UNIQUE TUCSON ATTRACTIONS
12 UNIQUE TUCSON ATTRACTIONS
FOUND ONLY IN THE TUCSON MOUNTAINS.
Many of Tucson’s most popular and unique attractions are in the Tucson Mountains. Visit a national park with one of the densest Saguaro forests in the world. Tour a National Historic Landmark founded as a Catholic mission in the 17th century. Enjoy a spectacular sunset from one of the top viewing spots in the country. Hike through a natural museum where 85% of the exhibits are outdoors. Win big in one of Arizona’s finest casinos. All these great Tucson attractions and more are just west of downtown.
ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM
Sidehill Sam Sez;
The Desert Museum was voted one of the top 10 museums in the country!
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is unlike any museum you have ever visited. It combines a zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, natural history museum, publisher, and art gallery, all in a single location. Plus, 85% of the attractions are outdoors.
Two miles of walking paths connect natural displays of plants and animals native to the Sonora Desert. The Botanical Gardens have 56,000 individual plant specimens from 1,200 taxa. Animals are displayed in large natural settings. Displays include a mountain lion, black bear, Mexican grey wolves, javelinas, bighorn sheep, coyotes, bobcats, along with nearly 240 additional species.
Live Animal Presentations — The Raptor Free Flight presentation occurs in the open desert directly overhead of the spectators. Live animal presentations, docent tours, and demonstrations scheduled throughout the day.
Bird and Hummingbird Aviaries — Two aviaries allow you to sit directly inside a tranquil and shady setting. The bird aviary has 20 species, and the hummingbird aviary is a favorite of photographers.
Warden Aquarium — Fourteen tanks are on display within the 1,100 square foot aquarium exhibit. Aquatic species include those found in the freshwater rivers of the Sonora Desert and the Sea of Cortez.
Stingray Touch — Stingrays in the desert? Yes, the Sonora Desert extends down to the Sea of Cortez. You can safely touch and even feed the stingrays. You won’t get stung! The Stingrays have had their barbs removed.
Packrat Playhouse — Kids love the large indoor air-conditioned playhouse. They can slide, climb, scramble, and explore a playground built to look like an underground den.
Mineral and Fossil Collection — The Geological Sciences Center Has over 16,853 specimens of minerals and fossils, including museum-quality gems found in local mines.
Dine & Shop — Park attendees can enjoy a relaxed dining experience in Ocotillo Café or the Ironwood Terraces. Souvenirs, books, hats, sunglasses, and gifts are available at the gift shop.
The museum was founded in 1952 and dedicated itself to the interpretation of the bi-national Sonora Desert region. It is one of the most popular Tucson attractions.
AZ – Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N. Kinney Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85743
520-883-2702
Open daily year round. Hours vary by season, Visit website or call before you plan your visit.
Sidehill Sam Recommends
SAN XAVIER MISSION DEL BAC
San Xavier Mission del Bac, the White Dove of the Desert, is a historic Spanish Catholic mission located about 10 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona. It’s located on the Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation.
San Xavier is part of a chain of missions that start in Mexico and move northward into Arizona. The Mission was founded by Father Kino in 1700, and the current white stucco church stands on the spot Father Kino selected. Construction on the present church started in 1783 and completed in 1797. It became a national historic landmark in 1963. It is still an active Catholic parish serving the Tohono O’odham tribe.
Grotto Hill — A small hill topped with a large white cross is located 300 feet east of the Mission. A trail takes you up and around the hill. On the north side, there is a replica of the Grotto of Lourdes.
Mission Museum — The museum located within the Mission explains more about its history through artifacts and a 20-minute video. Admission is free, and donations are appreciated. Memorial candles can be purchased and lit to honor loved ones.
Gift Shop — Souvenirs, religious gifts, and Tohono O’odham baskets made on the reservation are available.
Indian Fry Bread — The aroma and a tasty plate of warm Indian Fry Bread cooked over mesquite fires is another benefit of visiting the Mission.
Public Tours — The Patronato San Xavier offers visitors free docent-led tours of the Mission San Xavier several times a day, Monday through Saturday. Each tour is approximately 45 minutes, begins at the museum entrance, and requires no advance registration.
San Xavier Mission Del Bac
1950 W San Xavier Rd
Tucson, AZ 85746
520-294-2624
https://patronatosanxavier.org/about/history/
Church — 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM Daily
Museum — 8:00 Am – 4:30 PM daily
Church — Free Admission
Museum — Donations appreciated
SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK WEST
Saguaro National Park consists of two separate areas—the Tucson Mountain District (TMD), about 10 miles west of the city of Tucson, and the Rincon Mountain District about 10 miles (16 km) east of the city.
The Tucson Mountain District, also called Saguaro National Park West, was created in 1961 by President Kennedy as a National Monument. It was elevated to a National Park by Congress in 1994. The park offers a variety of activities and attractions.
Giant Saguaro Cactus — Known as the universal symbol of the west, the saguaro is the largest cactus found in the United States and is located only in the Sonora Desert. The park has one of the densest forests of Saguaros in the world.
Hiking Trails — The Park presents over 60 miles of hiking trails. There is no camping in the park, and most of the trails are shorter and intersect, making it perfect for day hikes and creating longer loops.
Red Hills Visitor Center — The modern visitor center provides spectacular views of mountains and Saguaros right from its shaded back porch. The center has cultural and natural history exhibits of the Sonora Desert. You can see a 15-minute program called “Voices of the Desert,” giving a Native American perspective of the Sonora Desert. There is also a great bookstore run by the Western National Parks Association.
Indian Petroglyphs — Most of the rock art found in Saguaro National Park was created hundreds and possibly thousands of years ago by the prehistoric Hohokam and is in the form of petroglyphs. These were created by etching, pecking, or scraping designs into the dark patina found on the surface of sandstone and other rocks. The petroglyphs can be seen from numerous trails.
Wildlife — Saguaro National Park contains a great variety of unusual animals, some of which can only found in southern Arizona. Roadrunners, horned lizards, Gila monsters, kangaroo rats, and collared peccaries (javelinas) are all seen regularly by visitors. Other common mammals include mountain lions, mule deer, coyotes, bobcats, ringtail cats, gray foxes, and many others. Visit the Tucson Wildlife Photo or Video Gallery.
Saguaro National Park West
2700 N. Kinney Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85743
520-733-5158
History of the Park:
http://npshistory.com/publications/sagu/adhi.pdf
Visitor Center — 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed Christmas
Sidehill Sam Recommends
CASINO DEL SOL
Casino Del Sol is a diamond in the desert. In fact, a AAA Four-Diamond resort nestled in the secluded mesquites of the high desert next to the Tucson Mountains. The resort offers a complete package to its guests, including first-class accommodations, fine dining, a wide variety of gambling options, and much more.
Poker — Over 1,300 slot machines, Blackjack, Pai Gow, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’Em and more.
Food & Drink — Your choice of 10 different restaurants/lounges offering a variety of choices from extensive 8-course meals to authentic Mexican snacks.
Pool — Complete with pool deck, pool bar, and 14- foot water slide.
Haipsi Spa — Romance packages, body treatments and relaxation massages available.
Sewailo Golf Course — Designed by Native American pro golfer Notah Begay III and is home to the University of Arizona men’s and women’s golf team. More Info.
Casino Del Sol RV Park — State-of-the-art RV park will accommodate approximately 73 RV stalls. More Info.
Estrella Hotel — A 151-room hotel with stunning views of the property and the surrounding Sonoran Desert, including suites and poolside rooms. More Info.
Casino Del Sol
5655 W Valencia Rd
Tucson, AZ 85767
855-765-7829
Open 24 hours.
Check website or call for holiday hours.
TUCSON MOUNTAIN PARK
Sidehill Sam Sez;
When created in 1929 Tucson Mountain Park was the largest county park in the country.
Tucson Mountain Park was established in April 1929. At approximately 20,000 acres, the park is one of the largest natural resource areas owned and managed by a local government in the U.S. The park borders the Saguaro National Park West and shares many of the same attractions, including the dense Saguaro forest, Native American petroglyphs, and wildlife. Plus, additional activities you won’t find in a National Park including:
Hiking/Trail Riding/Horseback Riding –The park has approximately 62 miles of non-motorized shared-use trails open to hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers.
Observation Area — Gates Pass Overlook has so many attributes it has its profile listed below.
Bowen Homestead — The Bowen Homestead, (AKA Bowen Stone House), was constructed in the early 1930s by Sherry and Ruby Bowen. At the time, Sherry was the city editor at the Arizona Daily Star. The couple moved to their Tucson homestead for Ruby’s health. The property grew to over 2,000 acres and is now part of Tucson Mountain Park. Several trails lead to the homestead, where the foundation walls remain today.
Picnic Areas — Juan Santa Cruz, Ironwood, and Brown Mountain have grills, picnic tables, and shade.
Campground — Gilbert Ray Campground facilitates RV and tent camping. The campground was originally a Civilian Conservation Corp camp in the 1930s. The rock base of the flag pole is about all that remains of the original camp. More info.
Hunting – Tucson Mountain Park is open to archery hunting only. License and permit required.
Tucson Mountain Park
8451 West McCain Loop
Tucson, AZ 85735
520-724-5000
webcms.pima.gov/cms/One.aspx?pageId=1539
History of the Park:
http://npshistory.com/publications/sagu/adhi.pdf
Park open daily from dawn till dusk.
No entrance fee.
GATES PASS SCENIC OVERLOOK
Gates Pass is nestled at the crest of the Tucson Mountains and offers sweeping views of the Avra Valley to the west and the Santa Cruz Valley with the City of Tucson to the east.
The route to and over the Pass was built in the early 1880s by Thomas Gates, an early Tucson entrepreneur, and miner. He was looking for a shorter route between Tucson and the Waterman Mountains to the west. When the Tucson Board of supervisors failed to provide the funding to build the road, Mr. Gates spent $1,000 of his own money to complete the project. He was successful and reduced his travel route by 8 miles.
Today the Pass has become a popular observation point for both tourists and locals. Covered viewing platforms, restroom facilities, and short trails to a variety of observation points make it a popular spot, especially for watching sunsets. Tucson was voted one of the best 10 spots in the country to watch a sunset by USA Today, and Gates Pass is the place to go.
Gates Pass Road is a narrow winding road, and there is a steep slope at the summit. There are plenty of pullouts and a parking area. Drive safe! Your cell probably won’t work at the Pass, so keep your eyes on the road!
GATES PASS
6400 W. Gates Pass Rd
Tucson, AZ 85735
520-724-5000
https://webcms.pima.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=6660
Park open daily from dawn till dusk.
No entrance fee.
International Wildlife Museum
The International Wildlife Museum highlights over 400 species of insects, mammals, and birds from around the globe. Some of the collections are more than 100 years old, and all the animals found at the museum were donated by various government agencies, wildlife rehabilitation centers, captive breeding programs, zoos, and individuals.
Dioramas — Natural depictions of wild animals in their natural settings, videos, interactive computers, and hands-on exhibits promote wildlife appreciation and conservation.
Education Programs and Youth Camps — Entertain and educate the kids with explorations, games, crafts, hands-on activities and live animal encounters that promote learning about habitats, adaptations, and wildlife conservation.
Movie Theater — The museum has a theater that shows different wildlife movies on the hour between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The videos are included with your admission fee.
Huge Jigsaw Puzzles –Two of the world’s largest now on display!
- “Wildlife” is 33,600 pieces and measures 19 feet long by 6.5 feet tall. It features dozens of species from rainforests and savannahs.
- “Around the World” is 42,000 pieces and measures 25 feet long by 5.5 feet tall. It features hundreds of monuments and animals from around the globe.
The International Wildlife Museum is an educational program of the Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF).
International Wildlife Museum
4800 W. Gates Pass Rd
Tucson, AZ 85745
520-629-0100
Wed-Fri — 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Weekends– 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
SWEETWATER PRESERVE
The Sweetwater Preserve is an 880+ acre preserve intended to protect the habitat of the local wildlife while providing a wide range of recreational benefits to the local community. Recreational activities include:
- Hiking
- Mountain biking
- Horseback riding
- Dogs on leash allowed
- Motorized vehicles are not permitted
The 12.93 mile-long trail system consists of 16 separate trails that range from .4 to 2.6 miles long. These trails can be connected to create various loops.
The terrain offers easy to moderate hikes and intermediate singletrack trail rides through a dense Saguaro, and Palo Verde lined desert. Views of the Tucson Mountains, Catalina Mountains, and the city of Tucson help make it a highly popular spot for avid hikers and mountain bikers.
SWEETWATER PRESERVE
4001 North Tortolita Road
Tucson, AZ 85745
(520) 724-5000
https://webcms.pima.gov/cms/one.aspx?PortalId=169&pageId=1531
Open daily from dawn to dusk.
No admission fee.
SANCTUARY COVE
Sanctuary Cove is a non-profit 80-acre nature preserve that provides a place of quiet prayer, meditation, and self-reflection in a beautiful southwest desert setting. It was founded by Elmer Staggs, a WWI vet., who came to Arizona for his health in 1917 and homesteaded most of the Safford Peak area.
In 1957 Mr. Staggs founded the All Creeds Brotherhood, which has led efforts to protect the wilderness around Sanctuary Cove at the base of Safford Peak. The Cove is a popular Saguaro National Park trailhead. From the Cove, hikers access “The Trail to the Top,” of Safford Peak as well as various other trails in the Tucson Mountains.
Meditative Hiking Trail and Labyrinth — Sanctuary Cove provides a place of quiet prayer, meditation, and self-reflection in the undisturbed environment.
Annual Easter Service — A non-denominational service begins at 6:00 AM. Sit in the outdoor amphitheater in the middle of a beautiful desert landscape and watch the sun come up over the mountains. Gates open at 5 AM. There is no charge to attend. Coffee, juice, and refreshments are served afterward.
Memorial Services and Weddings — They offer their Chapel and Amphitheater to private parties for weddings and memorial ceremonies.
Professional Photography — Professional photographers can use the grounds for wedding photography, senior pictures, engagement, or graduation photos. A usage fee based on the number of people and hours is required. Please schedule a time for your photoshoot with the facility.
Adobe Brick Cottage – The cottage is available year-round and equipped with a full-size kitchen, a queen-sized bed and a full size pull out mattress. The cottage is also a great place to hold a meeting or event with its 500 square foot covered sandstone patio.
Sanctuary Cove
8001 N Scenic Dr
Tucson, Arizona 85743
(520) 744-2375
Open daily from dawn to dusk.
No admission fee. Donations are appreciated.
MISSION GARDEN
The Mission Garden is a unique agricultural museum that features Sonoran Desert-adapted fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. The Garden interprets 4,100 years of agriculture in Tucson, representing the longest known history of cultivation in the United States. It is a re-creation of the Spanish Colonial walled garden built around 1780 as part of Tucson’s historic San Agustin Mission at Sentinel Peak’s base or “A “Mountain. Originally a visita or daughter church of Mission San Xavier del Bac established by Father Kino, it was expanded and renamed Mission San Agustin del Tucson by the Franciscans. (They had replaced the Jesuits in the Southwest.) Sentinel Peak The Mission was abandoned in 1828. In time, the land was sold, the buildings were neglected and eventually made a city dump in the 1950s.
The Mission Garden has helped resurrect this historic spot and is the first step towards creating Tucson Origins Heritage Park. It interprets the agricultural timeline of the Hohokam, Pre-contact and Post-contact O’odham, Spanish, Mexican, Territorial and Statehood Chinese, Yaqui, Anglo, and Afro American farming, and ending with Tomorrow’s Garden. There is also a Native Plant area interpreting the wild edible and medicinal plants and dedicated pollinator gardens providing habitat for insects, bats, and birds.
The facility was established and is operated by Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Their mission is to preserve, honor, protect, restore, re-create and promote the cultural heritage and historical landscapes of Tucson’s Birthplace at the foot of Sentinel Peak.
Mission Garden
946 W. Mission Lane
Tucson, Az. 85745
520-955-5200
October – March
Wed-Sat: 8 AM – 2 PM
April – September
Wed-Sat: 8 AM – 12 PM
Regularly-scheduled tours are at 10 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. To schedule guided tours at other times, contact them by phone 520- 955-5200.
THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
The Garden of Gethsemane is a public garden with Christian statues located near Congress and the I-10. The religious sculptures include Joseph and Mary, the Last Supper, Jesus on the Cross, and the reproduction of Jesus’s tomb. The Garden is popular for those seeking a place of solitude and prayer. It is also used for weddings, quinceaneros, and small parties. There is limited parking near the entrance and along the street.
The artist-sculptor is Colorado native Felix Lucero (1895 – 1951). Mr. Lucero was severely injured while serving our country during World War I. As he lay wounded and isolated on a French battlefield, Mr. Lucero made a vow to The Virgin Mary and God. If he survived, he would dedicate his life to creating Christian art. Mr. Lucero survived. Twenty years later, he was in Tucson, destitute and living in a shack under the Congress Street bridge.
However, he kept his promise and molded statues from sand and debris from the Santa Cruz river bed and covered them with plaster. The Garden was moved in 1971 for the construction of the current Congress Street bridge. It was relocated to its current spot in 1982. It has survived the desert heat, multiple floods, and, unfortunately, numerous acts of vandalism.
Mr. Lucero also created the sculptures at the St. Joseph Shrine in Yarnell, Arizona. They, too, have survived the ravages of time, including the fateful wildfire in 2013 that claimed 19 firefighters.
Felix Lucero Park: Garden of Gethsemane
602 W. Congress Street
Tucson 85745
www.tucsonaz.gov/parks/GardenGethsemane
The garden is open from sunrise to sunset.
Entry is free. There are no restrooms
OLD TUCSON STUDIOS
Sidehill Sam Sez;
Old Tucson has been a film location for over 400 movies
and TV shows.
The new owners, American Heritage Railways, have taken over the property and are working hard to upgrade and improve the attraction. They plan to open in October with Nightfall followed by a seasonal Christmas promotion.
American Heritage Railways is the premier tourist rail operator and the industry expert in rail-related special event management. Its current operations reach nearly 1,500,000 rail passengers annually through three directly owned railroads, and through the licensing of special events at over 50 additional railroads. www.americanheritagerailways.com
Old Tucson Studios is the cinematic town that helped build the Hollywood cowboy legends of the old west. You can walk the same dusty streets and boardwalks that John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Jimmy Stewart, Sam Elliott, Tom Selleck, and many others made famous. Visit the buildings and locations from the movie Tombstone, Young Guns II, Three Amigos, or enjoy the shade on the porch of the High Chaparral ranch house.
Do you wish you could still visit Old Tucson Studios?
You can by watching your favorite classic western!
Old Tucson
201 S Kinney Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85735
520-883-0100
More updates will be provided as further information is released.
Sidehill Sam Recommends
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