Hiking in Tucson is a very popular activity for residents and visitors alike. We are lucky to have Saguaro National Park, along with several protected areas in National Forest and State Parks. Some of the best hikes in Tucson are found at Sabino Canyon. Along with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Sabino Canyon Recreation Area is a place I recommend to anyone visiting Tucson, as it truly has something for everyone! Located at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Sabino Canyon is classic Sonoran Desert scenery.

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Sabino Canyon Crawler

If we learned anything from my Switzerland hike, it’s that I’m the laziest hiker in the world! So, a shuttle system that takes me up the mountain so I can hike back down? SOLD! The electric shuttle service launched a few years ago, and operates almost every day of the year. If you are hiking a Bear Canyon trail, there is a separate shuttle.

The Sabino Canyon Crawler takes visitors along the paved road through the park (not open to vehicles) with nine stops along the way. Your $15 ticket allows you hop-on hop-off privileges. Even serious hikers use the tram, as there are some great Tucson hikes towards the end of the road, and this shaves off over three miles of uphill hiking! In peak season, the Sabino Canyon tram leaves hourly from 9:00 to 4:00. If you just ride up and back without disembarking, the whole thing takes about 45 minutes. I recommend hopping off to at least take in the views!

In the hottest summer and fall months, they run a “Night Crawler.” This is new since I last visited, so it’s definitely something I want to do on my next trip to Tucson.

Sabino Canyon with Kids

When my sister and 4-year-old nephew visited, we took the tram to the top and then rode back down to stop #8, where there was a waterfall, a pool, and a small beach. We must have stayed for at least an hour or longer, just splashing around in the water on a hot Tucson day. My nephew had a blast jumping off rocks and watching the little schools of fish swim around. If you are looking for things to do in Tucson with kids, bring them to Sabino Canyon! Especially if there’s water to play in. After we had enough splash time, we jumped on the next shuttle back to the visitor’s center and headed downtown to find the best ice cream in Tucson.

Don’t hit the trail without these hiking essentials!

Seven Falls Tucson

One of the best hikes in Tucson is the Seven Falls trail. The Seven Falls Tucson hike is 4.3 miles each way, but you can take the Bear Canyon tram to shave off two miles of road walking to the trailhead, each way. The Bear Canyon tram ticket is separate from the Sabino Canyon tram. It costs $6, and high season departures are every 30 minutes from 9:15 to 4:15. The Seven Falls trail has seven stream crossings before you reach the falls. Water is seasonal, but be prepared to have wet feet if there’s been rain or snow at higher elevations. In early spring 2019, after heavy rains, the crossings were hip-deep. It’s always a good idea to check at the ranger station before setting out.

Southwest Obsessed has 14 other hikes to waterfalls in Arizona!

Coleman Concierge has a great post about Romero Pools at Catalina State Park, my other favorite Tucson hike!

Sabino Canyon Hiking Trails

If Seven Falls is not an option, there are still plenty of other Sabino Canyon trails for hikers of all levels.  What’s nice is that the trails are all well-marked at each intersection, and with so many trail crossings, you can weave together a loop hike of any length. Here are some of the best Tucson hiking trails to be found at Sabino Canyon.

• Esperero / Rattlesnake Trails – from the visitor’s center, take Esperero Trail 1 mile to the Rattlesnake Trail. After .4 miles, you’ll intersect the road, where you can walk back or cross the creek and continue down the Sabino Creek trail. I did this for a 4-mile loop recently, and you end up at Sabino dam.
• Phoneline Trail – 4 miles one way – an alternate to the road walk, you can hike down from tram stop #9, or take on the challenge of 8 miles round trip.
• Blackett’s Ridge Trail – one of the more challenging trails in Sabino Canyon, the total hike is about seven miles, with over 1600′ elevation gain. You can shave off 3 miles using the Bear Canyon tram.
• Sabino Canyon Road Walk – you don’t even have to leave the pavement to enjoy Sabino Canyon. You can walk the entire road up to tram stop #9 and back down, for a 7-mile round trip workout.

Book a Guided Hike of Sabino Canyon

Sabino Canyon Visitor Center

As part of the National Park Service, Sabino Canyon has a nice visitor’s center and a gift shop. The Visitor Center has archaeological and anthropological exhibits detailing the history and ecology of the canyon. It’s fairly small, so it’s quick to stroll through. The gift shop/bookstore is managed by the Public Lands Interpretive Association, and your purchases will help support educational programs and presentations.

Sabino Canyon Special Events

The Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists hold special events at Sabino Canyon, such as interpretive nature walks, wildflower hikes, and story time for kids. The old Sabino Canyon tram had special night hours in the summer, but it remains to be seen if the new shuttle company will offer these night rides.

Sabino Canyon Tips

• An $8 day-use fee is required at Sabino Canyon. The National Parks pass is also accepted, and you’ll need to leave it on your dashboard in the parking lot.
• As part of the Coronado National Forest, no dogs are allowed at Sabino Canyon. (For dog-friendly hikes in Tucson, check out my article at GoPetFriendly.com!)
• Bicycling is allowed only before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m., but no cycling is allowed on Wednesdays or Saturdays.
• For more information, check out the Coronado National Forest Website.

Check out my list of over 50 things to do in Tucson, Arizona!