Running trails in Tucson, AZ
Tucson has 33 trails in the directory — 10 paved and 9 on crushed gravel or dirt, 15 loops that return to the trailhead, 8 with a stated distance, 7 shaded, and 3 open 24 hours. 22 of them post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 23,379 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
4.8 ★★★★★ 5,457 reviews
This vast national forest area offers hiking trails & tram rides through picturesque desert canyons.
Tucson Mountain Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,957 reviews
Boasting a scenic overlook, this huge park offers camping & trails, plus archery & shooting ranges.
Sentinel Peak Park ("A" Mountain)
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,956 reviews
Landmark known as "A" Mountain featuring a man-made A-shaped formation, offering scenic city views.
Catalina State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,893 reviews
Park at the foot of the Santa Catalina Mountains with 5,500 acres for hiking, camping & more.
Tumamoc Hill Hiking Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,652 reviews
Peaceful walking & running trail with views on an expansive ecological reservation.
Crossroads at Silverbell District Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,459 reviews
A big green space featuring ball fields and courts for various sports as well as several playgrounds.
Rillito River Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,356 reviews
This riverside park with exercise stations & equestrian access features soft & hard trails.
Santa Cruz River Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 1,368 reviews
Riverfront park featuring hiking & biking trails, a disc golf course, playground & wildlife views.
Gates Pass Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,222 reviews
Picturesque natural area & walking spot known for desert scenery & striking sunsets.
Sweetwater Wetlands Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,107 reviews
Birding & wildlife viewing are popular activities at this natural area with self-guided tours.
Finger Rock Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 375 reviews
Entry point for a popular hiking route through Finger Rock Canyon, with city & mountain views.
Iris Dewhirst Pima Canyon Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 362 reviews
Popular trail, with rocky terrain and desert views, that goes through a canyon.
Douglas Spring Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 339 reviews
Park with desert, cacti, and various hiking trails, some leading to backpacking routes.
El Rio Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 258 reviews
Bird-watching preserve featuring a lake, along with paved and dirt trails for hiking and biking as well as picnic tables.
Valley View Overlook Trail
4.9 ★★★★★ 234 reviews
A 0.8-mi round-trip route through saguaro desert leading to views of Avra Valley & Picacho Peak.
Pantano River Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 230 reviews
Relaxed park featuring paved paths for biking and jogging, picnic benches and a playground.
Desert Discovery Nature Trail
4.9 ★★★★★ 199 reviews
0.4-mile paved loop trail with interpretive signs of the area's flora & fauna, plus shady benches.
Ventana Canyon Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 186 reviews
Hiking to waterfalls and pools, plus a canyon climb offering dramatic vistas.
Sarasota Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 184 reviews
Hiking and mountain biking trails winding through hills and desert terrain for kids and adults.
Rillito River Park at La Canada
4.6 ★★★★★ 180 reviews
Park with a disc-golf course and trails for walking and biking, plus a public restroom.
Seven Falls
4.8 ★★★★★ 154 reviews
Popular hiking trail leading to a waterfall and pool that's a good option for kids.
Broadway Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 147 reviews
Kid-friendly trailhead at the edge of Saguaro National Park featuring scenic desert views.
Camino de Oeste Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 139 reviews
Desert trail leading to the ruins of a stone home with panoramic views from the 1930s.
Maeveen Behan Desert Sanctuary Trailhead
4.5 ★★★★★ 147 reviews
Nature preserve with trails for walking and biking amid a desert landscape.
Bear Canyon Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 134 reviews
Family-friendly trailhead offering various hiking options through scenic terrain.
Richard E. Genser Starr Pass Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 107 reviews
Hiking trail starting near a resort and leading to scenic views.
Roy Schoonover Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 101 reviews
Clean trailhead alongside the Tucson Loop trail, offering benches and water fountains.
Robles Pass Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 92 reviews
Desert trails used for hiking and mountain biking, with rocky terrain and Sonoran Desert vegetation.
The Loop
4.6 ★★★★★ 83 reviews
More than 120 mi. of paved pathways that wind past parks, schools, and shopping areas.
Linda Vista Loop Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 66 reviews
Saguaro, barrel, and other cacti grow along this hiking loop with scenic mountain views.
Tanque Verde Ridge Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 60 reviews
Popular, rocky day-hike destination with 11 miles of views & wildlife; some steep climbs required.
Pantano Wash Path
4.6 ★★★★★ 56 reviews
Smooth, well-paved cycling and walking path along a dry wash with rest areas.
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Tucson
- Match the surface to your legs. Tucson gives you a choice: 10 paved, 8 natural surface, 3 mixed, and 1 crushed gravel. Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one. More paved trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? 15 trails here are loops, so you finish back at the car with no backtracking — the easiest way to run a set distance without thinking about it. On an out-and-back you turn round at half your target distance, which makes any trail fit any run. The longest stated distance in Tucson is Seven Falls at 6.5 mi. 1 trail is long enough for a 5-mile-plus run without repeating yourself.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. 3 trails in Tucson are open 24 hours — the rest can sit inside a park that gates at dusk and doesn't unlock until well after sunrise. 22 of the 33 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm. 4 are lit, which is what you want for winter evenings.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 28 have trailhead parking, 15 have restrooms, and 11 have a water fountain in Tucson. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 7 shaded, 3 with mile markers, 7 that runners describe as quiet, 15 dog-friendly, and 7 smooth and wide enough for a stroller or a wheelchair. Busy or quiet isn't a good-or-bad thing here: a busy path is the safer choice for a solo run at dawn, a quiet one is better for intervals.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Tucson trails by type
- Paved trails
- Natural surface trails
- Mixed trails
- Crushed gravel trails
- Loop trails
- Long-run trails (5+ mi)
- Shaded trails
- Lit for early & night runs
- Flat & fast
- Hilly trails
- Scenic trails
- Trails with restrooms
- Trails with water fountains
- Trailhead parking
- Trails with mile markers
- Quiet, uncrowded trails
- Dog-friendly
- Stroller & wheelchair-accessible
Running trails near Tucson
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.