Sabino Canyon Recreation Area

With its convenient location and beautiful scenery, the canyon is a popular hiking destination in Tucson. The Seven Falls Trail, a roughly 8-mile (13-kilometer) jaunt through Bear Canyon, is an excellent introduction to area waterfalls and natural pools—typically a half-day hike. However, taking the electric tram halfway up the trail decreases hiking time. The Sabino Canyon Canyon Crawler, as the electric shuttle is called, departs from the Visitor Center every hour or 30 minutes.

• Day-use fees to enter the recreation area are US$8 per vehicle or US$10 weekly.

• Dogs are not allowed in the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.

• The Sabino Canyon Crawlers are wheelchair-accessible.

• Camping in the canyon is not permitted.

• Electric shuttles tour the canyon and take hikers to trailheads—and off them.

• There are 12 restrooms and many water fountains throughout the canyon.

The recreation area is in the Coronado National Forest at the edge of northeast Tucson. Since there's no public transit to the canyon, driving is the best way to reach it—from downtown Tucson, it's a roughly 20-minute drive through the Catalina Foothills to Sunset Drive and Sabino Canyon Road.

Sabino Canyon is open 24 hours a day, year-round; the visitor center is open daily from morning to late afternoon. The best time to visit is in cooler seasons, from October to May, which are ideal for comfortable hiking. The Sabino Canyon Crawler operates daily from morning to late afternoon, with slightly different schedules depending on the route and season.

The Sabino Canyon Crawler electric shuttles take travelers on two routes through the canyon. The Sabino Canyon route rolls through 7.4 miles (12 miles) of the canyon on a narrated tour with nine stops. The shorter Bear Canyon Route runs 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) without narration, stopping at the Sabino Canyon Dam picnic area and the Bear Canyon trailhead.