Photos: Water fills the desert at these spots around Tucson
- Rick Wiley
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
- Updated
Tucson has a number of places where you can find water throughout the year. Take the picnic blanket or plan a stroll along these local lakes, rivers and ponds. – Johanna Willett
Sweetwater Wetlands, 2511 W. Sweetwater Drive, has several observation decks and more than 2 miles of pathway winding through the facility.
Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E. Roger Road, is named for the warm spring that historically filled the area’s manmade ponds.
There are two stretches of the Santa Cruz River in Tucson where you’re likely to see water. One is just south of downtown and the other is near Crossroads at Silverbell District Park in Marana. Both flow along stretches of the Loop thanks to the release of reclaimed water, or effluent.
Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, is midtown’s urban oasis. This park (and home of the Reid Park Zoo) has water features that include a giant pond, fountain, plenty of ducks and a waterfall to create that peaceful bubbling brook vibe.
Silverbell Lake at Christopher Columbus Park, 4600 N. Silverbell Road, is 13 acres and allows both fishing and non-motorized boating.
Sahuarita Lake, 15466 S. Rancho Sahuarita Blvd., is popular with anglers, boaters and those who walk or run along its mile-long lakeside path.
Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, 8201 E. Stella Road, allows non-motorized boats. The lake, which has a walking trail, is stocked with catfish, trout, bass and sunfish.
Lakeside Park, Tucson
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A father fishes with his two sons at Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, 8201 E. Stella Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 17, 2020. Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, an urban lake on the southeast side of town, is a popular spot for walking and fishing. The lake is stocked with catfish, trout, bass and sunfish.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily StarLakeside Park, Tucson
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A duck runs on water at Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, 8201 E. Stella Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 17, 2020. Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, an urban lake on the southeast side of town, is a popular spot for walking and fishing.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily StarLakeside Park, Tucson
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While fishing with family members, Jose Saenz places a caught rainbow trout in a basket at Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, 8201 E. Stella Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 17, 2020. Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, an urban lake on the southeast side of town, is a popular spot for walking and fishing. The lake is stocked with catfish, trout, bass and sunfish.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily StarLakeside Park, Tucson
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A fisherman waits for a fish to bite their lure at Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, 8201 E. Stella Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 17, 2020. Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, an urban lake on the southeast side of town, is a popular spot for walking and fishing.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily StarLakeside Park, Tucson
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The reflection of Chuck Ford Lake shows in avid fisherman Richard Espinoza's sunglasses while Espinoza fishes for trout at Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, 8201 E. Stella Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 17, 2020. Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, an urban lake on the southeast side of town, is a popular spot for walking and fishing. The lake is stocked with catfish, trout, bass and sunfish.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily StarLakeside Park, Tucson
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A person walks around the lake at Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, 8201 E. Stella Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 17, 2020. Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, an urban lake on the southeast side of town, is a popular spot for walking and fishing.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily StarLakeside Park, Tucson
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While fishing with her family, Aziza Ramirez waits for a fish to bite her lure at Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, 8201 E. Stella Rd., in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 17, 2020. Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, an urban lake on the southeast side of town, is a popular spot for walking and fishing.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily StarAgua Caliente Park, Tucson
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Several resident ducks ply the waters of the main pond as sun sets at Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, Ariz., November 17, 2020. The park is one of the most popular bird watching sites in the county.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarAgua Caliente Park, Tucson
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Park goers stop for photos of a pack of javalina roaming the park just before sunset at Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, Ariz., November 17, 2020.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarAgua Caliente Park, Tucson
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A pack of javalina rush for the trees after getting spooked while nosing around the lawn for food at Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, Ariz., November 17, 2020.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarAgua Caliente Park, Tucson
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The sun goes down and the bats come out over the main pond at Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, Ariz., November 17, 2020.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarAgua Caliente Park, Tucson
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The island in the main pond has been renovated and the bridge completely replaced at Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, Ariz., November 17, 2020.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarAgua Caliente Park, Tucson
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A park patron and his dog stroll along the paths on the shores of the main pond at Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, Ariz., November 17, 2020.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarAgua Caliente Park, Tucson
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Some of the wetland vegetation is beginning to reassert a hold after months of work to restore and renovate the main pond at Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, Ariz., November 17, 2020.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarAgua Caliente Park, Tucson
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Bernie Kanavage and Toby take a break from their evening walk on the bank of the main pond at Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, Ariz., November 17, 2020. The main pond was recently restored, a major renovation that shut the park down for months in late 2019.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarAgua Caliente Park, Tucson
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A pair of park goers get close-ups from an obliging duck along the shores of the main pond at Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, Ariz., November 17, 2020.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarAgua Caliente Park, Tucson
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Sun set over the main pond at Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, Ariz., November 17, 2020.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarSanta Cruz River, Tucson
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Water flows in the Santa Cruz River south of downtown Tucson, Ariz. on November 16, 2020. The addition of reclaimed water to the Santa Cruz River has hastened the return of wildlife.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSanta Cruz River, Tucson
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A cyclist rides along The Loop as water flows in the Santa Cruz River near the Crossroads at Silverbell District Park, in Marana, Ariz. on November 18, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSanta Cruz River, Tucson
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A heron sits by the water in the Santa Cruz River near the Crossroads at Silverbell District Park, in Marana, Ariz. on November 18, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSanta Cruz River, Tucson
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Water flows in the Santa Cruz River south of downtown Tucson, Ariz. on November 16, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSanta Cruz River, Tucson
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Water flows in the Santa Cruz River near the Crossroads at Silverbell District Park, in Marana, Ariz. on November 18, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSanta Cruz River, Tucson
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Water flows in the Santa Cruz River south of downtown Tucson, Ariz. on November 16, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSanta Cruz River, Tucson
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A Vermillion flycatcher rests on a branch along the Santa Cruz River south of downtown Tucson, Ariz. on November 16, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSanta Cruz River, Tucson
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A bird rests on a branch of a tree along the Santa Cruz River near the Crossroads at Silverbell District Park, in Marana, Ariz. on November 18, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSanta Cruz River, Tucson
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Water flows in the Santa Cruz River near the Crossroads at Silverbell District Park, in Marana, Ariz. on November 18, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSweetwater Wetlands, Tucson
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Water flows near the entrance at the Sweetwater Wetlands, 2511 W. Sweetwater Drive, in Tucson, Ariz. on November 17, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSweetwater Wetlands, Tucson
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Ducks swim in one of the bodies of water at the Sweetwater Wetlands, 2511 W. Sweetwater Drive, in Tucson, Ariz. on November 17, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSweetwater Wetlands, Tucson
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Libby Sullivan, left, and Sue Bridgemon walk along one of the trails at the Sweetwater Wetlands, 2511 W. Sweetwater Drive, in Tucson, Ariz. on November 17, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSweetwater Wetlands, Tucson
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Libby Sullivan, left, and Sue Bridgemon do some birdwatching at the Sweetwater Wetlands, 2511 W. Sweetwater Drive, in Tucson, Ariz. on November 17, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSweetwater Wetlands, Tucson
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A duck flight at Sweetwater Wetlands, 2511 W. Sweetwater Drive, in Tucson, Ariz. on November 17, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSweetwater Wetlands, Tucson
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Cattails grow near a body of water at the Sweetwater Wetlands, 2511 W. Sweetwater Drive, in Tucson, Ariz. on November 17, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSweetwater Wetlands, Tucson
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Ren Sullivan watches a group of ducks at the Sweetwater Wetlands, 2511 W. Sweetwater Drive, in Tucson, Ariz. on November 17, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSweetwater Wetlands, Tucson
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Sunlight breaks through the trees at the Sweetwater Wetlands, 2511 W. Sweetwater Drive, in Tucson, Ariz. on November 17, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarReid Park, Tucson
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James DeDitius points at ducks as he sits with caregiver Mary Figueroa on a bench next to a lake at Reid Park, on March 17, 2020.
Josh Galemore / Arizona Daily StarReid Park, Tucson
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The city's new 4.5 million gallon lake and storage basin at Randolph (now Reid) Park, Tucson, in December, 1959.
Tucson CitizenSilverbell Lake, Tucson
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The Arizona Game and Fish Department brought in 14,300 pounds of catfish from Arkansas to restock 21 lakes in the Core Community Fishing Program in Tucson and Phoenix. These catfish were dumped into Silverbell Lake on April 03, 2015.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarSilverbell Lake, Tucson
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Jim Skay fishes at Silverbell Lake, on March 13, 2020.
Josh Galemore / Arizona Daily StarSilverbell Lake, Tucson
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In this 2016 photo, Nathaniel Ortega, left, grins while his grandfather Michael Ortega helps remove a fish from his line during a fishing clinic at Silverbell Lake, located in Christopher Columbus Park at 4600 N. Silverbell Rd. in Tucson, Ariz. Nathaniel's catch was the first catfish of the day.
Alex McIntyre / For the Arizona Daily StarSahuarita Lake
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A person walks along Sahuarita Lake on March 5, 2020.
Josh Galemore / Arizona Daily StarSahuarita Lake
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Ted Moreno reels in a line while fishing at Lake Sahuarita, on March 5, 2020. Moreno, who lives in Tucson generally goes between Lake Sahuarita and Kennedy Lake to fish for trout during the fall and winter months.
Josh Galemore / Arizona Daily StarSahuarita Lake
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Sahuarita Lake in the town of Sahuarita south of Tucson is popular with anglers, walkers, cyclists and others and its waters range from dazzling blue to aquamarine depending on the light.
Doug Kreutz / Arizona Daily StarSahuarita Lake
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In this 2001 photo, Dan Hampshire works on the top designs of a 34-foot monument tower at the entrance to Rancho Sahuarita, an 8,000 home project on 2,500 acres that includes a yet-to-be-filled 10-acre lake (in background).
Aaron J. Latham / Arizona Daily StarSahuarita Lake
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In this 2013 photo, a couple walk around Sahuarita Lake Park, 15466 S. Rancho Sahuarita Blvd.
Mike Christy / Arizona Daily StarRick Wiley
Photo editor
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