Running
Tucson is in a desert basin circled by five mountain ranges - the Santa Catalinas and Tortolitas to the north; the Rincons to the east; the Santa Ritas to the south; and the Tucson Mountains to the west. Three national parks also lie just outside city limits: Saguaro National Parks East and West, and the Coronado National Forest in the Catalina Mountains.
Competitive runners can enjoy flat, paved routes inside the city, or head in nearly any direction for challenging mountain and hill routes. Tucson's wilderness trails vary in intensity from level tracks through native cacti, to steep scrambles up shady forest trails.
Tucson & Southern Arizona Trails
| Company Name | Phone Number |
| Apache Pass Historic Trail | (520) 847-2500 |
The trail to the ruins of Fort Bowie (3 miles round trip) winds past the remains of a Butterfield … | |
| Bog Springs Trail – Santa Rita Mountains | |
| This moderate, 5-mile (round trip) loop trail through an area of bubbling springs, green grasses, … | |
| Cactus Forest Trail – Rincon Mountains | |
| This easy, sandy and level trail (10-miles round trip) crosses the Cactus Forest Drive loop within … | |
| Carr House Nature Trail | (520) 378-0311 |
| The former ranch house in Carr Canyon is now an information center, staffed by volunteers who can … | |
| Cave Creek - Gardner Canyon Loop– Santa Rita Mountains | |
| This strenuous, long (10-mile round trip) and scenic loop on the eastern slopes of the Santa Rita … | |
| Chiricahua Mountains, Chiricahua Wilderness | (520) 364-3468 |
| The Chiricahua mountains contain both regular National Forest trails and wilderness trails. The … | |
| Chiricahua National Monument | (520) 824-3560 |
| More than 20 miles of hiking trails wind through the park, past natural bridges, startling rock … | |
| Chiva Falls | |
| 10 miles east of Tucson, 40 minutes from downtown. This is a 2–4 hour technical ride … | |
| Colossal Cave Mountain Park | (520) 647-3450 |
| There are two trails on the Ranch: the Gale W. Bundrick Trail goes into the riparian area from … | |
| Coronado Cave Trail | |
| The steep and rocky trail from the Visitor Center to the entrance of Coronado Cave requires careful … | |
| Coronado National Forest, Safford Ranger District | (928) 428-4150 |
| When you are in the Willcox area, you may want to check out some of the recreational opportunities … | |
| Coronado National Memorial | |
National Park Service, 520-366-5515 (Free) | |
| Coronado Peak Trail | |
Relatively easy trail of less than half a mile one way leads upward from the Montezuma Pass … | |
| Douglas Spring Trail – Rincon Mountains | |
| This easy hike (6-miles, round trip) is an excellent introductory hike that features a beautiful, … | |
| Finger Rock Trail | |
| North-central Tucson at the north end of Alvernon Way. A highly visible landmark in … | |
| Finger Rock Trail - Santa Catalina Mountains | |
| This strenuous hike 6-mile (round trip) starts out easy for the first mile, and then progressively … | |
| Honeybee Canyon (North) Trail – Tortolita Mountains | |
| This short, easy hike (2-mile round trip) winds along a dry riverbed, with nice views, tall cacti, … | |
| King Canyon Trail- Tucson Mountains | |
| Literally across the street from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, this moderate (6.5-mile round … | |
| Mt. Lemmon Meadow Loop - Santa Catalina Mountains | |
| This easy, 1.5-mile (round trip) loop among Mt. Lemmon's pine trees offers wonderful views of Tucson … | |
| Murray Springs Clovis Paleo-Indian Trail | (520) 458-3559 |
| This 1-mile trail goes through the site of an important archaeological discovery--some 10,000 years … | |
| Old Baldy Trail – Santa Rita Mountains | |
| This challenging and enormously popular 10-mile trek (round trip) leads to the 9,453-foot summit … | |
| Parker Canyon Lakeshore Trail | (520) 378-0311 |
| This 5-mile trail, which circles the lake, begins and ends in the patio area in front of the boat … | |
| Pima Canyon Trail | |
In north Tucson. The trailhead is at the east end of Magee Road, just past Christie Drive … | |
| Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate Historic Site Interpretive Trail | (520) 458-3559 |
| The 1.2 mile hike from the parking area will take you to the ruins of a Spanish presidio in use … | |
| Reef Townsite | (520) 378-0311 |
| The Reef townsite was a mining camp active from the 1880s to the early 1900s when miners sought … | |
| Rillito River Park Trail | |
This trail winds through the city along the Rillito riverbed. | |
| Rincon Peak: Miller Peak Trail – Rincon Mountains | |
| A strenuous, lengthy hike (16-mile round trip) in a remote location ending at one of the best summits … | |
| Romero Pools Trail - Santa Catalina Mountains | |
| This moderate, 5.5-mile hike (round trip) to Romero Pools, in Catalina State Park north of Tucson, … | |
| San Pedro House Interpretive Loop | (520) 458-3559 |
This short interpretive loop trail begins at the San Pedro House, a historic ranch house restored … | |
| Santa Cruz River Park Trail | |
| This mostly flat route follows the banks of the normally dry Santa Cruz River west of downtown. … | |
| Starr Pass | |
| 6 miles west of Tucson, 15 minutes from downtown. Take St. Mary’s Rd. west for an intermediate … | |
| Starr Pass Trail- Tucson Mountains | |
| The Richard Genser Starr Pass Trailhead begins near Starr Pass Resort and is the primary trailhead … | |
| Stronghold Nature Trail | |
Cochise Stronghold, Dragoon Mountains 520-364-3468 Day use fee, $3, Camping, $10.? | |
| Tanque Verde Ridge – Rincon Mountains | |
| This is a strenuous, 18-mile round-trip hike through pristine Sonoran Desert landscape with tremendous … | |
| The Arizona Trail | |
| The Arizona Trail is an 800+ mile recreation trail from Mexico to Utah that connects mountain ranges, … | |
| The Crest Trail | |
This trail, beginning near the Montezuma Pass parking area (6576 ft.), goes 5.3 miles one … | |
| The Grand Central Mill Trail | (520) 458-3559 |
| This 1 1/2 mile hike from the ghost town of Fairbank to the ruins of the Grand Central Mill follows … | |
| Tumamoc Hill – Tucson Mountains | |
| This easy hike (3.1-mile round trip) up a well-paved hill offers fantastic views of the city as … | |
| Valley View Overlook Trail - Tucson Mountains | |
| An easy family hike (.076-mile round trip) within Saguaro National Park West that reaches a ridge … | |
| Ventana Canyon Trail – Santa Catalina Mountains | |
| This challenging, 6.4-mile hike begins at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort and follows a rugged, steep … | |
| Wild Burro Trail – Tortolita Mountains | |
| Located next to the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain Resort, this trail is the gateway to a larger network … | |
| Yetman Trail- Tucson Mountains | |
| This moderate (12-mile round trip) hike passes through varied Sonoran Desert terrain in Tucson … |
