Parks and the outdoors in Tucson

14 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Tucson.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

See
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
More like Biosphere II than a walled institution, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is part zoo, part natural history museum and part botanical garden all in one Tucson attraction. From tarantulas to black bears, coyotes to scorpions, the museum-zoo is an entrancing and full-contact tribute to the Sonoran desert's wildlife (the wire fences are nearly invisible and the hummingbirds in the buzzing, walk-in aviary seem to think you are the attraction). Give yourself time to soak in the Southwest splendor and if time is all you have, the Museum is also on the fringes of Saguaro National Park, home to the world's largest forests of Saguaro cacti.
Oct-Feb 8:30AM-5PM, Mar-Sep 7:30AM-5PM$14.50/adult, $5/child (Sep-May); $12/adult, $4/child Jun-Aug
Do
Catalina State Park
On the northwestern edge of the Santa Catalina Mountains, this park covers 5,500 acres (2,200 hectares) and has eight multi-use trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, of varying difficulty. Other popular activities include picnicking, wildlife viewing and birdwatching, with over 170 avian species identified in the park. A small shop at the visitor center carries such items as snack, water, sunscreen, maps, and books.
Daily 8AM-5PM (visitor center)$7 (vehicle w/1-4 adults), $3 (individual/bicycle)
See
Colossal Cave Mountain Park
A "dry" cave with 3½ miles of mapped passageways. The cave was used by pre-Columbian Native Americans, and rediscovered in 1879. Also on park grounds are a cowboy ranch museum, a butterfly garden, horseback trails, and picnic and camping facilities.
Daily 8AM-5PM, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas; tours hourly, last tour at 4PMPark: $5 (auto), $1 (bicycle); cave: $16 (adults), $9 (children 5-12)
Do
Funtasticks Family Fun Park
Park with different activities such as waterslides, bumper boats, go-karts, minigolf and arcade games. It has a fast food restaurant.
Do
Golf N'Stuff
Another park with activities including minigolf, bumper boats, go-karts, laser tag, and arcade games.
See
Old Tucson Studios
Ever notice that Hollywood's Old West, the backdrop for the gun-slinging and cryptic comments of Hollywood's Western icons – Wayne, Eastwood, Douglas and Newman – has much in common with the Wild West of today's Tombstone and Geronimo? They've all been filmed at the Old Tucson Studios, which were built in 1939 for the making of the William Holden film Arizona. Still an active film, TV and commercial set, it's also a nostalgia-themed park, with main drag shootouts, corseted can-can dancers, educational shows, pre-Prohibition saloons, restaurants, and gift shops.
Buy
Park Place
The mall is anchored by Dillard's, Macy's, and Old Navy. It also has a Cinemark movie theater.
Mon-Sat 10AM-9PM, Sun 11AM-6PM
Eat
Pat's Chili Dogs
An old time drive-in (carhop service however does not exist – you must walk up to the order window). Lunchtime is packed with Tucsonans ordering chili and cheese dogs in the state. French fries made from fresh potatoes on site, with lots of hot sauce.
Sun noon-9PM, Mon-Thu 11AM-9PM, Fri Sat 11AM-10PM
See
Reid Park Zoo
Cares for more than 500 animals. The zoo has a state-of-the-art facility for treating cancers with radiation and heat therapy, and treats animal patients from zoos all over the country.
Jun-Aug: daily 8AM-3PM, Sep-May: 9AM-4PMAdult $9, senior $7, child 2-14 $5
See
Tohono Chul Park
"Tohono chul" means "desert corner" in the Tohono O'Odham's (desert people's) language, and this haven in the midst of Tucson's burgeoning north side offers a tea room, gift shop, bookstore, and art gallery in the middle of trails and gardens. There are extensive botanical exhibits explaining the native plants, and a wonderful plant-sale area in which to buy them for your own garden. Many kinds of desert birds are frequent visitors.
Buy
Trail Dust Town
This unusual shopping center is on an unfinished western movie set, and in addition to shops has a number of tourist attractions. These include a 1954 Allan Herschell carousel, a narrow-gauge railroad, and a military museum.
Daily 8AM-11PM (courtyard); shop hrs vary
See
Tucson Botanical Gardens
This beautiful oasis in the heart of Tucson was the home of Bernice and Rutger Porter. Dating to the 1920s, the earliest buildings on the property were constructed of adobe bricks made right on site. True to the vision of Mrs. Porter, Tucson Botanical Gardens is a place of beauty, inspiration and education about the natural world.
Sat-Wed 8:30AM - 4:30PM, Thu Fri 8:30AM - 8PMAdult $15; student, senior 62+, or military $13, child 4-17 $8, child under 4 years free
Do
Tucson Mountain Park
This minor mountain range to the southwest of the city has an excellent trail network for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. The park has many healthy stands of saguaros. The higher-elevation trails provide beautiful views, and are a popular place to photograph sunsets.
Free
See Not mapped
Tram Tour
As the grounds are so large, a tour tram is offered for those who do not wish to walk. The guided tour lasts one hour and covers 1½ miles and more than 150 planes. Departure times vary, so it is best to call ahead or inquire at the entrance.
Price is in addition to museum admission: $6 (adults), free (children under 6)

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Tucson (CC BY-SA 4.0).