Give me all the deserty vibes! Tucson is most famously known for its high concentration of saguaros, but there are so many other adventurous things to do in Tucson while visiting. From epic hikes to horseback riding to searching for petroglyphs, you’ll have a great time exploring this desert town! Keep reading to see the ultimate list of adventurous things to do in Tucson, AZ!
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Table of Contents
Adventurous Things to do in Tucson
Hike and swim along the Seven Falls Trail
Seven Falls Trail is one of the most popular trails in Tucson. It’s a moderate 8.2-mile hike that ends at (you guessed it) 7 waterfalls. Throughout the hike, you’ll gain 917 feet in elevation and will have very few opportunities for shade. The pools at the bottom of the falls are freezing, but so refreshing!
There are a lot of creek crossings throughout the hike, so be sure you have waterproof shoes! I of course wore my keen sandals! It’s a must on any weekend getaway to Tucson!
Find Petroglyphs in Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is a great place to find ancient petroglyphs (among many other things). There are several sites throughout the park where these ancient symbols can be seen, including Signal Hill and a few other places.
To get to Signal Hill, take the Cactus Forest Drive to the end of the road, then take the road to the right and follow it for about a mile. From there, you can take a short .03 hike to the petroglyphs.
You can also join a ranger-led hike to explore some of the other petroglyph sites. Check the National Park Service website for more information on these hikes.
Go Hiking at Catalina State Park
Catalina State Park covers over 5,500 acres and is filled with at least 5,000 saguaros. Throughout the park, you’ll find miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trail. My favorite trail to hike is to Romero Canyon Falls (pictured above). It’s a strenuous 5.5-mile hike with very little shade (I was dying), but you are paid off with freezing cold pools/falls to cool off in at the end. The Falls are located about 1/4 of a mile past the pools (where most people stop).
There’s also a stream located at the trailhead that many families were splashing around in! The park is open year-round from 5am-10pm. If wanting to spend the night, there are 120 campsites (with electric and water) available to reserve!
You may also like: Adventurous Things to do in Sedona, Arizona!
Find the best views at the top of Mount Lemon
Standing at just over 9,000 feet, Mt. Lemmon is the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains. So if you are needed a break from the Tucson heat, you can drive all the way to the top!
It’s a beautiful drive with many stops on the way up that are worth getting out to explore (Windy Vista Point was my favorite!). From the saguaros at the lower elevation to the snowy hills at the top, the entire drive is diverse!
Once at the top, there are several adventurous activities to partake in. You can ski or snowboard at Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley (winter season), hike on the nearby trails, rent a mountainside cabin, or have a picnic at Rose Canyon Lake.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you can grab lunch at the Sawmill Run Restaurant followed by a delicious cookie at The Cookie Cabin (truthfully this is the reason we drove up and it was 100 percent worth it).
Go Rock Climbing
Although I have personally tried any “real” rock climbing out, I quickly realized that Tucson is a rock-climbers dream. With the dry climate and close proximity to 5 mountain ranges, climbers flock to Tucson year-round.
For beginners, Arizona Climbing Guides offer a variety of instruction and guided climbing tours. The tours range from 4-8 hours and you can choose from individual or group instruction.
If you are not quite ready to rock climb in the great outdoors, you could check out Tucson’s indoor climbing gym, Rock and Ropes.
Admire the sunrise from a hot air balloon
I can NOT believe I haven’t crossed off a hot air balloon ride off my bucket list! After visiting Tucson, I would agree with the locals that it’s one of the best places for a hot air balloon ride.
You’ll gently soar over the massive saguaros while watching the sun rise over the desert. Sounds dreamy to me!
There are several hot air balloon companies in Tucson to choose from, but most run from October through April. Tuscon Balloon Rides offers a Sonoran Sunrise’ flight which includes an hour flight + a continental brunch (+chamagane).
Check out other Tucson hot air balloon rides here!
More Adventurous Things To Do in Tucson
Take a bike ride around the city (and add tacos!)
If you’re looking for an adventurous and delicious way to explore Tucson, I’d highly recommend a taco bike tour! Tucson Bike Tours offers this fun tour of the city that includes stops at 5 local taco spots to sample some of the best Mexican cuisines in town. It’s a great way to get to know Tucson, get some exercise, and have some delicious food…all at the same time!
Compete in a self-guided scavenger hunt
Any other competitive people here?! Let’s Roam has 3 fun self-guided scavenger hunts in Tucson to choose from. Each hunt allows you to adventure around the city while competing against others. You can choose from the most popular city tour, the mural hunt, or the cacti and cocktails bar crawl.
Watch a gunfight at Old Town Tucson
Okay, this is definitely a touristy stop (and a bit cheesy), but it’s a fun way to spend a few hours! Anyway, after purchasing your general admission ticket (online or at the gate), you’ll have access to the entire Wild West Town. Spend some time walking around and then be sure to check out the live shows and gunfights!
There are some arcade games, a petting zoo, and restaurants on-site as well.
Go Canyoneering
In addition to epic rock climbing, Tucson is also home to some of the most spectacular canyoneering in the United States. But, what the heck is canyoneering?!
In short, canyoneering means to travel down a canyon or gorge typically by rappelling, climbing, hiking, and sliding.
In Tucson, there are several opportunities to try out this adventurous sport. Altitude Mountain Sports offers half and full-day Canyon Trips. During the adventures, you’ll hike into a canyon and then have the opportunity to try out several different rappels down waterfalls and into pools.
Tour the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
The Arizona Desert Museum is so much more than your typical museum. It’s actually a massive 98-acre outdoor museum showcasing the flora, fauna, and culture of the Sonoran Desert region.
It’s basically a zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, and museum all mixed together! You’ll also find special events such as live animal programs and raptor free-flights!
Admission is a bit on the spendy side, starting at 29.95 for adults, but it’s worth it as you could spend several hours strolling the grounds. And let’s be real, there’s not much that’s under $20 nowadays.
Explore the Sweetwater Preserve
If you are traveling to Tucson with your dog, be sure to check out the trails at Sweetwater Preserve. I actually liked this park/trail better than the ones I did in the National Park.
Sweetwater Preserve covers over 880 acres of land in the Eastern foothills of the Tucson mountains. There are 15 miles of trails that can be used for hiking, running, or horseback riding, but they are used most commonly for mountain biking.
The trails are well maintained and marked well throughout the park.
Horseback Ride through the Wild West
Really immerse yourself in the Wild West Atmosphere by taking a horseback ride through the desert. There are numerous different companies to choose from with a variety of trail rides.
Houston’s Trail Ride offers a 2-hour ride starting at $95 while Colossal Cave Riding Stables offers rides ranging from 18 minutes to 2 hours.
Go Spelunking at Colossal Cave Mountain Park
Have you ever wanted to go spelunking? (another fun word). Spelunking is (simply put), the exploration of caves.
If so, Colossal Cave Mountain Park is the perfect place to explore! Located in Arizona, the park has several caves and tunnels to explore, with a variety of rock formations and wildlife.
The classic cave tour runs daily on the hour (from 10 am to 3 pm), but if you are looking for a bit more adventure you need to make a reservation for the Ladder Tour. This is where the real spelunking begins. During this 1.5-hour tour, you’ll climb, squeeze and crawl your way around this mysterious cave system.
Immerse yourself in the Wildwest in Tombstone
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the Wild West, Tombstone is the perfect place to do it! The town is filled with history and culture, from saloons and showdowns to the famous O.K. Corral. You can explore the streets of the town, visit the various shops and attractions, and learn about the history of the Wild West. There are plenty of things to do and see, whether you’re looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway. So come on down to Tombstone and experience the Wild West for yourself!
Zipline across the Santa Catalina Moutains
I loooove a good zipline. It’s the perfect mix of adventure without being too scary (looking at you bungee jumping).
Arizona Zipline Adventures allows visitors to soar across the Sonoran Desert flora and fauna during their 5 line course. The Zipline Ecotour last about 2 hours with a bit of hiking in between each zipline.
Not-so-adventurous things to do in Tucson
(just in case you need a break from all the adventures)
- Tour the San Xavier del Bac Mission
- Check out a local escape room
- Admire the Art at the Tucson Museum of Art
- Visit the animals at the Funny Foot Farm
- Learn about Arizona history at the Arizona State Museum
- Watch a show at the Gaslight Theater
- Get a massage at a local spa
Where to Stay in Tucson
After a day full of adventures, you will definitely need somewhere cozy to stay! Below are some of my favorite recommendations!
- Budget-friendly Option: Hotel McCoy- A very highly rated budget-friendly option in Tucson! There’s even free breakfast, bike rentals, and an art gallery!
- Mid-range Option: La Posada Lodge and Casitas-This adobe-style hotel has beautifully decorated rooms, free breakfast, and amazing views!
- Luxury Option: JW Marriott Tucson– This 4.5-star resort has an on-site golf course, poolside bar, waterslide, full-service spa, yoga classes, and 3 delicious restaurants.
- Dog-friendly Option: La Quinta Inn– La Quinta’s are always a great option when traveling with pups! They are clean and budget-friendly options with free breakfast! This one is less than 2 minutes from the airport!
Wooooo, what a list! As you can see there are so many adventurous things to do in Tucson. It’s far more than just a desert! If you enjoyed this post, I’d love for you to come follow along in the USA adventures over on Instagram!
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