Best Of Tucson®

Best Walkin' Wadis

Your local neighborhood wash (only when dry)

There are places listed in this issue to bike, hike, backpack and camp, but there's no specific mention of outdoors, nature and lesser-known places to explore. Try a neighborhood wash. There are some 500 miles of watercourses that traverse the city in the form of washes, tributaries, channels and watersheds. "These washes or arroyos are a desert's equivalent of creeks and rivers," says Joan Lionette, of Tucson Clean and Beautiful. As such, the arroyos are pathways for wildlife such as coyotes, javelina, deer and rabbits. With trees and flora lining the banks, these nearby riparian corridors are also havens for all kinds of birdwatching. Try either direction of the Rillito riverbed at Craycroft Road.