As you drive into Tucson, you'll notice this desert city is surrounded on all sides by mountains, including Mount Lemmon, the tallest peak in the Santa Catalina range. There are over 150 local hiking trails on the menu, with Tucsonans tending to rhapsodize over the more popular areas. A paved path beckons leisurely walkers to well-known Sabino Canyon, while more advanced hikers flock to challenging routes like Finger Rock, and waterfall seekers head to beloved Seven Falls and Tanque Verde. But surprisingly,
Sweetwater Preserve's 880 acres of remarkable terrain continue to fly under the radar.
As early as 1927, the land that is now the preserve belonged to railway machinist Joseph Conrad Fraps, who built a tiny wooden shack and lived there until his passing in 1963. Today, the preserve is perfectly located for out-of-towners and locals alike, offering a smorgasbord of trails that are highly accessible from the I-10, 20 minutes from downtown Tucson, or 26 minutes from Tucson International Airport for those flying in. The preserve is located on the city's northwest side near Saguaro National Park and the University of Arizona's preserve dedicated to biological research.
Chances are you'll want to get settled in a nearby hotel first, and luckily, Tucson's famous Miracle Mile neighborhood is just 15 minutes away. This street is on the National Register of Historic Places and has preserved several iconic motels and their retro neon signs. If you prefer something more rural, Gilbert Ray Campground is one of the closest desert camping spots, around a 27-minute drive from the preserve trailhead. And the excellently rated rental property, La Puerta Azul, is even closer and serves up incredible sunset views of the mountains as you dip into the pool after a hard day's hike.
Read more: The 5 Best Hidden Hot Spring Hikes In California
Scenic Cycling In Sweetwater Preserve
As long as the sun is up, the preserve is open for mountain biking (as well as hiking, trail running, and horseback riding), with routes between half a mile and 1.6 miles long. If Tucson Mountain Park is one of Arizona's wildly underrated areas for bike trails, then Sweetwater, less than a 20-minute drive to the north from Tucson Mountain Park, might be even more of a hidden cycling hotspot, providing 15 miles of rugged desert paths to traverse.
The mountain biking community on MTB Project gives the Sweetwater singletracks 4.4 stars out of 5, and while most users classify the area as intermediate level, others think it's ideal for beginners. Riders of all abilities can get creative on the interconnecting trails that make it easy to design bespoke circuits, but first-timers may want to follow a trail regularly ridden by Strava users, which encompasses Desperado Loop, Black Rock Loop, and Sun Circle Loop. Visitors warn that there's no shade in the preserve, so take what you need to beat the heat. That means plenty of water, a wide-brimmed hat, and high-factor sunscreen. The desert is no joke, so know your limits and be ready to call it quits in the furnace-esque temperatures of summer.
The preserve lies at the foothills of the Tucson Mountains, so cyclists can enjoy views that are spectacular while still feeling a sense of remoteness. One TripAdvisor reviewer said, "This place is close to civilization and yet when you're there, you feel like you're in the middle of the desert." Although you'll need to vacate the preserve after dark, don't forget to look up as you head back to your lodgings — Tucson is one of the best stargazing destinations in the world.
Hike In The Tucson Mountain Foothills
Hiking routes here range from family-friendly to tough, with some boasting 511 feet of elevation. The Saguaro Vista Trail Loop is a well-liked 2.3-miler that will have you surrounded by palo verde trees, ocotillo, and other shrubbery unique to the desert climate. You might even spot a foraging javelina or a dinky desert tortoise. Remember, while Sweetwater Preserve is a magnificent location to visit, its main purpose is to protect wildlife, so help keep this area tidy and tranquil for local critters.
Sweetwater happens to be home to one of nature's most eccentric anomalies — the crested saguaro. Set off on the Saguaro Vista Trail and you'll find one of these quirky cacti on your left around half a mile in. You'll know it by its mutated, bulbous top. Only one in every 10,000 saguaros is crested, and so spotting one is kind of like the desert's version of a four-leaf clover. There are thought to be only 75 of these in the nearby underrated gem of a park with breathtaking desert scenery known as Saguaro National Park.
Leashed furry friends are permitted to visit Sweetwater, and a best-kept secret is that less than 10 minutes' drive from the trailhead is Pima Animal Care Center (PACC). They're always in need of volunteers to take four-legged residents out on doggy day hikes, and the center's behavioral team selects amiable dogs who love the outdoors. Taking a well-behaved and very grateful pal on your hike helps to lower their kennel stress and makes them 14 times more likely to find their forever home. One day-hiking human told Tucson.com, "...anytime out of the shelter helps improve that dog, trust humans more, and see the world for the beauty that it really is." We can't think of a more heartwarming way to experience Sweetwater Preserve.
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Read the original article on Islands.
