Oases in Tucson?! Oh yeah.

I’d contend that Tucson is one of the best places to spend November – March. It’s sunny and dry. Temperatures seldom dip below 30 degrees. If you want to experience snow, but don’t want to shovel your driveway, Mt. Lemmon is an hour drive away and bound to get enough powder to open the ski lift to the public at least one or two weekends per year. Hiking, biking, rock climbing, a weekend or two of skiing and snowboarding: Tucson is one of the best places to be during the winter months if you like being active outside. Hiking is my go-to outdoor activity, particularly if the hike ends with me swimming in a body of water. If there is snow on the mountain, the waterfalls are bound to be flowing. It goes without saying, always bring lots of drinking water (I shoot for a liter per 3 miles, more is better than less), a hat, snacks, and wear sunscreen.

Seven Falls

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Seven Falls is a Tucson rite of passage and arguably the best day hike in the area. Located in Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, the hike to Seven Falls is roughly eight miles round trip, including seven Bear Creek crossings. The sound of running water in Bear Creek is like a gentle sound bath as you ascend the canyon towards the falls; saguaro cacti and prickly pear stand out amongst the grayish-blue and amber colored rock. If water is running, expect to see many people on the trail. Weekends are always busier than weekdays. Pets are not allowed anywhere in Sabino Canyon, so your four legged friend will have to stay home. There are technically two ways to get to the trailhead:

• Go in through the main entrance to Sabino Canyon, park, and walk or take the Bear Canyon tram to the trailhead. At time of writing, it’s $8 for a day pass to park a car in Sabino Canyon or $10 weekly. The Bear Canyon tram costs $8 for adults and $5 for children and one way rides. Latest fees may be found on the Sabino Canyon website. This option adds an additional mile and a half roundtrip to walk from the parking lot to the trailhead.
• Park at the Bear Canyon parking lot outside of Sabino Canyon and walk in. There is one additional creek to cross like 200 yards from the Bear Canyon parking lot before you get to the trailhead. This option is a shorter overall hike and doesn’t require payment to park the car. The disadvantage is the lot fills up very quickly – try to get there before 8AM to secure a parking spot. If the parking lot is full, there is usually parking in the median on Bear Canyon Road between East Saddleback Drive and East Bear Creek Drive.

The best advice I can offer is to bring a pair of sandals or water shoes for the creek crossings. The sandals must include heel support or you’ll lose them in the stream, so no flip flops! As soon as you get to the first crossing, change into the sandals or water shoes and proceed to wear them until you get to the falls. Outside of the heaviest rainfall, Bear Creek is never deeper than 3-4 inches and the generated current is gentle enough to walk directly on the bed of the creek through the running water. Wearing your hiking boots while crossing the creek out to Seven Falls leads to one of three outcomes:

• Pausing to take hiking boots off before walking directly on the bed of the creek barefoot; taking time to put boots back on once you’ve reached dry land again – this takes forever and is guaranteed to add at least an hour to the journey if you do it at every stop
• Realizing the water is only 3-4 inches deep, walking directly on the creek bed with your boots still on, soaking socks in the process, and going *squish* *squish* 🤮 the remainder of the seven mile hike
• Jumping from rock to rock, risking a slip and fall and socks still inevitably end up wet

All of this can be avoided if you bring a pair of sandals or water shoes! If your sense of humor is like mine, you’ll find it humorous watching all the people in hiking boots struggle to cross a shallow creek while you trek straight through. I had to learn the hard way, having tried all three of the aforementioned methods for crossing the creek. There is no cell service this deep into Sabino Canyon; both of the routes mentioned above should be downloaded for offline use using the AllTrails app. I personally like to go the Bear Canyon route to avoid paying the parking fee.

Tanque Verde Falls

The trailhead for Tanque Verde Falls can be found by driving an additional eight and a half miles east of Bear Canyon Road. Tanque Verde eventually turns into Redington Road, culminating in a bumpy drive down a dirt road. Fear not, the dirt road doesn’t require 4WD; I’ve seen my fair share of Toyota Corollas parked at the trailhead! You’re bound to find yourself amongst RVs, off road vehicles, ATVs, and van-lifers once you get to the Lower Tanque Verde Falls parking lot. The area surrounding the parking lot is congested on the weekend (especially when water is flowing!) and you may have to park along the side of the road. Be smart and don’t block access.

Seven Falls is an ascension up a canyon, Tanque Verde Falls is a descent into a canyon. The trail down to the canyon floor is easy for dogs and children. Many reach the canyon floor and chill around the pools of water. It’s a lovely spot to read a book, have a picnic, or take a nap in the sun. It can get windy in the canyon, finding a rock to block the wind is a smart move, especially if you plan to get in the water.

For those more adventurous, the crown jewel of Tanque Verde Falls is the 80 foot waterfall at the end of the Lower Tanque Verde Falls trail. Once down on the canyon floor the “trail” is nonexistent: it’s a primitive scramble over rocks, through creeks, and scaling cliffs with waterfalls crashing down next to you. I highly recommend bringing water shoes / sandals with good grip as the rocks have been smoothed from all the running water. Take it slow, a sprained ankle out here is very dangerous if it impacts your ability to get back out of the canyon. Be very careful if you want to attempt jumping off the rocks into the water. Always test the depths before attempting a jump or dive. The 80 foot waterfall at the end of the primitive scramble is so worth it!

Lower Tanque Verde Falls trail is an out and back trail so be sure to leave plenty of time to retrace your steps through the canyon. This definitely is not a trail you want to traverse in the dark. The time of day has a dramatic effect on the lighting and the shadows cast in the canyon.

A half mile further up Redington Road is the Upper Tanque Verde Falls trailhead which is typically quieter and not as congested as the lower parking lot. I typically come up here when I want to soak up the sun and lounge on the beach. The Upper Tanque Verde Falls trailhead is only a fifteen minute walk down to a clothing optional beach. There is a fire pit, a few waterfalls, and a decent size pool of water on the banks of the beach. Dogs are welcome at Tanque Verde Falls with the beach being a popular destination to go with your four legged friend. Pack a picnic and/or a book and enjoy!

It’s worth noting that the Tanque Verde Falls canyon is highly susceptible to flash flooding. If there is even a chance of rain, it’s best to stay clear as over 30 people have lost their lives in the canyon, most of them washed away by a flash flood. The canyon acts as a watershed for the Santa Catalina Mountains (including Mt. Lemmon) and the Rincon Mountains. This means that it can be dangerous even if it is raining far away in these mountain ranges, but not necessarily on you while in the canyon. I’ve heard accounts from people who have witnessed a flash flood and saw the water level rise 20 feet in 15 minutes. If it does begin to rain while you’re there, get out of the canyon and up to high ground as fast as you can!

Romero Pools

Romero Pools is located 20 minutes north of Tucson in Catalina State Park within the town of Oro Valley. I went to high school in Oro Valley and this hike is considered a rite of passage for adolescents growing up in OV – I remember doing it for the first time when I was 15. It’s currently $7 for a vehicle of four to enter Catalina State Park for the day, the latest fees can be found on their website. Dogs are allowed in the park, but must be kept on a leash. Dogs are not allowed on the trail up to Romero Pools (see AllTrails route for a marker that shows where they are allowed to). Also worth noting is the park was damaged during the 2018 Bighorn fire; there are charred areas that are more prone to flash flooding. If swimming is your intent, it’s best to do this trail after snowfall or heavy rainfall on Mt. Lemmon.

This hike is challenging, but incredibly well marked with signage. Roughly six and a quarter miles roundtrip, this hike first crosses Sutherland Wash before leading up a hill and through a clearing with beautiful views of the Santa Catalina mountains, towering bicentennial aged saguaro, fuzzy cholla cacti, and horse shoe imprints that serve as evidence of the equines who came before you. The depth of water and strength of the current in Sutherland Wash is a good indicator of how much water to expect when you get up to the pools. After trekking through the clearing, you reach a fork in the trail, going left takes you up a staircase to Romero Pools, going right takes you to the smaller Montrose Pools. For those who don’t want to trek the whole three and a half miles in to Romero Pools, Montrose Pools is a nice consolation price. If you decide to go to Romero Pools, you’ll be ascending 1350 feet up a winding mountain trail with incredible panoramic views of the Santa Catalina mountains above and a bird’s eye view of the town of Oro Valley below. The trail is well maintained and doesn’t contain any obstacles of noteworthy difficulty. You know you’re getting close to the pools when you can hear the water running. There is limited cell service in Catalina State Park; the route to Romero Pools should be downloaded for offline use using the AllTrails app. Once the initial set of pools are reached and you’re forced to cross (I call this area “Romero River” due to the strong current and powerful falls), keep going an extra quarter mile to get to the “main” attraction. The long trek up is rewarded with a beautiful waterfall and a pool deep enough to comfortably plunge in!

Catalina State Park has more sedentary entertainment offerings: including a monthly Music in The Mountains concert series, Nature Program that highlights various wildlife that can be found in the park, and their awesome Star Parties that exploit the park’s status as an International Dark Sky Park. If you plan accordingly, the $7 spent for a day pass can keep you entertained for the whole day!

Bridal Wreath Falls

Originally when I posted this, Bridal Wreath Falls was in the honorable mentions section, mainly because I had only ever been when the fall was a mere trickle. I’ve recently been when the falls were flowing and it is a beauty to behold! Located in Saguaro National Park Rincon district, Bridal Wreath Falls is a seasonal waterfall that is fed by snowmelt / rain in the Rincon Mountains. Horses are allowed and you may seem some walking the trails! There are dedicated paths for horses and hikers.

The hike out is not too intense with very few stream crossings. If the falls are running, expect a good crowd on the way out and at the falls. Once you get to the falls, there’s a little path off to the right of the hitching post that leads up to the upper falls. For those brave enough, there is a rock right next to the drop point for the lower falls – laying down on this rock and meditating while the water is flowing is a triangulated sound bath that was delightful to the senses!

Chiva Falls

Originally when I posted this, Chiva Falls was in the honorable mentions section, mainly because I heard stories about how difficult it is to get there. The trailhead is an extra four miles down the dirt road past the Lower Tanque Verde Falls Trailhead – a vehicle with high clearance, mountain bike, or off road vehicle is strongly recommended as you can definitely mess your car up getting out there! 4×4 or AWD is not required; I made it out in my 2WD Toyota RAV4 and saw a few sedans past mile marker six. If you’re following AllTrails for this one, the trailhead is a longgg way from the waterfall. It took me two boring hours to walk up to the falls from the AllTrails entry point on Redington Rd. Two hours of hearing gun shots out in the distance, climbing over rocks, stepping through puddles, and not having much to look at. There’s a psychological factor at play here because this trail is truly an off-roading destination, not so much a hiking trail. I kept thinking to myself “I wish I was in that vehicle right now!” As you approach on foot you’ll be sharing the road with trucks, jeeps, Sidekicks, ATVs, dirt bikes, and dune buggies. Walking up from Redington is bound to get you some funny looks from all the off-roaders. Some carry guns on their hips, but fear not, this community is incredibly kind hearted. Something about being way out in the wilderness brings out random acts of kindness. On my way out to the falls I ran into a big group of guys who had rode their off road vehicles out to the staging area for Chiva. I was passing through and they were munching on Chuck Roast sandwiches and sipping beer. I walked past and they offered me a sandwich and a beer! Thank you so much Jason, the Chuck Roast was delicious!!

The falls are gorgeous. They just appear out of the side of the mountain. You’re walking along and boom! Chiva Falls is in your face. The water was warm when I went, probably in the 50s. The water is not deep enough to jump into, but wading was comfortable and I was able to get my shoulders down. The current was gentle. There’s a cool little cave behind the falls that is fantastic to sit in and read a book. It’s a bit of a primitive scramble to get to the cave (the rocks are slippery when wet), but I was able to do the whole hike in my Chacos (I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you).

While I was at the falls I ran into a group of off-roaders who were taking pictures after my swim. We exchanged pleasantries and I set off back towards the car, expecting a two hour walk. About 45 minutes into the walk, they came mobbing up in their trucks and asked if I wanted a ride back to the parking lot. Thank you for the ride and the good conversation Jake!! Saved me a good hour walk back.

Honorable Mentions

Factors taken into consideration before these destinations were chosen for this blogpost include:

• Ease of trailhead access
• Confirmed day hike
• Confirmed swimming opportunities
• No bushwhacking
• Likelihood of water after snowmelt / heavy rain
• Scenic appeal

There are other oases to see in Tucson that fell just outside of the selection criteria I used:

• Sabino Canyon
  • This is my go to suggestion for those who want to enjoy the water without having to hike to get to it. Perfect for those with children or the elderly. $8 per day, $10 per week, Tucson locals can get an annual pass for $40. There’s a tram that leaves every 30 minutes from 9AM – 4PM that will take you into the Canyon. Pools and waterfalls are accessible off the main road. It’s a lovely place to grab sandwiches from Dickmans, have a picnic, and chill out in a hammock. Worst case you miss the last tram and have to walk out, it’s only ~3.75 miles along a paved road from the last tram stop to the parking lot. On the weekends this place fills up fast. If you show up at 11 the main lot and overflow lot may already be full. If this is the case, try going to Tanque Verde Falls.
• Hutch’s Pool
  • This one is a longgg hike to get to starting from the last tram stop in Sabino Canyon. Most camp out by the pool as doing the roundtrip back to Sabino Canyon parking lot in a single day (assuming you don’t ride the tram either direction) is pushing 15 miles. For those seeking solitude, this hike is great as you’re walking through untouched Pusch Ridge Wilderness. I went one time expecting flowing pools and it was more like a pond. Thankfully I rode the tram in but missed the last tram out – 12 miles was a long way to go for a pond!
• Lemmon Pools
  • Located in the Wilderness of Rocks, this one is a longgg hike to get to with a nebulous trail to follow.
• Novio Falls
  • Located off the Butterfly Trail Loop on Mt Lemmon, the trail to this one passes a popular outdoor bouldering course. The pool is very small and nice to have a picnic or meditate by.
• Maiden Pools
  • The hike up to this one feels very similar to Sabino Canyon as you are seranaded by the sound of a running creek for most of the hike and cross the stream in Ventana Canyon Wash a dozen or so times. Driving up to the trailhead is scenic in itself as you get an up close view of all the fancy foothills mansions. The trailhead begins in the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort parking lot (parking is free). As you get closer to the pools, mile three is mostly uphill with a set of killer switchbacks. If the stream is sufficiently flowing, there is no need to go all three miles out to the pools to find water deep enough to put your feet in. If you do make the trek out, you’re rewarded with a set of pools deep enough to wade in. There’s some really cool shaded overhangs next to the pools that are perfect to read a book or have a picnic at.

November – March is a prime time to dwell in the Old Pueblo. There’s a plethora of awesome outdoor activities to get into, hiking to bodies of water being one of them! It’s definitely my favorite time of year to live in Tucson.