Best Of Tucson®

Best Close-by Sonoran Hiking Spot

Tumamoc Hill

Are you the type of person who likes to put on running shorts and jog around your neighborhood? Or would you rather don hiking boots and a backpack, and trek up a mountain? Tumamoc Hill is a place for both types, offering Sonoran Desert surroundings and a paved road to run or walk along. When you get to the top, well, we hope you brought your camera. You can see almost the whole city. It's (almost) smack in the middle of Tucson, "attached" to the back of A Mountain, so you probably won't have to drive far, wherever you live. Note: The path is off-limits between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on weekdays—because Tumamoc Hill is a research laboratory for UA environmental scientists and home to some of the oldest pre-Hohokam sites in the state. But during other times of day, the saguaros and desert critters in an urban setting make it the perfect place to get in touch with nature and yourself. Who needs a therapist? Hire Tumamoc. It's free.