Attraction of the Week: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
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Since moving to this beautiful region, I have been hiking at least several times per month. The mountain scenery is so breathtaking and I love seeing the cacti up close on the trails. However, sometimes I need a break and would like to explore in a more maintained setting. For anyone who is interested in a more educational intro to the Sonoran desert, the Arizona-Sonora desert museum is a great place to start. There is not as much hiking involved, plus you get to enjoy several attractions for one price. This preserve includes a zoo, aquarium, botanical gardens, nature trails, and an art gallery all rolled into one.
While you could visit the Reid Park Zoo, Tucson Botanical Gardens, and Saguaro National Park separately, a visit to this museum saves you both money and time as these attractions are quite pricey as well as very spread out. Founded in 1952, the museum has become a favorite of both locals and tourists, and continues to be one of the region’s top tourist draws.
The wettest desert in North America is surprisingly home to an interesting mix of plant and animal life including the fascinating Saguaro cactus, which is only found in a few places in the world.
Exploring the Sonoran
This museum showcases the diverse range of animals and plants native to this region. There is a short half mile trek here called the Desert Loop trail. Great mountain views and a diverse variety of desert plant life surround you in every direction. The trail is much shorter than most of the hikes in the region, so a great intro option.
On a side note, I highly recommend checking out a few local trails during your visit. You will get to see dozens of varieties of cacti, including the stunning Saguaro. Since moving to Tucson, I have developed a fascination with cacti – my entire house is filled with cacti of every variety!
Botanical Gardens
More than 1200 varieties of desert plants can be explored via the botanical gardens. While the gardens are nice, it’s hard for regular hikers like myself to justify paying a premium to visit a garden as we can see the same plants in a more natural setting on any area trail. As I am a big hiker, I was not overly impressed with the gardens, although those who are not hikers will probably appreciate the gardens more. It’s still a lovely place where you get to see a nice variety of cacti all at once and it’s included with the overall admission ticket which is nice.
There are many gardens to explore here (16 in total), my favorite being the Cactus Garden. The Hummingbird Aviary is another relaxing place to take a stroll and has the major advantage of being mostly shady!
Since moving to Tucson, I have developed a fascination with cacti – my entire house is filled with cacti of every variety!
Wildlife exhibits
The museum is set up a bit different than your ordinary zoo as the animals are spread out in different sections, and viewable via a number of different trails totaling about 2 miles or so. Each animal has plenty of space and the surroundings mimic their natural environment. You will not find the typical cage layout at this non-profit.
As the summer season in Arizona is unbearably hot, many of the animals will be sleeping or attempting to find shade at this time of the year (can you blame them?), so plan your visit during the cooler season if your primary goal is to see as much wildlife as possible. In fact, this entire attraction is much more attractive during the cooler months.
At Cat Canyon, you will see bobcats and an ocelot. The cats are most active in the morning, so arrive early for your best shot of seeing them walking around. You’ll also find foxes and porcupine although they are not likely to be out and about during the summer!
On a side note, I have seen bobcats while hiking in this region, mostly the Linda Vista and Hidden Canyon trail at the JW Marriott resort. A bit scarier to see them in person and not at a zoo, but less scary than a possible mountain lion encounter!
The Desert Grassland walk will take you past a variety of succulent plants including the Yucca. Not really many animals in this area besides the prairie dog, although it’s still a scenic little walk.
The Life Underground exhibit is home to several species which make their homes underground including the ringtail and kangaroo rat. This area was pretty dark and we couldn’t really see much. If you are short on time, I recommend skipping this section.
As I mentioned earlier, there is one main trail. The Desert Loop trail is the longest walk at 1/2 mile and also devoid of any shade, so hike this one first if your visit falls from May-September. The area feels very natural as if you are hiking through the open desert. Coyotes and javelina both inhabit this area, although they will likely be taking shade during the summer.
The mountain views are quite beautiful. Lots of cacti as you can see. This is similar to the type of scenery you will see hiking anywhere else, although a bit more maintained and easier altogether.
A great place for birdwatching. I have learned that a lot of birdwatchers live in this state. We see walkers with binoculars and nature enthusiasts out and about at just about every park and attraction trying to capture the perfect photo.
The Riparian Corridor features river otter and bighorn sheep, although we didn’t see either during our trip. This section is particularly nice as there is plenty of shade and even a small stream.
The Mountain Woodlands is probably my favorite section of the park. This trail is particularly shady and home to the largest species in the park. The habitat includes pine and oak trees like you find naturally in the higher elevation mountain areas of the state.
White tailed deer, a black bear, cougar, and Mexican wolves can all be found here. We were lucky enough to see a beautiful mountain lion come right up to the glass! It’s surprising how big these cats are in person! Lets just say I am glad that I have never seen one on any of my hikes! While the bobcat we saw was obviously bigger than a housecat, really the build was so similar that it didn’t seem as scary. A mountain lion would be a different story.
A small aviary and a Hummingbird garden will please birdwatchers. Handy booklets to help you identify various species are available. If you look closely enough, you may be able to spot a few nests and baby hummingbirds!
Indoor exhibits: take a break from the heat!
Unfortunately, most of the museum is outdoors. However, there are a number of exhibits indoors if you need to escape the heat for a while including a small aquarium, an art gallery, and a cave exhibit featuring an impressive mineral collection. Additionally, there is a coffee shop, 2 restaurants, an ice cream stand, and a small gift shop with all sorts of cute cacti and regional themed gifts.
A few pics of the aquarium, which is quite small, although still a nice place to stroll around and escape the sun for a bit. Plus, there are eels and seahorses!
I love the eel tank! So cool to see them poking out of the sand!
Check out this fish burying itself in the sand. We almost missed it at first!
I have always wanted my own personal seahorse tank! This is one of my favorite exhibits at any aquarium.
For those intolerant to heat and sunshine, consider attending the Cool Summer Nights celebration, a special summer nightly held select Saturday nights from June through September. Honestly, it doesn’t help much with the actual air temps but the lack of intense sunshine really helps. Best to leave this one for the fall/winter!
Tips for a great visit
Bring with a water bottle. Drink up more than normal in any dry desert climate. There are numerous stations to refill throughout the park.
Check Groupon for deals. Recent deals have included 2 adult tickets for just 25 bucks!
Arrive right at opening. This will give you some time to walk the grounds without the unrelenting sun shining in your face. Plus, this is the best time to see the cats! As another bonus, it will be less crowded.
Wear comfortable shoes. There are several miles of trails here so you will want to dress comfortably. I also recommend workout clothes as you will be sweating! With 2 miles of trails in the intense sun, it feels more like an exercise session than a typical museum visit.
Eat breakfast beforehand as there are few on-site options. Here are a few local cafes I recommend.
Directions & Pricing Info
The museum is located at 2021 N Kinney Rd. It is open 365 days per year, from 8:30am-5pm from October-May and 7:30-2pm from June-late August. On Cool summer nights, the museum is open until 9:00pm. Rates are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, and $20 for children (3-12). Wheelchairs and strollers are available for rental. Pricing current as of 2025 – check the website for future updates.
