Tucson: Gateway to outdoor adventure

With over 300 days of sunshine, Tucson, Arizona is a perfect base for outdoor adventure.

It has adventure in its DNA and there’s no better way to experience it than getting outdoors.

The terrain lends itself to a variety of adventures that travellers can indulge in, from Saguaro National Park to the rugged expanse of the Coronado National Forest and the region’s Sky Island mountain ranges, in southern Arizona.

Choose from a wide selection of activities including Tucson hiking, climbing and skydiving.

A Hiker’s Haven 

As it is surrounded on both sides by the Saguaro National Park Tucson unlocks some of the most iconic hiking treks in the region. There’s also Catalina State Park, Redington Pass and Mount Lemmon inviting hikers to explore desert and forest areas. Wild orange poppies bloom in spring and the golden aspen shine in fall. In the heat of summer, Mount Lemmon can be twenty degrees cooler than the desert floor. Hikers can dip their toes in Seven Falls Water Trail and Romero Pools, when they need a break from a long trek. For spectacular views head to the Freeman Homestead Nature Trail which is an easy one-mile loop that features some breath-taking views of the valley’s nearby mountains.

Mountain biking

It has some of the most diverse, breath-taking biking trails in the world. The trails in Tucson cater to all levels; starting with Fantasy Island which is great for beginners, while Starr Pass Main Loop trail in Tucson Mountain Park is perfect for intermediate riders. Tucson’s crown jewel of mountain biking; Mt.Lemmon is ideal for advanced bikers offering multiple steep and technical trails taking riders from pines trees to saguaros in a matter of hours. With the perfect combination of challenging, scenic and enjoyable, the city is consistently ranked as one of the top biking destinations in the United States.

Road Cycling

Ride the 137-mile long Chuck Huckleberry Loop which is a relatively easy and car free trail. Intermediate riders can ride out to Gates Pass, west of Downtown, which culminates at Saguaro National Park after a big climb and descent through the scenic Tucson Mountain Park. Experienced cyclists can challenge themselves on the Mt. Lemmon Highway which is the longest hill climb in Arizona and concludes at 8,198 feet in a dense pine forest.

Mountain ranges

These offer endless opportunities for rock climbers of every skill-level. The Santa Catalina Mountain Range is home to more than 50 peaks and the diversity of terrain ensures that climbers flock to these ranges all year round. Mt. Lemmon has more than 2,700 climbing routes, ranging from single-pitch clip-ups to multi-pitch routes. The forested regions referred to as sky islands are the most rewarding and scenic climbs in the area. Enjoying the 360-degree view at the top of the Cathedral Rock after a challenging climb

Skydiving

The Sonoran Desert offers very little wind and vast areas of relatively flat land which make it the perfect destination to try skydiving. The world’s largest skydive centre ‘Skydive Arizona’ is located around an hour from Tucson and is also home to an indoor skydiving simulation facility. Closer to Tucson is the Skydive Marana, a 30-year-old school which offers first-timers a short 20-minute course followed by a tandem skydive with an instructor.

For outdoor adventure and more in Tucson, visit https://www.visittucson.org/