This little checklist might be helpful when you find yourself soaking up the Spring sunshine, yearning to wander across our glorious Sonoran landscape. Here are a few Southern Arizona destinations to explore:
Tucson Area
Saguaro National Park (East and West)
- Location: Two districts — East and West of Tucson
- Distance: 15-20 miles from downtown Tucson
- Fee: $25 per vehicle (valid for seven days), $20 for motorcycles
- Notable features: Home to the nation's most enormous cacti, some more than 150 years old
- Wildlife: Gila woodpeckers, cactus wrens, great horned owls, and Harris hawks
- Best time to visit: March-May for wildflower blooms, including saguaros
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
- Location: West of Tucson over the Tucson Mountains
- Distance: 14 miles west of downtown
- Fee: $29.95 adults, $19.95 children (3-12)
- Features: Living museum with 97% outdoor experience
- Wildlife: Mountain lions, Mexican wolves, thick-billed parrots, desert tortoises
- Special note: Free flight raptor demonstrations seasonally
Mission San Xavier del Bac
- Location: South of Tucson
- Distance: 10 miles south of downtown
- Fee: Free (donations appreciated)
- Features: Finest example of Spanish colonial architecture in the U.S.
- Built: Late 1700s, known as "White Dove of the Desert"
- Note: Active church with regular services
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
- Location: Northeast Tucson
- Distance: 12 miles from downtown
- Fee: $8 per vehicle, tram rides $15 for adults, $8 for children
- Features: Dramatic desert canyon with seasonal streams
- Wildlife: Black bears, coatimundi, elegant trogon (rare)
- Best for: Hiking, swimming (seasonal), tram rides
Gates Pass
- Location: Tucson Mountains (on the way to the Desert Museum!)
- Distance: 8 miles from downtown
- Fee: Free
- Features: Most dramatic sunset viewing spot in Tucson
- Wildlife: Harris's hawks, desert bighorn sheep
- Note: Limited parking, arrive early for sunset
Southeast Arizona
Chiricahua National Monument
- Location: Willcox area
- Distance: 120 miles southeast of Tucson
- Fee: $10 per vehicle
- Features: "Wonderland of Rocks" with unique, towering rock formations
- Wildlife: Mexican chickadees, bridled titmouse, elegant trogon
- Note: Dark sky viewing site
Kartchner Caverns State Park
- Location: Benson area
- Distance: 50 miles southeast of Tucson
- Fee: $7 park entrance, cave tours $23-28
- Features: Living limestone cave system
- Wildlife: Cave-dwelling bats (seasonal)
- Note: Reservations recommended for cave tours
Ramsey Canyon Preserve
- Location: Sierra Vista area
- Distance: 85 miles southeast of Tucson
- Fee: $8 adults, free for Nature Conservancy members
- Features: "Hummingbird Capital" of the U.S.
- Wildlife: 15 hummingbird species, elegant trogon, spotted owls
- Best time: April-September for hummingbirds
Coronado National Memorial
- Location: Sierra Vista area
- Distance: 90 miles southeast of Tucson
- Fee: Free
- Features: Commemorates Coronado's expedition, cave system
- Wildlife: Coatimundi, mountain lions, various raptors
- Note: Cave requires flashlights and sturdy shoes
Tombstone
- Distance: 70 miles southeast of Tucson
- Fee: Various for attractions ($10-20 for most)
- Features: Historic "Town Too Tough to Die"
- Notable: OK Corral, Bird Cage Theatre
- Note: Many buildings from 1880s still standing
Southwest Arizona
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
- Location: Ajo area
- Distance: 150 miles southwest of Tucson
- Fee: $25 per vehicle
- Features: Only place in U.S. where organ pipe cacti grow wild
- Wildlife: Sonoran pronghorn, lesser long-nosed bats
- Note: Some areas require guided tours
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
- Location: Sasabe area
- Distance: 60 miles southwest of Tucson
- Fee: Free
- Features: 118,000 acres of grassland
- Wildlife: Masked bobwhite quail, pronghorn antelope
- Best time: October-April for birding
Arivaca Cienega
- Location: Arivaca
- Distance: 60 miles southwest of Tucson
- Fee: Free
- Features: Rare desert wetland (a cienega) with seven springs
- Wildlife: Over 300 bird species, including vermilion flycatchers
- Note: Best visited early morning
Sky Islands and More!
Mount Lemmon
- Location: Santa Catalina Mountains
- Distance: 30 miles from downtown Tucson
- Fee: $5 parking fee at some sites
- Features: Sky island ecosystem, skiing in winter (sometimes!)
- Wildlife: Black bears, Mount Graham red squirrels
- Note: 30-degree temperature drop from Tucson
Madera Canyon
- Location: Santa Rita Mountains
- Distance: 45 miles south of Tucson
- Fee: $5 parking fee
- Features: Premier birding site
- Wildlife: More than 250 bird species, including 15 hummingbird species
- Best time: April-September for birds. Lots and lots of birds.
Carr Canyon
- Location: Huachuca Mountains
- Distance: 85 miles southeast of Tucson
- Fee: Free
- Features: High-elevation forest
- Wildlife: Red-faced warblers, painted redstarts, coatimundi
- Note: Rough dirt road access
Fort Bowie National Historic Site
- Location: Bowie area
- Distance: 120 miles southeast of Tucson
- Fee: Free
- Features: Apache Wars historic site
- Wildlife: Scaled quail, curved-bill thrashers
- Note: 1.5-mile hike required to reach ruins
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area
- Location: Sierra Vista area
- Distance: 75 miles southeast of Tucson
- Fee: Free
- Features: Desert river ecosystem
- Wildlife: Yellow-billed cuckoos, southwestern willow flycatchers
- Best time: Spring and fall migrations
Sonoita Creek State Natural Area
- Location: Patagonia area
- Distance: 65 miles southeast of Tucson
- Fee: $15 per vehicle
- Features: Rare permanent desert stream
- Wildlife: Gray hawks, common black hawks
- Best time: March-October
Las Cienegas National Conservation Area
- Location: Sonoita area
- Distance: 45 miles southeast of Tucson
- Fee: Free
- Features: Historic ranch and grasslands
- Wildlife: Pronghorn, grassland sparrows
- Note: Some roads require high clearance
Willcox Playa Wildlife Area
- Location: Willcox
- Distance: 80 miles east of Tucson
- Fee: Free
- Features: Seasonal lake bed
- Wildlife: Sandhill cranes (winter), shorebirds
- Best time: November-February
Catalina State Park
- Location: Oro Valley
- Distance: 15 miles north of Tucson
- Fee: $7 per vehicle
- Features: Desert foothills and canyons
- Wildlife: Desert bighorn sheep, Cooper's hawks
- Best for: Spring wildflowers
Bog Springs Campground
- Location: Santa Rita Mountains
- Distance: 50 miles southeast of Tucson
- Fee: $20 camping fee
- Features: High-elevation springs
- Wildlife: Sulphur-bellied flycatchers, Arizona woodpeckers
- Note: First-come, first-served camping
Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area
- Location: McNeal area
- Distance: 100 miles southeast of Tucson
- Fee: Free
- Features: Seasonal wetland
- Wildlife: 20,000+ sandhill cranes (winter), waterfowl
- Best time: November-February
Garden Canyon
- Location: Fort Huachuca
- Distance: 85 miles southeast of Tucson
- Fee: Free (military base access required)
- Features: Native American pictographs
- Wildlife: Elegant trogon, spotted owls
- Note: Must obtain base access permit
General Tips...
- Best visiting seasons: October-April for most sites
- Bring plenty of water year-round
- Many sites require high-clearance vehicles
- Check road conditions before remote visits
- Early morning and evening are best for wildlife viewing
- Some locations require advance permits or reservations
- Always check current conditions and fees before visiting
A handy list for visitors seeking a spontaneous road trip in southern Arizona.