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El Rio Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 258 Google reviews · Running trail in Tucson, Arizona · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from El Rio Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Bird-watching preserve featuring a lake, along with paved and dirt trails for hiking and biking as well as picnic tables.
What runners say about El Rio Preserve
“Such a beautiful place for biking, bird watching or just a nice stroll”
“So peaceful quiet and idyllic.”
Any time I have an opportunity to photograph birds and other wildlife, I jump at the opportunity. So when circumstances led my family to live in an airbnb for a while, I was delighted to learn that the El Rio Preserve was literally two miles away.
A riparian preserve right in my neighborhood! I just moved into this area and was scouting out a route for my early morning walk. I had seen the outline of a lake on the map, but this is southern Arizona and maps are dotted with blue lines and blobs that indicate where water would be if there was a heavy rain.
One of my more favorite sections of The Loop, there is a lot here. Of course you have The Loop multi-use paved trails, but there's a small park by the pond, a small playground, disc golf, and on the nearby lava-rock mountain, ancient Native American petroglyphs.
Love, love the sunsets here. Great spot for birdwatching and an evening walk. So peaceful quiet and idyllic.
Trail conditions & character
“Such a beautiful place for biking, bird watching or just a nice stroll”
“Several bird species water and land…picnic tables, sitting areas, portable potties and parking… biking and walking trails.”
“Maybe you could fly a kite but this park is utilized by walkers, runners, and bicyclists because of the loop.”
“There is a small playground with some basic equipment at the East of parking but you will need to stay on the pathway to get there.”
“We went to see if it was a place we'd like to bring the dogs.”
Plan your run at El Rio Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitemaranaaz.gov
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–8:30 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–8:30 pm |
Running trails near Tucson
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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Tangerine Sky Community Park
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