Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

The world-famous Desert Museum Tucson is one of the best places to discover the animals and plants of the Sonoran Desert.

A mountain lion rests in a rocky "canyon"

It’s one of the best Arizona attractions and one of our favorite things to do in Arizona.

This is one of the spots that we always take out-of-towners to see because you can't get a better introduction to the desert and its plants and animals than here.

The Desert Museum - as its often called - combines a zoo, a botanical garden, a museum and a nature preserve all in one place.

With two miles of paths on 21 acres, the Desert Museum Tucson feels larger.

That's because its in the middle of some of the most beautiful desert in Tucson Mountain Regional Park, located on the far west side of the city.

Looking towards the Tucson Mountains from the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

Walk through the grounds and you’ll feel like you’re on a hike in the wilderness.

Gaze to the south and west for views of broad valleys and saguaro-studded mountains.

Then you’ll suddenly round a corner and enter a rocky canyon, encountering bighorn sheep sunning on a warm rock or an ocelot prowling a dry stream bed.

Bighorn sheep, like these at the Desert Museum Tucson, still roam nearby mountains

The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is not the kind of place you can get through in an hour, however.

There's so much to see that you could easily spend the entire day here.

And because it's just outside of Tucson, be sure to factor in your travel time to and from the site.

Though it takes a little extra time to get there, the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is worth it.

A coatimundi on the move in the Riparian Corridor area at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

The grounds are divided into unique habitat sections that recreate the diverse environments of the Arizona-Sonora region.

In each, you'll see animals representative of each habitat type:

River otters swim and play in a deep stream in the Riparian Corridor. Mexican wolves roam the Mountain Woodland.

There's even a tree-filled walkthrough aviary where the path follows a babbling brook.

Keep an eye out for brightly-colored orioles, cardinals and Gambel’s quail as they forage for food along the banks.

The majority of exhibits are open air and resemble natural environments that blend into the surrounding desert.

You'll see over 300 animals at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.

Besides mammals, their collection includes a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate species such as:

A western tanager in the walkthrough aviary at the Desert Museum Tucson

• gila monsters,
• rattlesnakes,
• scorpions,
• tarantulas,
• desert fish,
• hawks and owls,
• toads, frogs and turtles.

In addition to animal exhibits, there are more than 1,200 types of plants throughout the grounds.

In spring, the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is full of color as wildflowers like Mexican gold poppies, owl’s clover and Parry penstemon bloom in profusion.

Summer brings the vibrant blossoms of cacti including the brilliant yellows, oranges and pinks of barrel cactus, cholla and prickly pears and the creamy white flowers of the saguaro.

We always like to check out the lovely pollination gardens.

Each garden has flowers that attract specific pollinators - bees, butterflies, moths or hummingbirds – which we often see during our visits.

Informative displays detail the complex associations between these animals and the flowers that depend upon them for their reproduction.

Lantana and Mexican bird of paradise bushes attract clouds of butterflies to the Butterfly Garden at the Desert Museum Tucson

You can also pick up tips on which plants to put in your own garden so you can attract these important animals.

Be sure to visit the Earth Sciences Center, which showcases colorful and sparkling gems, minerals and fossils from the Sonoran Desert region.

The Desert Museum Tucson’s regional mineral collection is considered to be one of the best in the world.

A female hummingbird in the Hummingbird Aviary

Here, you have a chance to see these beautiful, jewel-colored birds up close as they feed at flowers and nectar feeders.

Seven species of hummingbirds - Costa’s, broad-billed, black-chinned, Anna’s, magnificent, rufous and broad-tailed – coexist in this walkthrough exhibit.

One spring, we were thrilled to see a female hummingbird quietly sitting on her eggs in a tiny nest made of twigs and bits of leaves and held together by spider webs.

Another one of our favorite areas at the desert Museum Tucson is the Desert Grasslands.

Be sure to spend some time at the prairie dog colony.

These active animals are always a delight to watch as they forage for food and pop in and out of their underground burrows.

Prairie dogs keep a vigilant watch on the skies in the Desert Grasslands area at the Desert Museum Tucson

Another great area is the Riparian Corridor.

These exhibits have large, underwater viewing areas where you can see the beavers, river otters and desert fishes swimming.

Be sure to walk up to the viewing platform and look through the small glass window into the "beaver’s den."

You'll see prime examples of native Sonoran Desert plants such as these saguaros, palo verdes and ocotillos on the Desert Loop Trail

This unpaved path simulates a rugged, outdoor hiking experience, allowing visitors to experience the native desert up close.

Along the way, there are coyotes, javelinas and lizards in desert exhibits that blend in with the natural surroundings.

During a walk along any of the Desert Museum Tucson’s paths, you may see wild animals that live on the grounds such as:

• collared lizards,
• swallowtail butterflies,
• cottontail rabbits,
• cactus wrens,
• antelope ground squirrels.

It's a real wildlife lover's paradise here and you never know what you might encounter. Even rattlesnakes and javelinas have been seen on the trails at the Desert Museum Tucson.

The patio at the Ironwood Terraces Restaurant at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

So, there are no services close by.

If you're like us, you'll definitely get hungry after all that walking.

We suggest having lunch at the Ironwood Terrace Restaurant.

This self-serve style grill offers pre-made wraps and salads.

You can also order hamburgers, veggie burgers, pizza and tacos at the short order grill.

There's plenty of indoor seating but, if the weather is nice, we recommend sitting out on the patio to enjoy the lovely views.

You might have a cactus wren, Harris' antelope ground squirrel or other desert wildlife stopping by your table.

Just remember, don't(!) feed the animals.

There is also fine dining at the Ocotillo Café.

Their menu features Arizona Sonora regional cuisine with elegant presentations. Hours vary seasonally; be sure to call ahead for hours of operation.

The entrance to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum's restaurants and art gallery

If you're over at the Riparian Corridor to see the beavers, stop by the Cottonwood Snack Shop for a tall, cold glass of limeade.

This favorite Southwestern drink is freshly made and is a perfect thirst quencher on a warm day. We think they have one of the best limeades we've ever had.

The snack shop also offers a variety of pastries, drinks, ice cream and other snacks.

The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum has several great gift shops with a variety of Southwestern souvenirs, books, beautiful jewelry and local handmade arts and crafts.

An art gallery has changing exhibitions throughout the year.

Much of the art work displayed is by students of the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum's Art Institute.

Keep an eye out for the trained docents who give a wide variety of guided tours, special demonstrations and live animal presentations.

Paula next to a flowering agave stalk that's past its prime at the Desert Museum Tucson

• The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is on the west side of the Tucson Mountains. It's about a 25-minute drive from downtown Tucson.
• The most direct route is via westbound Speedway Boulevard from Interstate 10 and over Gates Pass into Tucson Mountain Park.
• We recommend that you wear a hat, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes when you visit. In colder months, bring a coat, warm hat and gloves.
• Always carry a bottle of water with you while you walk the trails.
• Pets are not allowed except service animals.
• All exhibits can be reached by wheelchair.
• Picnicking is not permitted on Desert Museum Tucson grounds. There is a small picnic area outside the grounds, and picnic areas in nearby Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park West.
• There is plenty of free parking with spaces for buses and RV parking.

Location: Far west side of Tucson

Address: 2021 North Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ 85743

Phone: (520) 883-2702

Desert Museum Tucson Hours: Open every day of the year.
October - February: 8:30 am to 5 pm (no entry after 4:15 pm)

March - May: 7:30 am - 5 pm (no entry after 4:15)

June - August: Sunday - Friday 7:30 am to 2:30 pm (no entry after 1:45 pm)
Saturday 7 am to 10 pm (no entry after 9:15 pm)

September: 7:30 am - 5 pm (no entry after 4:15 pm)

Admission Fee: Changes seasonally
September through May:
Adults $14.50
Kids (6-12) $4.50

June through August:
Adults $12.00
Kids (6-12) $3.00
Summer Saturday Evenings: Admissions after 4:00 pm ONLY $7.00 for adults and $2.25 for kids 6-12.

Children 5 and under: Free all year

Desert Museum Tucson Amenities: Two restaurants:
The Ironwood Terraces is a self-serve grill open year round, 10 am - 3 pm.

The Ocotillo Café is a fine dining venue that serves Southwestern style cuisine. Open for lunch Dec-Apr and dinner on Summer Saturday Evenings Jun-Aug. Call in advance for specific days and times.

Also on site: coffee bar, snack and ice cream shop, two gift shops.

Wheelchairs and strollers are free of charge on a first come, first served basis.

Two electric scooters are available for $10 each.

Activities include:

• "Animal Keeper Walking Tour" - a behind-the-scenes tour where you can meet the animals close up,
• "Running Wild" live-animal interpretations,
• Raptor Free Flight demonstrations,
• Seasonal Hummingbird Tour.

The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum also has a wide variety of educational classes including nature tours, wildflower walks, saguaro fruit harvesting, family toadwatch, astronomy campouts and kids summer camps.

The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Art Institute offers courses in nature sketching, painting, digital photography, papermaking and origami among others.

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