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