Sabino Canyon is a natural desert oasis located in Tucson, Arizona within the area's own Coronado National Forest. It is considered to be one of the best places in the area to observe the regional wildlife in its natural habitat, as well as to see the picturesque desert landscape itself at its very best.
One of the most popular ways to take in the natural beauty of Sabino Canyon is via the 3.8-mile narrated Sabino Canyon tram tour that is offered. The tour treats visitors to a 45-minute ride into the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains and makes nine different stops at intervals throughout the tour including several restroom stops, stops at a number of different hiking trails, and a stop at a picnic area near the beautiful Sabino Creek. After the tour reaches the ninth stop, guests will have the option of either riding back to the visitor's center on the tram or hiking back down under their own power via one of the canyon's beautiful hiking trails.
The trails available via different stops on this tour range in difficulty from very easy for those that prefer a mild, leisurely walk to very challenging for experienced hikers. The easiest of these trails would be the main road which is actually one of two flat, paved routes that the Sabino Canyon tram tours take. This trail lets hikers cross Sabino Creek over 9 beautiful stone bridges and can also be easily navigated by cyclists. Alternatively, hikers can take any one of the following trails. Blackett's Ridge Trail features steep switchbacks and heart-stopping views of the surrounding scenery. Telephone Line Trail offers an opportunity to view the creek bed and the surrounding Cottonwoods from a bird's eye view. Finally, Hutch's Pools is a popular location among hikers who are looking for a challenging hiking experience that shows them the creek at its best and most beautiful.
Alternatively, visitors to Sabino Canyon can opt for the Bear Canyon Trail tour, a non-narrated 2-mile ride that takes visitors by the Sabino Dam, as well as the Seven Falls trailhead. This tram ride features 3 stops along the way at a selection of hiking trails. Favorites among hikers who choose this tour include the Sabino Dam trail that offers not only a spectacular view of the dam itself, but also an opportunity to see some of the Gila Chub and Green Sunfish native to the waters there. Also popular is the Seven Falls trail which takes hikers over Sabino Creek and through a network of beautiful and relaxing wading pools.
In addition to the spectacular scenery, another highlight for visitors to Sabino Canyon is the abundant wildlife to be found in the area. Among the many creatures likely to cross your path are road runners, peccaries, white tail deer, tarantulas, and both Shovelnose and Western Hognose Snakes. Those interested in combining the ease and convenience of a tram tour with amazing opportunities to see wildlife may want to consider one of the canyon's night tours, specially scheduled to put visitors in the path of the indigenous creatures when they're most active.
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