Pima: Desert Trails, Nature and History

In Pima, trails wind through mountains and desert landscapes, while parks also offer glimpses of wildlife and the long history of human settlement. The Arizona National Scenic Trail runs through the eastern part of Pima County and through the Santa Rita Mountains, the Rincon Mountains, the Santa Catalina Mountains and Colossal Cave Mountain Park. When planning your trip, it’s worth treating the different landscapes and trails as experiences in their own right: options range from a challenging half-mile hike to extensive trail networks.

Trails Through Mountains and Desert

Tucson Mountain Park covers approximately 20,000 acres and has about 62 miles of shared, non-motorized trails. They are open to hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers. With its combination of size and varied uses, the park is an option for visitors who enjoy spending time on trails. The Loop offers a different kind of route: the paved trail is 137 miles long and designated for cyclists and pedestrians. The two options therefore differ in their stated users and the character of the trail.

The Pima County recreational trail network can be accessed from public trailheads. The region’s natural resource parks feature Sonoran Desert landscapes, diverse wildlife and historical connections. Activities available there include birdwatching, hiking and mountain biking. Environmental education programs and the opportunity to learn about the history of an old ranch complement these nature experiences. Depending on your interests, you can combine outdoor activity with nature or history.

Nature Parks with Different Stories

Colossal Cave Mountain Park covers 2,400 acres and is crossed by the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Its habitats include desert, grassland, dry caves and riparian areas. There is also evidence of more than 1,000 years of human settlement. At Agua Caliente Park, evidence of human settlement dates back about 5,500 years. Together, the two parks offer different insights into Pima’s natural and cultural history.

Agua Caliente is a 101-acre park with a year-round warm spring and a pond. Both support a diverse range of plant and animal life. The renovated 1870s ranch house contains a visitor center and an art gallery; naturalist-led walks are also offered. Paved and unpaved trails there are accessible. The park thus brings water, wildlife observation and cultural attractions together in one place.

Saguaro National Park also offers a clear geographic reference point: its two noncontiguous districts flank the city of Tucson in Pima County. The two visitor centers offer restrooms, drinking fountains, maps and staff assistance; other offerings include hiking trails, a scenic driving loop and programs. If you’d like to combine your visit with a hike or a drive, these options offer different ways to plan your day.

Culture and Local Perspectives

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is on the west side of Tucson. It borders the western part of Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain Park. The museum’s Desert Loop Trail is a challenging, half-mile hike through the Sonoran Desert. Nature enthusiasts will find a short, specific route here; be sure to take its stated challenging difficulty into account when planning.

Cultural destinations in Pima County include San Xavier del Bac Mission, a National Historic Landmark. Its historic white stucco church was completed by the Franciscans in 1797. The history of Canoa Ranch is also present: Raúl M. Grijalva Canoa Ranch Conservation Park encompasses 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 also offers its own culinary perspective. Tepary beans, chilies, squash and corn are native crops cultivated by ancient cultures; the Tohono O’odham Nation’s foodways shape an enduring culinary tradition. The Sonoran Dog Trail offers the chance to try the Sonoran dog, an iconic dish of the city.

Discover more destinations: Green Valley, Tucson, Marana, Sasabe, Oro Valley, Drexel Heights, Tortolita, Avra Valley, Ajo, Casas Adobes, Arivaca.

For the broader travel overview: Arizona.