Photos: Santa Cruz River through Tucson
The Santa Cruz River was the lifeblood of Tucson for early Native Americans, the Spanish Conquistadores and early American settlers. It languished for years and became dry most of the year as the water table dropped. It also became a neglected trench and trash heap. City leaders envisioned something better. By the early 1970s, the Army Corps of Engineers was studying the feasibility of channeling the river and creating a park. In 1977, work began. It is now a lush part of downtown and an integral part of The Loop bicycle and pedestrian trails.
Santa Cruz River
Waterfalls on the Santa Cruz River in 1889 near Sentinel Peak in Tucson.
Santa Cruz River
Girls in Santa Cruz River,1889-1890.
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A bridge over the Santa Cruz River near Sentinel Peak in Tucson washed out during flooding in 1915.
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Santa Cruz River at St. Mary's Road bridge in 1931.
Santa Cruz River
The Santa Cruz River flows north as seen from Sentinel Peak in Tucson in the early 1900's.
On July 4, 1776, the birthplace of Tucson was 'under Indigenous control'
Ruins of El Convento along the Santa Cruz River, circa 1910. The adobe structure was part of a Franciscan mission complex built here at the end of the 18th century.
Santa Cruz River
Flooding of the Santa Cruz River, Tucson, in September, 1926, from “Letters from Tucson, 1925-1927” by Ethel Stiffler.
Santa Cruz River
Flooding of the Santa Cruz River, Tucson, in September, 1926, from “Letters from Tucson, 1925-1927” by Ethel Stiffler.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson
Aerial view of the Santa Cruz River as it winds its way through Pima County north of Cortaro Road in 1953. The county was considering a bridge at several locations, but had to contend with the ever-changing course of the river.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson
The Tucson Citizen wrote in 1970, "The Santa Cruz River is a garbage dump" and "even marijuana grows in it." City leaders were pushing to upgrade and beautify the channel. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was studying the possibility.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson
The Santa Cruz River flowing under the Congress Street bridge in August, 1952. The Garden of Gesthemane is in the background.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson
Drought in June, 1974, turned the Santa Cruz riverbed into crunchy chunks of dried mud.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson
The Santa Cruz River flowing under Silverlake Road in August, 1970.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson
Children play in the Santa Cruz River near Speedway Blvd in August, 1970.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson
The Santa Cruz riverbed at Congress Street in November, 1967.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson
After years of waiting, crews began clearing debris and channeling the Santa Cruz River in November, 1977, and constructing what would become a 14-mile river park. The Speedway Blvd. bridge is in the background.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson
After years of waiting, crews began clearing debris and channeling the Santa Cruz River in November, 1977, and constructing what would become a 14-mile river park.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson
The Santa Cruz River looks peaceful flowing underneath Speedway Road after days of flooding in October, 1977.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson
Adalberto Ballesteros rides along the Santa Cruz River west of downtown Tucson in 1980.
Santa Cruz River
Junked cars and trash spill into the Santa Cruz River, looking south, just south of Grant Road in July, 1974.
Santa Cruz River in Tucson
Road graders scrape the Santa Cruz River channel between Speedway and Grant roads during bank stabilization construction in May, 1991.
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Flooding in Marana after the Santa Cruz River overflowed its banks in Oct. 1983.
Santa Cruz River
A bridge on the Santa Cruz River northwest of Tucson washed out during flooding in October 1983.
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Residents watch the surging Santa Cruz River rush past West St. Mary's Road on January 19, 1993.
Santa Cruz River
Tucson firefighters are standing by and waiting for two kids floating in the Santa Cruz River on some type of object during flooding in July, 1996.
Santa Cruz River
Runner, cyclists and motorists alike pass over and under the Silverlake Road bridge at the Santa Cruz River west of Interstate 10 on Sept. 7, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz.
Santa Cruz River
A cyclist bikes the Santa Cruz River Park path at the Silverlake Road bridge west of Interstate 10 on Sept. 7, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz.
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A makeshift memorial on the banks of the Santa Cruz River near Congress Street west of Interstate 10 on Sept. 7, 2017, at in Tucson, Ariz.
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The Santa Cruz River flows Friday morning July 23, 2021 after an overnight monsoon storm passed over in Tucson, Ariz.
Santa Cruz River
Andres Franco-Gomez walks with his 4 month old daughter Annilici‡ Franco-Gomez along the Santa Cruz River Walk near N. Cortaro Rd. in Marana, Ariz., April 15, 2021.
Santa Cruz River
Under the evening sun, a biker uses the paths along the Santa Cruz River Park on the first day of 90+ degree temperatures in the area, April 23, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Santa Cruz River
A crowd of people stand at an area where reclaimed water starts to fill the Santa Cruz River at 29th Street as part of the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project on June 24, 2019. The release of effluent is the cityÕs first effort to restore a fraction of the river's flow since groundwater pumping dried it up in the 1940s.
Santa Cruz River
A westbound street car cruises over the Cushing St. Bridge and a wide pool of the reclaimed water in the river channel as part of the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project, Tuesday, June 25, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Santa Cruz River
Amy Novelli tries to coax her horse over a water feature where reclaimed water flows in the Santa Cruz River, on June 26, 2020.
Santa Cruz River
Monsoon clouds are reflected in the effluent discharge water from the Agua Nueva and Tres Rios wastewater treatment plants running in the Santa Cruz River at Ina Rd. In Marana on July 5, 2022.
Santa Cruz River
A Great Blue Heron wades through the treated effluent water running in the Santa Cruz River at Ina Rd. Herons are just one of the species that have returned to the area.
Santa Cruz River
Cottonwood Shoots sprout up from the ground of a channel leading to the Santa Cruz River on the Tohono O'odham Nation on Sept. 18, 2019. After receiving CAP water the channel has started seeing the effects of the water table being pushed to the surface, creating a half-mile or so if not longer of lush, riparian and even marshy environment including cottonwood shoots and willows.
Santa Cruz River
Water in a channel leading to the Santa Cruz River on the Tohono O'odham Nation Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019.
Santa Cruz River
A a caterpillar on a small stick protruding from out of a shallow bit of water in a channel leading to the Santa Cruz River on the Tohono O'odham Nation on Sept. 18, 2019.
Santa Cruz River
A sunflower grows in a channel leading to the Santa Cruz River on the Tohono O'odham Nation on Sept. 18, 2019.
Santa Cruz River
Caterpillar Inc. employee Urvashi Dosha reaches into brush to grab debris out of the Santa Cruz Riverbed during a cleanup event between Congress and Cushing Streets, on Oct. 23, 2020. About 30 people took part in the pickup organized by Caterpillar Inc. in partnership with Tucson Clean and Beautiful and the Sonoran Institute.
Santa Cruz River
Tucson Water discharges water treated at the Tucson Airport Remediation Project treatment plant into the Santa Cruz River north of Irvington Road, as shown in this photo from Nov. 5, 2021.
Santa Cruz River
Water flows in the Santa Cruz River near the Crossroads at Silverbell District Park, in Marana, Ariz. on November 18, 2020.
Santa Cruz River
Water flows in the Santa Cruz River south of downtown Tucson, Ariz. on November 16, 2020.
Santa Cruz River
A Vermillion flycatcher rests on a branch along the Santa Cruz River south of downtown Tucson, Ariz. on November 16, 2020. The addition of water to the Santa Cruz River has brough back wildlife to the area.
Santa Cruz River
Water flows in the Santa Cruz River south of downtown Tucson, Ariz. on November 16, 2020.
Santa Cruz River
Water flows in the Santa Cruz River south of downtown Tucson, Ariz. on November 16, 2020. The addition of water to the Santa Cruz River has brought wildlife back to the area.
Santa Cruz River
Construction crews work to remove access sediment and invasive vegetation from the Santa Cruz River at Silverbell Tree Drive loop in Tucson, Ariz. on February 3, 2020. Crews removed approximately 140,000 cubic yards of sediment from the Santa Cruz River channel.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
Tucson has a variety of urban hiking options for those who like to exercise closer to home.