Oro Valley, Arizona
Top Spots in and near Oro Valley
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Tucson, Arizona
Romero Pools via Romero Canyon
4.85.52 mi / 1155 ft gainTo enter the Catalina State Park costs $7 per vehicle with up to four adults. You then drive to the trailhead parking lot. There will be a restroom and a very small shop there. From the trailhead, you almost immediately crosse Sutherland Wash, which flows seasonally. The first 1.1 miles is relati...Read more -
Tucson, Arizona
Canyon Loop Trail in Catalina State Park
2.26 mi / 180 ft gainThe Canyon Loop trail is an easy hike through the foothills that begins and ends at the Trailhead parking lot. (End of the road when you enter Catalina State Park from Oracle Rd - entrance fee required) The loop is relatively flat, although starts with a short uphill burst before leveling off. ...Read more -
Catalina Foothills, Arizona
Hike the Sabino Canyon Trail
4.7This popular trail is a paved road that crosses 9 stone bridges over Sabino Creek. The creek itself is pretty dry most of the year, but after a rain it's a wonderful place to cool off and escape from the merciless desert heat. Hikers, cyclists and equestrians alike share and enjoy the trail. Ther...Read more -
Catalina Foothills, Arizona
Hike Blackette's Ridge
5.05.84 mi / 1500 ft gainStarting from the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area you'll want to follow signs for the Bear Canyon Trail. Don't worry about how busy it seems - most of the people you see are probably only going as far as the dam or picnic areas. There is a good chance that you'll have the top all to yourself especi...Read more -
Tucson, Arizona
Seven Falls via Bear Canyon
5.08.3 mi / 917 ft gainAt the main parking lot of Sabino Canyon, there are a few different trams you can take to nearby trailheads. You have the option to either hop on a tram that will take you to the 7 Falls trailhead for $4 a person, or walk the 2 miles yourself. Once at the trailhead, signs will lead you into Bear ...Read more -
Tucson, Arizona
Mountain Bike the Desperado Loop
3.6 mi / 231 ft gainThe Desperado Loop in the Sweetwater Preserve is a great introductory mountain biking loop that is perfect for beginners, yet the Loop can also be tied into the larger Sweetwater Trail System for more advanced riders. Beginning from the parking lot, the Desperado Trail loop quickly rises to a rid...Read more -
Tucson, Arizona
Hike Tumamoc Hill
5.03 mi / 800 ft gainTumamoc Hill is urban adventuring at it's finest. Park on Anklam Road, directly across from St Mary's Hospital, and follow the other hikers and runners to the trailhead.Tumamoc Hill is a one-lane paved road, trafficked infrequently by University of Arizona employees who work on the Hill's ecology...Read more -
Mount Lemmon, Arizona
Hike Mint Springs Trail
5 mi / 2000 ft gainThis hike begins in the town of Summerhaven in Mount Lemmon, Tuscon AZ. This is after about an hour long drive up a 25 mile paved, winding road. Any car can access this trail-head easily. Once you reach Summerhaven, drive up Carter Canyon Rd. Park at the end of the road. Do not enter any private ...Read more -
Tucson, Arizona
Catch a Sunset on "A" Mountain
4.00.3 mi / 250 ft gainIn 1910 a group of University of Arizona students took local basalt rock and constructed a 160' block "A" on the east face of Sentinel Peak overlooking Tucson, giving the prominent peak its most commonly known name. Now the area is part of the 272 acre Sentinel Peak Park, and features a great net...Read more -
Tucson, Arizona
Hike to the Bowen Stone House via Bowen Trail
2.4 mi / 300 ft gainThe Tucson Mountains are home to Saguaro National Park and the Tucson Mountain Park, the latter of which is a massive 20,000 acre park that is home to huge forests of giant saguaro cacti, a wide diversity of desert wildlife, and several long-abandoned farms and ranches like the Bowen Homestead, c...Read more -
Tucson, Arizona
Bike The Loop at The Santa Cruz River Park
22 mi / 500 ft gainThe Loop is an in-development series of shared-use, hard-surface paths meant to connect all of Tucson by following the Santa Cruz River and its major tributaries. The Santa Cruz River Park contains 22 miles of The Loop (with another 40 in development) that runs along the western shore of the Sant...Read more -
Tucson, Arizona
Catch The Sunset on Gates Pass
4.0Get on E Speedway Blvd, and follow it West until it turns into W Gates Pass rd. Follow this for 3 miles and the parking lot will be at the top of the pass. There are a few viewing platforms that offer shade from the desert heat. There are numerous trails that you can follow to get whatever view y...Read more -
Mount Lemmon, Arizona
Rock Climb the Hitchcock Pinnacle
Hitchcock Pinnacle on Mount Lemmon may be the most recognizable landmark in the Santa Catalina Mountains due to its prominence over Catalina Highway and Windy Point. Ample parking is available as are bathrooms. The Pinnacle itself features several trad, sport, and top rope routes including a seri...Read more -
Tucson, Arizona
Hike the Brown Mountain Trail
4.04.2 mi / 500 ft gainI really enjoyed this hike. I recommend doing the hike as an out and back from the Kinney Road parking area. Also, the best time to hike is just before sunset. The hike is just over 4 miles total out and back with only about 500 feet of elevation gain. It has a climb at the beginning then rolls a...Read more -
Tucson, Arizona
Summit Wasson Peak
5.07.4 miThis hike starts at the King Canyon Trailhead. You'll follow the King Canyon Trail along the wash then down into the wash near the picnic area. You won't be in the wash for long before the trail will turn off to the right out of the wash. This trail is very well signed. You'll continue along King...Read more -
Tucson, Arizona
Hike the Valley View Overlook Trail in Saguaro National Park
5.00.8 miThe Valley View Overlook Trail is located in the Tucson Mountain District (which west of Tucson) of Saguaro National Park. The access to this trail is about 3 miles north from the Red Hills Visitor Center. From the visitor center travel 1.5 miles north on N. Kinney Road, then take a right on Hoh...Read more
Top Activities
Camping and Lodging in Oro Valley
Tucson, Arizona
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Cactus Ramada 1
Overview
Cactus Ramada 1 is a reservable group picnic site within the extremely popular Sabino Canyon Recreation Area at the edge of Tucs...
Tucson, Arizona
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Cactus Ramada 2
Overview
Cactus Ramada 2 is a reservable group picnic site within the extremely popular Sabino Canyon Recreation Area at the edge of Tucs...
Mount Lemmon, Arizona
Whitetail Campground
Overview
Whitetail Campground offers group campsites in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains of southeastern Arizona, 5 miles south of...
Mount Lemmon, Arizona
Showers Point Group Site
Overview
The cool shade of tall ponderosa pines and an overlook of Palisade Canyon from the campgrounds edge make Showers Point Group Sit...
Mount Lemmon, Arizona
Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin
Overview
The Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin is located within the Palisades Administrative Site in the Santa Catalina Mountains, 20 mil...
Mount Lemmon, Arizona
Rose Canyon
Overview
Rose Canyon Campground is just 17 miles northeast of Tucson, Arizona, off the Catalina Highway Scenic Drive near the summit of M...