15 Places for Incredible Views in Tucson, Arizona
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Incredible views in Tucson and surrounding areas are very easy to come across. The Sonoran desert oasis, surrounded by 4 prominent mountain ranges, truly is a stunning place. I recommend every hiker to plan a vacation here especially over nearby Phoenix which gets most of the attention. The gorgeous exotic Saguaro cactus dots the landscape at every state and national park. Plus, there are 4 incredible mountain ranges here which provide a stunning backdrop to most hikes.
Being a big 80’s movie buff, I’ve always wanted to check out the area as Can’t Buy Me Love (filmed at various places throughout the city including the famous Airplane Graveyard) was (and still is) one of my favorite movies. My wish came true after relocating here. I have to say that I was more than impressed with the beautiful natural recreation options (the trails are so much more beautiful than anything you will find in Phoenix).
From the enchanting Saguaro National Park, to convenient Catalina State Park in suburban Oro Valley, to the breathtaking Catalina Byway which takes you on an exhilarating 30 mile drive up to the cool pines of Mount Lemmon, there are no shortage of ways to take in the grand cacti and mountain views.
After living in the metro for roughly 2 years, I have come up with my guide to the most stunning viewpoints you need to add to your bucket list. I’ve explored the area thoroughly and there are some areas that I come back to more frequently. Some of these viewpoints require a hike, whereas others you can enjoy via a scenic drive, biking trail, and even a visit to the national park.
1. Tumamoc Hill
Tumamoc Hill is a city landmark, a fabulous place to enjoy an intense workout while simultaneously taking in the tremendous scenery of the city and surrounding mountains. The University of Arizona College of Science owns the land, but thankfully it is open to the public for hiking from 4am-10pm. The steep hike up the 700 foot hill is a challenge for sure, consisting of a mile and a half of nearly straight incline.
The views are motivating enough for avid fitness buffs to continue on, while newbies often go half way up and turn back (the views are still fabulous!). During your trek, you will see so many different people of various fitness abilities enjoying the experience. The overall atmosphere is very uplifting and everyone seems motivated by the beautiful desert scenery.
This is my favorite place to hike within the city limits – I find the scenery and vibe just incredibly motivating. If you keep going, the views from the summit are simply outstanding. Thankfully, the trek downhill is easy, giving you time to relax and enjoy the views after all your hard effort.
Tumamoc Hill is the best place in town to enjoy a desert sunrise or sunset. Fortunately, the trailhead opens at 4am so you can get out well before the heat hits, that is if you can drag yourself out of bed!
On a side note, if you look towards the right of my bright orange tank top, you will see a big orange orb. I’ve noticed a lot of these since moving out here. In Sedona, you can take various New Age tours. Basically, these orbs are said to be signs of a spiritual presence. Orange means protection or a guardian angel energy. Pretty cool!
2. Canada del Oro Riverfront Path
With mild temps more than half of the year, numerous paved bike paths, bike lanes, and scenic views in most every direction, Tucson is a great city for cyclists. And super popular too: I see cyclists every single weekend. Anytime I enjoy weekend brunch at the fabulous Mercado San Agustin, I see big groups fueling up for their long rides.
This city is home to a number of scenic bike paths, my favorite being the 11 mile paved Canada del Oro Riverfront path. This picturesque trail is located in Oro Valley, a beautiful serene suburb just north of Tucson. This is where I live (my apartment actually backs up to this wonderful trail), and thus, I put in some miles biking and running on this path. I relocated here from Flagstaff which is an A+ for hiking but the paved biking paths are definitely limited. The incredible cycling opportunities here definitely earn the city some bonus points.
This path features incredible views of the Catalina mountains. The lack of road crossings and a refreshing absence of traffic noise means you can enjoy an uninterrupted ride. Most of the course is flat, thus making it a great place for jogging and walking, in addition to bike riding.
Access to various parks, golf courses, and a weekend farmer’s market (the year-round Heirloom Farmer’s Market at Oro Valley’s historic Steam Pump Ranch) gives you plenty of options for detours along the way. This path also connects to the Loop (a 100 mile long trail along the Rillito River), so those looking for a longer ride may want to consider connecting to another great trail.
3. Hidden Canyon
Hidden Canyon is a breathtaking scenic, short trail located at the low-key JW Marriott at Starr Pass Resort. This trail sees little traffic, is short & easy, and features terrific overlooks of the Tucson mountains for the entirety of its’ course. If you are seeking a scenic, quiet, & easy trail all rolled into one, you’ve found it here. I almost hate giving away the secret because this trail is just so peaceful and just screams desert with all the cacti covering the mountains.
It’s so quiet that I have seen many deer, bobcat, and even javelina. This is one of only 2 trails (the other being Linda Vista) where I’ve seen bobcats outside of the zoo which is pretty cool.
The shear amount of desert beauty you get to enjoy in exchange for an easy 2 mile stroll is truly astonishing. I hike this trail frequently on weekends where I want to avoid tourist crowds and high admission fees (it’s free to park here).
4. Catalina State Park
Catalina State Park is an often overlooked hiking oasis, as it located a bit outside of the city in the suburb of Oro Valley. As this park is located in the midst of the stunning Catalina mountains, the scenery on every trail is top notch. Towering mountains and Saguaro, along with other exotic desert plant life, line all the trails.
According to the park’s website, more than 5000 saguaros call the area home. Although Saguaro NP sees more traffic, Catalina SP is just as majestic (not to mention cheaper and way less crowded!). It’s more beautiful in my opinion. I just love the Catalina mountains! Hiking here never gets old, and thankfully, I live just down the road so I can get here before the extreme summer heat hits.
The diversity of trails, from a 1 mile easy nature stroll, to a 9 mile endurance challenge, means everyone, no matter their fitness level, can find a trail to fit their ability. I recommend beginners start on the 2 mile Canyon Nature Loop. This is a gorgeous hike and not overly taxing.
Also be on the lookout for special events. The park hosts a number of guided walks include birdwatching (more than 150 species have been identified here!), geology, landscape photography tours, and more!
5. Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is one of my favorite national parks I’ve visited thus far. The scenery is so different than what you would see anywhere else which makes it really special. With exotic cacti and enchanting desert mountain landscapes, abundant wildlife sightings, a great visitor’s center, and interesting ranger programs throughout the year, this is one to add to your bucket list for sure.
As a local, I prefer to hike elsewhere, but this national park is really a great first stop for visitors. In fact, it was my first stop in the city years ago when I took a weekend roadtrip from Flagstaff. You can learn more about the ecosystem, sign up for special events, explore the great visitor’s center, and hike some easy nature trails to get more aquainted with the desert. This is what makes visiting a national park so fantastic.
The massive park is split into 2 sections, one featuring the better mountain views and a nicer paved scenic drive (Rincon Mountain entrance), and the other being home to one of the highest concentrations of cacti (Tucson Mountain entrance).
Since your admission actually includes entry to both (within a 7 day period), I recommend visiting both if you have the time. I highly recommend the Valley View overlook trail for the wonderful cacti scenery and the Signal Hill trail which features some cool ancient petroglyphs.
