Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2022 and updated in 2024.
Locals can soon check out Sabino Canyon in a new light — the moonlight, to be exact — with the Sabino Canyon Crawler’s night tours.
The night tours return at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 6 and will run every Saturday through October, according to the Sabino Canyon Crawler website. The tour is 7.4 miles roundtrip and runs for about an hour. (Start times differ each month, so make sure to check your ticket before arriving!)
The Sabino Canyon Crawler typically begins its summer night tours in June, but road construction in the area delayed the start date this year.
Tickets for the tour cost $15 per adult and $8 per child, ages 3 to 12. Children under the age of 3 are free to ride. Shuttle rides sometimes sell out, so get your tickets online to guarantee your spot.
It’s important to note that the ticket prices for the shuttle do not include the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area amenity fee of $8 per vehicle.
The tour features a “special narrative program” in English and Spanish that includes historical and cultural information about Sabino Canyon, such as the canyon’s origins and details about the fauna and flora of the area.
The paint job of the new electric shuttles branded "Sabino Canyon Crawlers" during their launch at Sabino Canyon, on Nov. 9, 2019.
The Sabino Canyon Crawler is an emission-free electric shuttle that can seat up to 60 passengers. The new shuttles were implemented in the fall of 2019, according to the Arizona Daily Star.
During monsoon, the shuttle service closely monitors the Sabino Creek flow and operates “conservatively to ensure the safety of our passengers,” according to their website. This means the shuttle route may change depending on weather.
If you go
What: Sabino Canyon Crawler night tours.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturdays in July, August, September and October. Start times may differ depending on the month.
Where: Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road.
Cost: $15 per adult, $8 per child ages 3 to 12.
More info: Visit the website here.
