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Home > Visitor > Outdoor Adventure
& Nature

Our Living Desert

Tucson plant photo 

Visitors expecting to see desolate wastelands full of sand dunes are often surprised to find our desert lush and teeming with life. Everywhere you look you'll see an amazing variety of plants and animals specially adapted to our very unique habitat. And that's just on the desert floor. A short drive up nearby Mt. Lemmon takes you through seven different eco-systems from a desert environment to Ponderosa Pine forests typical of Canada. In the spring, the desert becomes a spectacular carpet of color from flourishing wildflowers and blooming cactus.

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Learn About Our Spectacular Wildflower Season

Don't Miss
Sabino Canyon Recreational Area
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum



Featured Wildlife Partners

Icon depicts businesses that are green. Icon depicts businesses participating in our money-saving Tucson Attractions Passport - enjoy 2-for-1 offers plus other great discounts. El icono describe empresas que participan con el Centro de Convenciones y Visitantes de Tucson en los esfuerzos de mercadotecnia en Mexico. Estas empresas han sido capacitadas para mejor servir a nuestro visitante Mexicano, y procuran mantener personal que hable Español.

Icon depicts businesses that participate in the MTCVB's marketing efforts in Mexico. They have gone through special training preparing them to best service our visitors from Mexico and attempt to have a Spanish-speaking person on staff. Icon depicts golf courses with which you can book tee times electronically through our website. Good for tee times one week out. For longer range bookings, call the golf course directly. Icon depicts hotels with which you can book electronically through our website via Travelocity.
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Tohono Chul Park
Concerts in the park: seasonal; call first!

Tucson Botanical Gardens
An urban oasis of five-plus acres with 16 specialty gardens that surround visitors with beauty …

Tohono Chul Park
A scenic 49-acre desert preserve and center of nature, arts and culture. Enjoy three art galleries, …

Sabino Canyon Tours, Inc.
Experience the beauty of one of the most unique Southwestern desert canyons on a Sabino Canyon …





Upcoming Events

Butterfly Magic at the Gardens - Nov. 16 - Apr. 30  Tucson Botanical Gardens presents Arizona's only live, tropical butterfly exhibit. View colorful butterflies fluttering in a special greenhouse and help support global efforts for sustainable conservation. Call for details about after-hours photo sessions, behind-the-scenes tours and special events., (520) 326-9686.

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Birds of Tohono Chul Park Walking Tour - Nov. 21 - Dec. 22  Tohono Chul Park hosts docent-led walking tours of its grounds at 8:30 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Saturday. Participants learn to identify bird residents and those just passing through, plus information on habits and habitat. Details are at www.tohonochulpark.org., 520-742-6455.

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University Medical Center 27th El Tour de Tucson - Nov. 21  University Medical Center 27th El Tour de Tucson presented by Diamond Ventures, Tucson's renowned perimeter cycling event for all ages and abilities, features 109- 80-, 66-, 35-, 4-, and 1/4-mile courses, 9,000 riders, and a spectacular 7 a.m. start in downtown Tucson., (520) 745-2033.

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Zoo Lights - Dec. 4 - Dec. 20  Reid Park Zoo is decked out with twinkling lights, jingle bells, visits from Santa Claus, and holiday music, and refreshments on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights (Dec 4-6, Dec 10-13, Dec 17-22)., Reid Park Zoo, (520) 791-4022.

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Southern Arizona Jingle Bell Run/Walk - Dec. 5  Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis is a fun and festive way to kick off your holidays by helping others. Wear a holiday-themed costume, tie jingle bells to your shoelaces, and run/walk the 5 kilometer (3 mile) route around Reid Park Soccer Field..

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Deer in the desert - Tucson, Arizona 

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Useful Plants & Animals Links

The Nature Conservancy
Wildflowers of Tucson
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Native animals around Tucson
Arizona Watchable Wildlife Tourism Association
Tucson Botanical Gardens