6 places to take a leisurely walk in Tucson
If you're looking to run, jog or just take a nature walk, here are some spots where you can enjoy desert views while getting your steps in.
Be sure to bring water, sun protection and check weather conditions before you head out.
Greasewood Park
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Markers along the walking path at Greasewood Park, 1075 N. Greasewood Rd., display which types of desert plant life are in each area.
This park on Tucson's west side is just a few minutes from Tumamoc Hill and offers a 2.9-mile loop trail.
Greasewood Park, at 1075 N. Greasewood Road, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day and has picnic tables in case you want to stay longer to take in the views of cactuses, palo verde trees and the occasional lizard.
Gates Pass
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Gates Pass at Tucson Mountain Park. It's a popular spot to go hiking and watch the sunset.
Gates Pass at Tucson Mountain Park is known for its views at sunset, but it also has hiking trails for when the sun is still out.
To get there, take W. Gates Pass Road heading west past N. Camino De Oeste for about two and a half miles until you reach the main parking area.
Yetman Trail/Bowen House
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The stone house on the David Yetman Trail is what remains of a large house built in the 1930s by a man named Sherry Bowen, a onetime city editor at the Arizona Daily Star.
Another popular destination at Tucson Mountain Park is the Bowen House, which can be reached via a two-mile round trip on the David Yetman Trail.
The stone house was built by Sherry Bowen, a former Arizona Daily Star editor, and it became part of Tucson Mountain Park in 1983 after he and his wife Ruby moved out.
To get there, take East Speedway Blvd. past I-10 and turn south onto Camino de Osete to reach the trail head at 415 N. Camino de Oeste.
Sabino Canyon
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The Bear Canyon Trail is just one of nearly two dozen trails that can be hiked at Sabino Canyon, 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road.
Sabino Canyon offers several trails for hikers of all ages and levels of experience, along with some unbeatable views of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
The trails, picnic spots and Sabino Creek can all be reached from the recreation area at 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road.
Sweetwater Wetlands Park
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A view of the water from the one-mile trail at Sweetwater Wetlands Park on Aug. 9, 2021 during Tucson's monsoon season that brought above-average rainfall to the area.
This easy one-mile loop trail offers a different landscape view than most trails around Tucson with its turtle- and frog-filled ponds. After some decent monsoon storms, the park tends to be lush with greenery.
Sweetwater Wetlands Park, 2511 W. Sweetwater Drive, is just west of I-10 after taking Prince Road across the overpass.
Rillito River Park
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A biker on the Rillito River Park paths pedals next to the muddy waters in the channel as he heads east under the Craycroft Road bridge after an overnight monsoon storm dropped heavy rains on the north and west parts of the valley, Tucson, Ariz., July 14, 2021.
The 12-mile Rillito River path on The Loop is one of Tucson's most popular spots for joggers and bicyclists, especially during monsoon season when water may be flowing in the normally dry river.
One of the best spots to get on the path is at the Rillito River Park lot on North Campbell Ave., just south of River Road.
As featured on
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