Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, Tucson AZ

People will hike for miles to find a deep pool carved out in a slickrock canyon or that even rarer treat - a waterfall in the desert.

Tucson residents know they’re lucky to have both right in their own backyard at Sabino Canyon Recreation Area - one of the most beautiful desert canyons in southern Arizona.

The canyon’s special beauty and sense of seclusion has made it one of the most popular Tucson hiking spots.

This jewel of the Arizona desert lies at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains - an area of classic Sonoran Desert with rocky hills, giant saguaros, prickly pear cactus and green-barked palo verde trees.

The Santa Catalina Mountains tower behind blooming barrel cactus at the base of the canyon

The centerpiece of the area is Sabino Canyon Creek.

This perennial stream flows the length of the canyon, tumbling down from Mount Lemmon, 6,000 feet above, through spectacular, steep-sided rock walls.

Actually, there are two creeks in the 2,800-acre recreation area – Sabino Creek and Bear Creek, which runs through Bear Canyon.

Each stream flows down its namesake canyon for nine to eleven months out of the year.

Only at the driest times does the water disappear below the surface.

The presence of water allows a lush riparian plant community to flourish alongside the creeks, attracting many animals.

After heavy winter or summer rains, large water flows rush down the creeks from the mountains above, creating ephemeral waterfalls and pools.

These pools have long been popular, natural swimming holes for the locals.

However, in the summer of 2003, the devastating 85,000-acre Aspen Fire burned across much of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

Pools form in the rocky clefts of Sabino Creek

The subsequent erosion and the huge July 31, 2006 flash flood washed masses of debris – on the order of thousands of tons – down the canyon and silted in most of the pools, leaving them but shallow remnants of their former selves.

While Tucsonans lament the change to favorite swimming spots such as Hutch’s Pool, The Crack, Anderson Dam, Sabino Dam and Seven Falls, water still flows through the canyon and it is still worth visiting.

An oasis such as Sabino is rare in the desert. As development has increased in Arizona, the canyon has become even more special.

Winter is one of the best times to visit the canyon. The cool air makes a perfect hiking environment and a golden light washes over the canyon’s walls.

Keep an eye out for Tucson’s real "snowbirds" like black-tailed gnatcatchers, black-chinned sparrows and rufous-crowned sparrows.

Sabino’s combination of year-round water, amazing views and lush desert and riparian habitat makes it one of the most beautiful spots for hiking and wildlife watching in Arizona.

The shuttle at the base of the road

These canyons are surrounded by the 56,933-acre Pusch Ridge Wilderness, creating a significant area of open space that is home to an amazing diversity of plants and animals.

There are numerous interconnecting trails and picnic sites between the two canyons and the surrounding ridgelines.

An extensive system of interconnecting trails gives you a variety of hiking options.

You can take a just short hike along Sabino Creek.

Or, you can create your own outdoor adventure by spending an entire day crisscrossing the canyons and hiking up into the high country.

Both canyons are closed to private vehicles, so the only way to see them is by hiking, biking (at designated days and times) and by shuttle bus.

The Sabino Canyon hiking trails are too numerous to mention all of them here. So, we’ve listed a few of the highlights.

Upper Sabino Canyon Road

This is the main trail through the canyon, which is actually a 3.8-mile, mostly level, paved road.

Yes, this is the most popular Sabino Canyon trail and gets the most visitors. And, it can get quite busy during the winter tourist season.

However, we think it’s worth braving potential crowds for its gorgeous views, access to Sabino Creek and good birding and wildlife watching.

The Sabino Canyon shuttle crosses one of the flooded bridges

Much of the road is an easy to moderate walk. The road gradually climbs from 2,800 to 3,300 feet, crossing the creek over nine stone bridges.

After heavy rains, water spills over the bridges, which were designed for just such an event.

At the 3.5-mile mark, the road begins to climb dramatically to its end. This section can be a difficult walk for some people.

For those who don’t want to walk, you can take the Sabino Canyon Tram – a narrated shuttle bus tour.

There are nine shuttle stops along the 3.8 mile road.

You can get off at any point along the way and catch the tram later.

When the tram reaches the top, it turns around and returns the way it came.

Whether you hike, bike or ride, Upper Sabino Canyon Road makes a great outing for people of all ages and levels of ability.

Bear Canyon Road

This is the other paved road in the recreation area.

Tall, many armed saguaro cactus are a feature of both canyons

It too is a relatively easy, 1.6-mile walk through Lower Sabino Canyon, ending at the Bear Creek Overlook.

Bear Canyon also has a non-narrated, 2-mile shuttle bus ride that travels to the Upper Bear Canyon / Seven Falls trailhead.

This is the jumping off point to the Bear Canyon Trail.

This moderate, scenic hike up Bear Canyon goes to the popular and beautiful pools of the Seven Falls area - 2¼-miles up into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness.

When there have been sufficient rains, water spills over the rocky cliffs, creating the "Seven Falls" for which the trailhead is named.

Beyond Seven Falls, the Bear Canyon Trail climbs up steep grades with occasional switchbacks and dramatic drop-offs.

Sabino Canyon Nature Trail

If you’re new to the Sonoran Desert, you might want to start on the Nature Trail.

This easy hike is a level 0.5-mile path that begins right outside the visitor center.

The trail winds through desert foothill vegetation and has signs identifying the commonly seen plants such as ocotillos, barrel cactus and creosote bush.

Sabino Creek Trail and Sabino Dam Trail

These two Sabino Canyon hiking trails allow you to explore Sabino Creek up close.

Sabino Dam has long been a popular swimming spot in the canyon

You can hike either one, or combine them for a longer excursion.

The Sabino Creek Trail begins off the Upper Canyon Road, just below Tram Stop #1.

It is an easy 0.6-mile path that’s well shaded by the tall cottonwood and sycamore trees.

You’ll be in the heart of Sabino’s riparian habitat.

Be prepared for getting your feet wet as the trail crosses the creek several times.

This trail ends at the junction of the Bluff, Sabino Dam and Sabino Lake trails.

From here, continue on by taking the 0.3-mile Sabino Dam Trail.

Unusual rock formations dot the canyon’s walls

This path follows the creek all the way down to Sabino Lake.

The Sabino Dam Trail is classified as a moderate path due to occasional deep sand and loose rocks.

However, there are many nice spots for picnicking along the trail and kids will enjoy playing in the water.

Sabino Lake is a great birding spot.

Much of the lake has filled in with willow trees, attracting riparian birds such as Bell’s vireo, hooded oriole, Lucy’s warbler and ruby-crowned kinglet, depending upon the season.

Phoneline Trail

As you might have guessed, the Phoneline Trail gets its name from a long abandoned telephone line that once ran up the canyon.

The moderate, 4.2-mile trail climbs up 1,000 feet, hugging the east canyon wall above the Upper Canyon Road.

From up here, you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the canyon, looking hundreds of feet down on the hikers below.

Looking up to the Phoneline Trail, which runs along the base of the rock.

Sabino Creek looks like a long, green velvet ribbon.

Above you tower stands of giant saguaro cactus clinging to the rocky slopes.

This trail also passes through patches of semidesert grassland.

If you start the trail at the bridge at Bear Canyon, it’s a moderate climb initially, gaining almost full ascent in a little over a half mile from the trailhead near the junction with Blackett’s Ridge Trail.

Thereafter, it’s a mostly level hike.

Once at the top of the canyon, you can hike back down Upper Sabino Canyon Road, to make a loop.

You can also start the trail via a footpath that leads from the visitor center.

Much of the canyon is classic Sonoran Desert

Along its perennial stream are riparian woodland and mesquite bosque (pronounced "boss-KAY").

The canyon has an incredible diversity of plants.

Sonoran Desert scrub habitat holds the tall, many-armed saguaro cactus, jojoba bushes, barrel cactus and teddy bear cholla.

Higher up on the shadiest slopes of the canyon’s walls are semidesert grasslands.

In addition to the clumps of native grasses, there is also white sagebrush, catclaw acacias and spiky, stick-like ocotillos with their lipstick-red flowers.

Century plant, yucca, sotol and bear grass add to this habitat’s distinctive character.

Hidden away on the ridgetops in a few shady groves is Madrean evergreen woodland.

In the United States, this plant community is found only on the mountains of southeastern Arizona.

Large trees like this Fremont cottonwood grow along the banks of Sabino Creek

These "sky islands" of woodland are far northern outposts of this habitat’s origins in Mexico’s Sierra Madre Occidental.

Mexican blue oak and the Emory oak dominate this ridgetop woodland area where there is greater rainfall and lower temperatures.

Mesquite bosques grow on the stream terraces, close enough to water yet out of the way of frequent flooding.

The velvet mesquite trees here are beautiful, graceful trees with feathery leaves and dark, rough bark.

They provide a home for tree lizards.

Mesquite’s sweet pods and nutritious seeds are an important food for antelope ground squirrels and desert cottontail rabbits.

The year-round streams of Sabino Creek and Bear Creek support large trees such as the Fremont cottonwood, Arizona sycamore, velvet ash and Arizona walnut.

This riparian habitat, in turn, attracts a wide variety of animals.

Although the canyon is a high use area – it is a real favorite with local walkers and joggers - Arizona wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent.

Roadrunners are one of the more commonly seen birds at the canyon (Photo: Courtesy of the Arizona Game and Fish Department)

Most of the animals are accustomed to people and there is no hunting here. So, you have a good chance of seeing wildlife on all but the busiest days.

Sabino Canyon is, of course, a birder’s delight.

This is a great place to take beginning birders because, with a little patience, you’re just about guaranteed to see something.

We almost always spot a greater roadrunner foraging for food around the Sabino Canyon visitors center at the canyon entrance.

Depending on the season, commonly seen Arizona bird species include:

• northern cardinals, pyrrhuloxias and phainopeplas,
• Gambel’s quail, curve-billed thrasher and Gila woodpecker along the desert floor,
• cactus, rock, canyon and Bewick’s wren in the canyon,
• Lucy’s warbler, hooded oriole and broad-billed hummingbirds in riparian areas,
• belted kingfishers along the creek.

In the evening, you may see or hear the calls of common poorwills, nighthawks and elf, great horned and screech owls.

In or near the creek, keep an eye out for canyon tree frogs, the small native Gila chub fish, red-spotted toads, Sonoran mud turtles and dragonflies.

Reptiles that inhabit Sabino Canyon include regal horned lizard, zebra-tailed lizards, black-necked garter snakes and Sonoran whipsnakes.

Round-tailed ground squirrel. The red stain on its cheeks is from eating prickly pear cactus fruit

The year-round supply of water attracts many mammals to the canyon. However, they can be harder to spot.

Keep an eye out for the tracks and sign of species such as:

• white-tailed deer, mule deer and javelinas,
• cottontail rabbits, cliff chipmunks, Harris’ antelope, round-tailed and rock ground squirrels,
• ring-tailed cats, coatimundis and raccoons,
• foxes and coyotes,
• bobcats.

Even the occasional mountain lion wanders through the canyon.

Your best chance of seeing wildlife is in the early morning hours and at dusk.

As with many things in life, patience and persistence pay off in wildlife watching.

Find a nice spot, be unobtrusive and sit quietly.

After awhile, most animals will adjust to your presence and go about their business, leaving you to observe them respectfully.

The visitor center

They have a great interpretive display that explains the natural and cultural history of the area.

A large picture window at the back of the center looks out onto a small, manmade pond.

Patient observers have seen javelina, white-tailed deer and even bobcats stop to drink here.

Be sure to purchase a map before you begin your exploration of the canyon.

The visitor center sells a good selection of maps, checklists and field guides to help you identify the animals and plants that you might see.

There are also books on the Sonoran Desert, Southwestern cooking and Native Americans cultures.

You can also purchase souvenirs such as t-shirts, hats, cups, postcards, DVDs and CDs.

Looking towards the canyon and the Santa Catalina Mountains from the parking area

What to Know Before You Go:

• During years of heavy winter or spring rains, water flows over the nine bridges along the Upper Canyon Road.

Getting back on the tram at road’s end

• The Forest Service warns visitors to use extreme caution in Sabino Canyon. Keep a safe distance from the water and never attempt to enter or cross flowing streams.
• Flood waters move extremely fast, are very turbulent and filled with debris. Additional rain can cause very rapid increases in water level and flow.
• If you’re hiking in Sabino Canyon, be prepared for making the water crossings by bringing plastic bags to cover your shoes or taking your shoes off for each crossing.
• Bear Canyon Road and/or access to the Bear Canyon/Seven Falls trailhead may be closed due to flood waters.
• Sabino Canyon is very popular, especially on winter and spring weekends. The parking lot may fill up by mid-morning, so be prepared to wait for a spot to open up. Better yet, try the canyon on early weekday mornings to avoid the crowds.
• If you plan to hike the higher trails such as Blackett’s Ridge, the Phoneline Trail or Hutch’s Pools, in winter, be sure to dress warmly. You may encounter snow on these trails at the higher elevations.
• Note that the Phoneline Trail can be rocky with occasional side slopes, so watch you footing. The steep switchbacks leading to the road from the top of the trail have been rerouted.

Access Restrictions:

• This is a fee area. You must purchase a Pass at the Entrance Station. From the parking lot, visitors must walk, ride or take the shuttle bus into the canyon.
• The paved road is closed to bicycles on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Bicycles are allowed on other days before 9:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. only.

Sabino Canyon Admission Fee:
Day Pass: $5
Week Pass: $10
Annual Pass: $20

Season:    Anytime of the year, but summer days are very hot.

Elevation:   2,800 feet at the Sabino Canyon visitors center

Sabino Canyon Visitor Facilities:   Sabino Canyon Visitor Center and bookstore; concessionaire-run shuttle bus tours; restrooms; water; vending machines selling water and sodas, 89 picnic sites throughout area.

Note: There is no restaurant or café in Sabino Canyon.

Sabino Canyon Visitor Center Hours:    Monday – Sunday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Sabino Canyon Tours Shuttle Bus Hours: Rides are available every hour, on the hour.
Summer Hours (July – mid-December)
Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Weekends & Holidays: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Winter Hours (mid-December – June)
Monday-Sunday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Special Evening Rides: Sabino Canyon Tours offers special evening rides during the months of April, May, June, September, October and November (3 nights for each of the months). Dates and times vary. Call (520) 749-2327 for more information and to make reservations.

Sabino Canyon Tram Ride Fee:
Sabino Canyon Road:
Adults: $8.00
Children 3-12: $4.00
Children 2 and under are free

Bear Canyon Road only:
Adults: $3.00
Children 3-12: $1.00
Children 2 and under are free

Sabino Canyon Tours Phone:
Information: (520) 749-2861
Reservation: (520) 749-2327

Camping:   No camping

Horseback Riding:   Some trails are open to horseback riders. Contact the Santa Catalina Ranger District for more info.

Pets Allowed:   No pets except for service dogs (must wear I.D.)

Closest Town:   Tucson

Location:    12 miles from downtown on the northeast side of Tucson at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. It is an easy drive to the canyon via city streets and takes roughly 30 minutes.

Address:   5900 North Sabino Canyon Road, Tucson, Arizona 85750

Google Map Directions: Click on "+" and "-" signs on Map Controls in upper left hand corner to zoom in and out on the location.

Sabino Canyon Directions:   From Tanque Verde Road in Tucson, take Sabino Canyon Road north to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, which is just north of Sunrise Road. Turn right into parking lot.

Management:    Coronado National Forest – Santa Catalina District, Southeastern Arizona

Phone:   (520) 749-8700 (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday)

Restrictions:

• No glass containers
• No motorized vehicles
• No alcohol
• No weapons
• No nudity
• No removal or introduction of plants or animals.
• Wilderness areas are closed to mechanized vehicles including bicycles.

Note: A large area of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness is closed to dogs for the protection of desert bighorn sheep. Contact the Santa Catalina Ranger District for more info.

Desert Safety Tips:

• Summer hikes should only be done in the very early morning, if at all.
• Watch for lightning during the summer monsoon thunderstorm season.
• Carry plenty of water no matter the season.
• Be sure to wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Watch your footing on trails.
• Wear sturdy, hiking boots with good traction and ankle support.
• Keep an eye out for rattlesnakes.

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