Tucson AZ Trip Itinerary Details

Daily Itinerary* - April 2025 - Specific Dates TBD

Note:  Some daily activities in this itinerary may change, but below gives an example of possible activities.

For the 2025 Mixed Adventure Tour, we may include events such as hiking in rock spires of Chiricahua National Monument, wine tasting in Sonoita-Elgin, touring an underground crystal cave at Kartchner Caverns State Park.  If you sign up for this event, we'll have a meeting (or a few) prior to the event to discuss everyone's preferred itinerary.   We'll also try to time the trip so we can see the spring flowers blooming on all the desert plants.  All of these locations and events are AMAZING!

Example Itinerary:

Day 0:   Travel Day - Arrival in Tucson -  Date TBD

• Arrive anytime before or after activity start day, if your travel plans require this.

• For those arriving early enough on this day, we'll check into the hotel, and go out for a quick hike near the hotel.   Possibly from Finger Rock Trailhead.

  • Bring your backpack with water, snacks, sunscreen, your wallet, phone/camera for pictures, etc.  

Day 1:    Date TBD

Hiking in Sabino Canyon - We'll stretch our legs after traveling, and see some beautiful mountain and desert terrain, vegetation, and wildlife.   The hike distance will be 3-5 miles.  We'll take a shuttle to the top of the canyon, then hike back.  Tickets:  $15 (2024 price).  

• If needed, you can catch a shuttle on the way back down the canyon if you'd prefer not to walk/hike the whole way.  

• The main path is paved, and runs along a mountain stream that can be flowing pretty strongly depending on the weather.  There are many dirt/gravel/rocky paths off the main paved path, so we may venture out into the wilderness a bit too.   

• Some of the stream crossings may be flooded - so be aware for your footwear selection.  Hiking boots are preferred, though athletic sneakers are fine too.

• Bring your backpack with water, snacks, sunscreen, your wallet, phone/camera for pictures, etc.  

Day 2:   Date TBD

Bike rental and ride on the Tucson Loop - a paved trail system around and through the city.  

• There could be a few places where we may need to ride on the street, but most streets also have bike lanes, if they're not next to the trails.  We will try to avoid riding on busy streets.  

• You can either rent e-bikes or non-e-bikes.   Bike rental prices range from around $75/2 hours, up to $125/full day.  

  • We will likely plan on full-day bike rentals so we can do some sight-seeing and lung along the way.  

• Bike rentals:

  •  Tucson Bike Rentals  and other similar organizations.

    •  There are a variety of bike types available for rent, including e-bikes.

• Our biking distance will be flexible, but we will make accommodations for all riders.  Expect a distance of 20-30 miles with frequent stops for breaks and sight-seeing.  We will ride fairly slow - 10-12-ish mph, so it will be a leisurely recreational ride, not heavy exercise.  No-Drop, meaning we will not leave anyone behind, unless we arrange for you to take a break while others ride on and catch up with you on the way back (with your agreement).  

• We will stop for a lunch break.   (Aiming for Guadalajara Fiesta Grill -  750 N Kolb Rd, Tucson, AZ 85710.)

• The ride around the city is surrounded by mountain ranges and a "wash" (dry river bed), so the views will be beautiful no matter where we go.   Last year we saw some horses being run in the wash!

• Bring your backpack with water, snacks, sunscreen, your wallet, phone/camera for pictures, etc.  

Day 3:  Date TBD

Sonoran Desert Museum

• https://www.desertmuseum.org/

• This is a cross between a wildlife preserve, zoo, and desert/western museum.  There are indoor and outdoor exhibits, in case the weather doesn't fully cooperate with us.  We will see live animals that are local to the area, including javelina (wild boar), coyotes, snakes, lizards, mountain lions, prairie dogs, tarantulas, scorpions, etc., and learn about the natural habitat of the Sonoran desert.  

• Entry fee is $29.95 per person.  (2024 Price)

• Bring your backpack with water, snacks, sunscreen, your wallet, phone/camera for pictures, etc.  

Day 4:  Date TBD

Drive up Mount Lemmon

• We'll drive up Mt. Lemmon Highway, stopping along the way to see the changes in vegetation as the elevation changes, and beautiful views of the mountains and the city below.

  • • This drive covers an elevation change of about 6000 feet!  So the vegetation changes along the way from saguaro cactus at the bottom to pine trees at the top.  

    • There are many rock formations, breath-taking canyon and city views that we'll stop to see at pull-out stops along the road up the mountain.

    • Fun Fact:  The US Cycling Team uses Tucson as a training camp.  They ride their bikes up and down Mt. Lemmon Road for training purposes - ouch!  

    • There's a town (Summerhaven) near the top of the mountain that has ski chalet-style homes embedded in the pine tree forest.  A visitor center along the way tells the history of forest fires that wiped out many of the town's buildings (which have been nicely rebuilt), and other info about Mt. Lemmon and the Santa Catalina mountain range.

    • Bring a warm jacket or layers - it can be 30+ degrees (F) cooler up there!  And depending on the weather, there could even be snow.  There was a snow storm during the 2024 trip so we weren't able to drive up the mountain since the road was closed.  ☹️

    • At the very top of Mount Lemmon is a ski resort called Mount Lemmon Ski Valley.  

      • https://www.skithelemmon.com/  - Note:  They sell fudge here...

      • In warmer weather, you can buy a lift ticket to ride to the top of the ski area and look around, then ride back down.

    • We'll have a late lunch/early dinner at Sawmill Run, a local bar and grill with mountain-style (sometime with some big game) food, including great desserts and beer, and beautiful views.  

We may stay on the mountain until after sundown.  If we do this, we can check out incredible night sky views where the stars look like they're popping out of the sky.  (Weather/cloud cover permitting.)

• Bring your backpack with water, snacks, sunscreen, your wallet, phone/camera for pictures, etc.  

Day 5:  Date TBD

Hiking in Saguaro National Park East  

• We'll hike from the Douglas Spring trailhead around a loop of trails that will be about 4 miles long.  

• We'll see all kinds of cactus and other desert plants.  In April, the cactus flowers should be blooming!

• We'll be hiking uphill during the first half of the hike, which will give us beautiful views of the city and surrounding mountains.   Don't worry, we'll take our time and stop for breaks!

• Bring your backpack with plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, your wallet, phone/camera for pictures, etc.  

Day 6:  Date TBD

E-Bike tour through Saguaro National Park East 

• $135+tax pp (2024 price)

• Bike tour on e-bikes - touring company and tickets TBD

  • We can do a quick hike (~ 2 miles) in the morning before this bike tour, if people are interested.  (Broadway trailhead)

  • We will go to the tour meeting place -  Saguaro Corners - early (noonish) to have lunch before the bike tour.  

  • Duration

2.5 Hours

• About

This park is both a local and visitor favorite for young and old alike. It's an easy e-bike ride with beautiful Sonoran Desert vistas unique to Tucson and its surrounding mountains. The 8-mile loop we ride is paved and winds up and down as a super fun and unique ride through the desert. Riders will view native plants and animals while surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the Sonoran Desert, including a stop at the Visitor’s Center on the way out.  You'll likely want an e-bike for this event since the road is very hilly!  On the 2024 tour, we also did a little impromptu climbing around on a rock formation called Javalina Rocks. 

• Provided

Bikes, Helmets, Guide, FUN!

• What to Bring

  1. Bring your backpack with water, snacks, sunscreen, your wallet and phone/camera for pictures, etc.

  2. Riding Clothes & Athletic Shoes

  3. Jacket / Outerwear Layers

  4. Water

Day 7:  Date TBD

Bonus hike day, unless you're traveling home this day.  

• There are two great trailheads with very different hiking experiences and many trails to choose from in Saguaro National Park East.  So if you're still around on this day, we can take a hike from another trailhead.  

• Bring your backpack with water, snacks, sunscreen, wallet, your phone/camera for pictures, etc.

Meals & Additional Activities in the Evenings

• The Embassy Suites has a hot breakfast and evening happy hour included in room rates.  Depending on our daily itinerary, we may decide to go to a local favorite breakfast restaurant one or two mornings.

• Lunches will be had while out and about with our daily activities.  There are many great lunch spots to sit and enjoy the beautiful views.  We'll mostly eat at reasonably priced but good quality sit-down restaurants (unless we're in a big hurry!). 

• In the evenings after our daily activities, we can get dinner at the wide variety of excellent restaurants in Tucson.  

  • Destinations for dinners may include:  (We'll decide as a group, with Mary's recommendations based on her previous experiences and participants' interests.)

    • La Encantada Mall - walking distance from our hotel.  Many food options, including a high end grocery store.

    • Downtown Tucson

    • University of Arizona campus area for a flavor of the old college days

    • Many brew pubs around the city

• Planetarium show at University of Arizona  - Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium 

• Possible Observatory viewings, if the local, working observatories have public viewing times available while we're there. (TBD)

• Shows (music, plays, etc) at the several local theater venues. (TBD)

• The hotel has a pool, though the weather may be too chilly.  Maybe the hot tub?

• You're welcome to sit out any of the daily or evening activities if you need a break.  This is completely understandable, and I've done this myself during past trips too!