Visitors lace up their hiking boots to enjoy this magnificent natural area north of Tucson.
Say “Catalina Foothills” to any local Tucsonan and watch their eyes light up. They appreciate how the rolling foothills create a transition zone between city life on the valley floor and mountain adventures in the majestic Santa Catalina Mountains. On the north side of the mountain, visitors get an up-close view of the dramatic rock faces at Catalina State Park. Visitors can make the park their crash pad at any of the 120 campsites with paved parking slips for RV and tent camping. Visitors who spend the night in Catalina State Park are all but guaranteed to see coyotes, javelinas and jackrabbits, among other prolific desert critters.
Choose a Hiking Trail
Visitors can hike eight trails at the park, from rolling foothills strolls surrounded by hundreds of saguaros to strenuous canyon climbs. Easy loop trails such as Romero Ruins take hikers past remnants of an ancient Hohokam village. Other easy loop trails such as the Birding Trail and Nature Trail provide a pleasant introduction to the region’s diverse flora and fauna. More advanced trails go deeper into the mountains with steep elevation gains that promise views worth the effort. Many are shared-use trails with mountain bikes and horseback riders that wind through the rugged foothills into Coronado National Forest and the open desert. Go all in on the Sutherland Trail, which climbs into the Catalinas with an elevation gain of 6,000 feet.
Experience Equestrian Camping
Southern Arizona is horse country. Along with designated sites for tent and RV camping, the park features fully equipped camping sites for visitors who bring their own horses. Sixteen picturesque sites accommodate horse trailers and have corrals to keep horses safe overnight. During the day, explore designated horseback trails. Day-use visitors can use an equestrian staging area to saddle their horses before they set out on a signature Old West experience.
Get an Adrenaline Rush
Just outside the park, visitors can head south for metro attractions in Tucson or a bit further north to Oracle for more outdoor adrenaline rushes. Towering mountains set the backdrop for epic outdoor thrills at Arizona Zipline Adventures. Featuring the longest zip line in the state at 1,500 feet, the outdoor park features five zips along a course that winds through the magnificent Catalina Foothills.
