Aunt Jane is a serious hiker. She’ll be bringing her hiking boots.
Grandpa like sauntering and sitting. He's packing his loafers.
The nieces and nephews want to explore.
You want to entertain your out-of-town guests and show them some of the wonders of fall in Southern Arizona this Thanksgiving season.
We suggest a trip — or two or three — to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area in northeast Tucson. It has something for everyone. Tough hikes for Aunt Jane. A tram for grandpa. A cool visitors center with interesting, explanatory exhibits.
Sabino Canyon’s 12 million-year history started with the formation of Santa Catalina Mountains and was shaped by an earthquake. Storms and floods continue to reshape the canyon. It was home to the Hohokam and the bridges over Sabino Creek and the Sabino Dam were build by the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corporation Corps. You can learn about the canyon at visitors center, which has exhibits that explain the history and the flora and fauna, and has vintage photos of canyon during Tucson’s early days. There's a gift shop, too.
People are also reading…
Sabino Canyon Tours gives a narrated 45-minute, 3.8 mile tram tour on the Sabino Canyon Trail. Hop on and off the nine stops along the tour. There are restrooms along the route and picnic grounds near Sabino Creek.
Bear Canyon Trail tram is not narrated and is makes the 2-mile trip to the trailhead of Seven Falls. There are three stops along the route.
The variety of trails make Sabino a top pick for the almost everyone who want to step out.
The main road, on which Sabino Canyon Tours makes its Sabino Canyon Trail tram route, is paved and almost anyone of any age can navigate the road. It crosses Sabino Creek at the nine stone bridges. It’s popular for joggers, hikers, serious walkers and bicyclists in the early morning.
It may be paved but it teems with striking views and wildlife. I’ve seen deer, water fowl and yes, a rattlesnake. At my fittest, the walk from parking lot to the end of the road (near tram stop 9) took about 2 hours.
Find out more about the following and other more rugged (not paved) trails at the visitors center.
Sabino Dam, east of the Sabino Canyon parking lot, was one of my kids' favorite hikes. It’s fairly easy and not too far. The kiddos loved splashing in the water and exploring the rocks.
Blackett’s Ridge Trail, which has several steep switch-backs. It levels out toward the top. Be prepared for knock-your-socks off views.
Telephone Line Trail overlooks Sabino Creek.
Esperero Canyon Trail starts at the Cactus Picnic Area opposite Sabino Canyon tram stop No. 1, where Rattlesnake Canyon joins Sabino Canyon. It several miles of hard climbing band leads to “The Window”, a 15- by 25- foot hole in a fin-like ridge that extends out from Window Peak on Pusch Ridge. Read more: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coronado/specialplaces/recarea/?recid=25642&actid=50
The hike to Hutch’s Pools is best taken by intermediate or advanced hikers. It’s a hefty hike that starts at the end of the paved road near tram stop No. 9 and could take six to eight hours.
Seven Falls is at the end of the Bear Canyon tram route to the end of the line. The trailhead is about 2 miles from the parking lot and it’s another 2½ miles to Seven Falls. It’s a fun trail that crisscrosses Sabino Creek and ends in a relaxing area with pools of water. It takes about 3 hours.
The one downside to Sabino Canyon is that dogs are not allowed. Leave Fido at home.
