Ironwood Forest National Monument
TIA- Tucson International Airport
Saguaro National Park East
Empire Ranch National Conservation Area
Mineral Discovery Center
Pima County Hot Spots Map
Searching For Hohokam Ruins In Catalina State Park
On a perfect Saturday in February, our friends from New York, Susan & Charlea, went with Ms. Karen, Molly Dog, & me to Catalina State Park in Oro Valley. After paying the $7 entry fee, we found a pleasant picnic area and fortified ourselves before hiking the archeological site on the ridge across the road.
Continue readingBehind the Scenes at the Desert Museum
There is a relatively new set of in-depth tours at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum that will delight anyone who wants a closer look at the critters at the museum. If you have been visiting the Desert Museum for years, this is your opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the Museum.
Continue readingOld Tucson: A Slideshow
Old Tucson has served as a movie studio for over 300 Westerns, TV productions and commercials. Today, it’s an Old West theme park that is both entertaining and educational. In April 2012, I attended the Western Music Festival & Art Show there and took these photographs. Old Tucson is closed to the public during the hot summer months, but is open October – May.
Continue readingFree Flight Program at the Desert Museum
Video Courtesy: Mike MacNeel The Raptor Free Flight Program at the Desert Museum starts in October when the weather starts to cool down. It usually ends mid-April. They do not fly the birds in the hot weather May through September. … Continue reading
Pusch Peak Hike
The trail head is almost to Oro Valley off Oracle. This is a strenuous hike, but the view from the summit is worthwhile. Plan on 2 – 3 hours up and an hour down. From the summit on a clear day you can see all the way to Kitt Peak to the SW and Picacho Peak to the north. Wildlife, including coatimundi, can be seen if you’re quiet and patient. The last official sighting of big horn sheep was in 2005. Pusch Ridge was named George Pusch (1847–1921), who came to Arizona from Germany in the 1870s, established the Steam Pump Ranch on near the base of the ridge in what is now the town of Oro Valley. Steam Pump Ranch was one of the largest cattle ranches in the Territory of Arizona. Mr. Pusch also served as a state legislator and one of the delegates to the original Arizona Constitutional Convention in 1910. … Continue reading
To The Sky Center & Outer Space!
Last April (2011), about 10 of us went up to Kitt Peak for the Night Observation Program. For $48 each, we got about a five-hour program that included a very interesting lecture (with slides) on astronomy, a box “dinner” with chips, an apple, and a stale sandwich, and a few hours observing the heavens through [...]
Continue readingTitan II Missile Museum
Video of a tour of the Cold War Bunker housing the Titan II Missile the only one of its kind left.
Continue readingSaguaro National Park West – Bajada Loop Drive
This back road is one of our favorites, partly because it’s practically in our back yard and because it’s so indicative of the Sonoran Desert. Here in Saguaro National Park West you will be driving through a forest of giant Saguaros. And, within an easy quarter mile hike, you can get up close and personal with ancient Hohokam petroglyphs. From Tucson, take Speedway west from the I-10 Freeway (A). After a few miles, Speedway merges with Gates Pass Road which takes you over the Pass, down the other side (steep) and eventually to Kinney Road. At Kinney Road, you’ll see a sign for the Desert Museum. Turn right and head for the Desert Museum. Two miles past the Desert Museum is the Red Hills Visitors Center (B). Park and go in. Watch the brief orientation movie, get a map, and ask the Park Ranger or docent about current road conditions … Continue reading
Finger Rock Trail – Tucson North
Beautiful canyon, brutal hike. 8 miles out and back. Steep. No, I mean really steep! Rock climbing near the top. This outcropping is the towering natural monument you see from the City as you look north toward the Catalina Mountains and Mt. Lemmon. Don’t do it if you’re not seriously fit. Take lots of water. In the summer, take whatever amount of water is greater than ‘lots’. Allow plenty of time. Don’t get caught on the mountain after sundown. Why? ‘Cause you won’t be able ot see the rattlesnakes. In the summer, start at first light. Allow at least 3 hours if you are in really good condition. Don’t go it alone. If you make it, the view of Metro Tucson far below is your reward. May God Be With You! … Continue reading
Wasson Peak Trail – Tucson Westside
Mt. Wasson is the highest peak (4,687′) in the Tucson Mountains west of the city. Take El Camino del Cerro (exit 252 from I-10) west about 5 miles from the freeway to the trailhead. From the top you will have an expansive east view of the city and Catalina Mountains. To the west, a grand view of the Avra Valley. Once you get to the top, you can turn around, but rather than coming all the way back to where you parked your car, you can pick up the trail north along the ridge to Picture Rocks. The trail ends at Picture Rocks Road. You might want to pre-arrange for a friend to pick you up in a car here and take you and your hiking companions back to the city. Alternatively, from the top of Wasson Peak, you can continue on the trail that heads down the west side … Continue reading
Romero Canyon To Montrose Pools Trail
The Romero Canyon Trail is located at the end of the road in Catalina State Park. Out and back, it’s about 2 fairly easy miles. If it’s rained recently, there will be falls and water in the Montrose Pools. Dog on leash OK. … Continue reading
Seven Falls Trail – Sabino Canyon
This trail starts at Sabino Canyon Visitors Center on the east side of Tucson. Fairly easy if you’re in reasonably good physical shape. You can hike from the Visitors Center or take the tram (cash only) a couple of miles in and then hike another couple of miles more to the falls and pools. Trail crosses the creek several times. Get a guide map from the Visitors Center. Take a picnic. Enjoy the pools of fresh mountain water. If it’s rained recently, there can be really good falls and quite a bit of water in the creek. If, while you are hiking here, there is rain in the mountains above, watch out for a flash flood that can clear everything in its path, including you. … Continue reading
Mt. Lemmon Camping
Our dear friends Michael and Diane file this report on camping at Mt. Lemmon.
Our favorite campground on Mt Lemmon is Spencer Canyon. It’s the campground at the highest elevation – around 8,000 feet. It’s the coolest in the summer, so you can still enjoy a campfire if allowed. (Currently, fires of any kind are off limits.)
Pima Air & Space Museum
A look at the Pima Air & Space Museum, which includes an Air Force One and a Blackbird Fighter jet.
Continue readingSabino Canyon Interview
An interview with a naturalist at the Sabino Canyon Recreation area. Dan Granger talks about the birds, wildlife, hikes and more. … Continue reading
Mission San Xavier del Bac
Ski Valley – Mount Lemmon
In winter, Ski Valley is the southernmost ski resort in the United States. (Probably also the smallest) In summer, the lift is usually open. Kids love to ride the lift to the rim for a grand view of greater Tucson below. And yes, they can hike around up there. In the winter, they turn their skateboards into snowboards. Visit the website 10300 Ski Run Rd. Mt. Lemmon … Continue reading
Summerhaven Village
Summerhaven is a quaint little village near the summit of Mt. Lemmon. The 2003 Aspen fire destroyed 84,000 acres and most of the village. Residents have been busy rebuilding. Volunteers have been busy re-planting. There are a couple of new restaurants, the SawMill shown here, and lots of new, larger cabins. … Continue reading
Yetman Trail
The Yetman Trail is an easy to moderate hike through a pretty saguaro-rich valley and up over the mountains near Gates Pass. From the east you can start at either the Starr Pass Resort or from the parking lot at the southern end Camino de Oeste after it crosses Speedway. From the west you can start at the trail head in the parking lot at the bottom of Gates Pass on the Desert Museum side of the mountain. The Yetman Trail was named for David Yetman, Ph.D, (research social science) former City Councilman and now host of a fine local Public TV program called The Desert Speaks. Out and back, the trail is about 5 miles. Plan on 3 hours. Take water. In the summer, start at first light. One of the sites along the way is the ruins of the Bowen House, built by an East Coast newspaper guy … Continue reading
Madera Canyon
Madera Canyon is a recommended side trip when you are in the I-19 corridor visiting the Missions, the Titan Missile Museum, or Tubac Village.The elevation ranges from 5,000-5,500 feet. The area is a birdwatchers paradise with over 250 species identified. This is part of the Coronado National Forest. It’s about 25 miles south of Tucson and 11 miles east of Green Valley. There are campgrounds and picnic areas and the extensive Santa Rita Mountain trail system is easily accessed from here. Detailed trail information and maps are available at each of the trailheads. Pets must be on a leash. At the lower end of the Canyon is a handicap-accessible nature trail. At the top are much more difficult hiking trails leading to 9,453-foot Mt. Wrightson. There is no restaurant in Madera Canyon, so at least bring a picnic lunch and some snacks. Of the several picnic area in the Canyon, … Continue reading
The DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun
Ted DeGrazia was a world-renowned artist who, with his Native American friends, built one of the world’s most unique art galleries to showcase his work. However you describe his art, I’m sure your visit to the DeGrazia Gallery In The Sun in Northeast Tucson will be a most interesting and enjoyable outing.
Continue readingSaguaro National Park-West
About 2 miles down the road from the Desert Museum is the Saguaro National Park Visitors Center. I know this is odd, but there are two Saguaro National Parks – East & West. In between is Metropolitan Tucson. If you only have time to visit one, go West. Pictured here is an unusual rainy day in April. Most Tucsonans wish we had a few more rainy days. Six inches in spring and six inches during the monsoon season is supposed to be normal. We haven’t had normal in years. We have family living in the Northwest. They just laugh when we talk about our drought. They say they will send us all the water we’re willing to pay for. Suggestion: get directions and a map at the visitors center. Then head out to explore the most exquisite desert in the world. Picnic at the Signal Hill picnic area and walk … Continue reading
Kitt Peak National Observatory
Tucson Attractions Passport
Before visiting our Baja Arizona attractions, we suggest you first buy a Tucson Attractions Passport for its 2-for-1 admissions and other savings. Buy one for every two people in your party. You can order online at Tucson Passport. $18 plus shipping and handling. Allow 10 days for delivery. Or you can purchase a Passport at most attractions, including: Arizona – Sonora Desert Museum Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum DeGrazia Gallery In The Sun Kitt Peak National Observatory Mount Lemmon Sky Center Old Pueblo Trolley Pima Air & Space Museum Sabino Canyon Visitors Center Titan II Missile Museum Tohono Chul Park Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park … Continue reading
