Experts' Choice Award Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
What the experts agree on
Sabino Canyon is a lush desert escape in the Santa Catalina Mountains featuring excellent hiking trails, swimming holes, and shuttle access. Wildlife sightings and year-round mild weather make it equally popular with locals and winter visitors
“Easily accessed recreation area on the northern edge of Tucson in the Coronado National Forest. Trails, picnic areas, self-guided walking tours and shuttle buses.”
– Where
Fodor's "Locals flock to Coronado National Forest to hike, picnic, and enjoy the waterfalls, streams, swimming holes, saguaros, and shade trees." Full review
Lonely Planet "A lush, pretty and shaded mini-gorge, is a favorite year-round destination for both locals and visitors." Full review
Afar Magazine "The trail up Blackett's Ridge on the northeastern edge of Tucson leads to a rocky 'island' in the sky, some four thousand feet high, perched above two desert riparian canyons." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"Once visited by mammoths and soldiers, who rode from Fort Lowell to swim, the canyon was "civilized" in the 1930s when Civilian Conservation Corps workers built bridges and 3.8mi of roads." Full review
Afar Magazine "Most winter visitors to Tucson come here specifically to escape the cold; sunshine and temperatures in the 60's and 70's lure the 'snowbirds.'" Full review
U.S. News & World Report4.0
"Sabino Canyon's numerous hiking trails and swimming spots make this recreation area popular with locals and tourists alike. " Full review
Frommer's "At the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains on the northeastern edge of the city, Sabino Canyon is a fabulous place to commune with the desert for a morning or an afternoon" Full review
