HOME
 HISTORY
from Spanish, & Mexican to American governments Father Kino
 DESERT CITY
Tucson, 'The Old Pueblo,' settled by Indian tribes, founded by Spanish explorers		 A CULTURAL MIX
 Indians, Mexican and Anglos make the Tucson mix		 ENJOYING THE WILDERNESS
Visit the canyons and mountains of the
Sonoran Desert		 LIFESTYLES
Living in Tucson, the outdoor life		  

 

 

 

 

 

SEE: • The Great Outdoors • Mt. Lemmon • Sabino Canyon • The Desert Museum

  

ENJOYING THE WILDERNESS

Surrounded by rugged hills and endless cactus forests, Tucson is a visual feast of desert beauty. Catch stunning sunsets over jagged peaks, explore scenic mountain trails, and hike or camp in sprawling parks. In the Sonoran Desert, every turn promises an outdoor adventure you won’t forget.

 

The Sonoran Desert, Tucson Arizona

The Sonoran desert differs from the other three North American Deserts in having mild winters; most of the area rarely experiences frost.
Unlike other North American deserts, this one enjoys mild winters, with frost rarely touching its sun-drenched landscapes.
About half of its plant life hails from tropical origins, perfectly timed to bloom and thrive during the short but vibrant
summer rainy season—making the desert a surprising burst of green and color when the rains arrive.


Gates Pass takes visitors over the mountains from the city and into the Western parks.

Two Wet Seasons

The Sonoran Desert comes alive with two bursts of moisture each year—summer monsoons and winter rains—that sustain its surprisingly lush plant and animal life. Snow in Tucson is rare, but when it does fall, even briefly, the city and surrounding foothills are transformed. Cacti and desert hills glisten under a sparkling white coat, and the normally arid landscape takes on a magical, almost other worldly beauty.

 

MONSOON

After the last traces of snow melt away, the desert settles into a long, hot summer. Relief arrives with the monsoon, usually beginning in June, when towering clouds rise from the south each afternoon, building toward dramatic thunderstorms that break the heat with flashes of lightning and heavy rain.

GREAT OUTDOORS LIVING

Horseback Riding Tucson, AZ

Hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, bird watching and more…
Getting outdoors year round.

 

 

 

Hiking, cycling and lots more
With mild weather year-round and stunning desert-to-mountain scenery, Tucson is a top destination for outdoor adventure. Hike, cycle, or climb your way through Southern Arizona’s spectacular landscapes. Ranked among the nation’s top five bicycling cities, Tucson offers over 325 miles of bike lanes and scenic trails.

Links to more information

REGIONAL PARKS
Sabino Canyon
Coronado National Forest
Saguaro National Park
Picacho Peak

HIKING
Southern Arizona Hiking Club
Ramblers Hiking Club
Tucson area hiking trails
Sierra Club

CLIMBING
Arizona Mountaineering Club
Tucson Rock Climbers

 

MOUNT LEMMON

Take a mountain journey through several climates in less than an hour — from the desert
floor to cool pine forests and alpine meadows.

Mt Lemmon, Tucson

With a summit elevation of 9,159 feet (2,792 m), Mount Lemmon is the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains.
A drive from Tucson takes you from sun-baked desert foothills through rugged canyons and pine forests to the
cool mountain air — and even a ski resort at the top.

At 8000ft, Hicking trails take visitors through dense green forest.

Mountain mosses grow on rocks and dead wood after reain.

 

SABINO CANYON

Desert Wilderness 20 minutes from Central Tucson
   
   

Educational trips are offered by the oasis providing  an opportunity to learn
about the riparian vegetation and animal life that live along the canyon creek.
Sabino Canyon Desert Tucson

Huge magnificent Saguaros dot the canyon walls and towering rock
formations rise several thousand feet from the canyon floor.

A unique oasis on the
edge of the city

Nestled in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains, just 12 miles from downtown Tucson, Sabino Canyon is one of Arizona’s most picturesque natural parks. Explore its winding hiking trails or enjoy a tram ride along the paved canyon road, crossing charming stone bridges over Sabino Creek.

 

Hiking Sabino Canyon, Tucson

Mountain lions are among the many species of wildlife in the canyon

Winter rains bring spring cactus into bloom and hikers enjoy an outing on one of the canyon trails.

Flora and Fauna

Nestled at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Sabino Canyon is teeming with wildlife. Gray foxes, white-tailed deer, black-tailed jackrabbits, coyotes, bobcats, and even mountain lions roam the area.

You’ll also find javelinas, squirrels, gophers, and a variety of birds, including vermilion flycatchers, gray hawks, ravens, Gila woodpeckers, and northern cardinals.


Reptiles are equally diverse, with sightings possible of zebra-tailed lizards, desert spiny lizards, desert tortoises, Gila monsters, and venomous rattlesnakes.


Amid the canyon’s dramatic rock formations, towering walls, and seasonal waterfalls, the plant life is striking. Mighty saguaros, cottonwoods, jumping cholla cacti, desert night-blooming cereus, and alligator junipers thrive in this unique desert environment.
   

THE SORAN DESERT MUSEUM…
Tucson's museum of desert wonders

Sonoran Desert Museum Tucson


The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all within a short drive west of Tucson.		  
 

Getting to know the locals

Getting close to desert animals, the museum features wildlife sessions daily.

Owl, Sonoran Desert Museum Tucsom

The museum offers classes, tours, and special educational programs throughout the year,
a great way to experience up-close.

Wildlife, Sonoran Desert Museum Tucson and engaging encounters with Sonoran Desert plants, animals, minerals, and more.

At the Sonoran Desert Museum, you can immerse yourself in the beauty and diversity of one of North America’s most remarkable deserts. Explore extensive exhibits filled with the plants, animals, and birds that call the northern Sonoran Desert home, and experience the desert like never before.

Find Out More-the study and preservation of native Sonoran Desert plants as part of the museum's program. For the visitor this is a chance to study plants and animals close up.

 



 

 

 Cactus, Sonoran Desert Museum Tucson

GETTING AWAY

Wide open spaces offer the opportunity to truly be alone in a desert wilderness.