Tucson is the ultimate running town – no ice, no sleet, no freezing sleet. It’s a rare day that you need a long-sleeve shirt. So grab your sunscreen, shorts and shoes and come hit the trails and roads!
Looking for trails? Arizona desert trails offer spectacular vistas of saguaro cacti, mountain ranges and breathtaking golden sunsets. Basically, go to any edge of Tucson and you will find the ultimate in trail running. Gorgeous. Scenic. Historic. Watch your footing. Don’t get bitten by snakes or eaten by mountain lions. Hydrate. Be mindful of the heat. Tell people where you are going.
Whether at the east end of Broadway, the east end of Speedway, or the west end of Starr Pass Boulevard or Camino Del Cerro, you’ll find your choice of flat, hilly, or mountain climbs.
Looking for a smoother, paved surface? With over 150 miles of multi-use paths and some of the prettiest road scenery, you’ll find everything you need.
Places to Run: Paved and Trail Locations
The Chuck Huckelberry Loop: Sure, there is rarely any water in our rivers, but our paths have recently been upgraded, with plenty of soft dirt to complement the smooth asphalt. You can start at St. Phillip’s Plaza at the corner of Campbell Avenue and River Road in mid-town Tucson, a few miles north of the UofA. Head east or west, either way you’ll find mile markers, smooth footing, and plenty of company. There are other popular mid-town locations to park and run: 1) parking lots at Craycroft, immediately north of the river on the west side of Craycroft. 2) Children’s Memorial Park, just to the west of Oracle Road. Click here for more info on the Loop.
Reid Park: For paved surfaces, the middle of central Tucson, Reid Park boasts a 2.8 mile loop and a 2-mile add-on that has been the loop of choice forever. With plenty of water fountains and bathrooms, this multi-use path is filled with walkers, runners, strollers, and more. Locals park in a couple of places: either just south of the corner of Broadway and Alvernon near the tennis courts, or in the middle of the park at Hi Corbett Field, go north on Randolph Way from 22nd or south on Randolph Way from Broadway.
University of Arizona/Downtown: Whether you’re on the UA campus or in the heart of Downtown Tucson, there are plenty of easy and safe urban routes on paved surfaces. You can simply follow the streetcar route, which covers four miles from the University of Arizona medical center at the edge of campus to the Mercado, on the west side of I-10 and at the base of A-Mountain. While at the Fourth Avenue underpass, you can hop on the Aviation Bikeway, a multi-use path that goes for miles and miles. http://www.traillink.com/trail/aviation-bikeway.aspx.
On Monday’s, head to Downtown for a free 3 mile walk or run; sign in and get discounts to local eateries. See https://beyond-tucson.org/meet-me-monday
Sabino Canyon: On the northeast side of Tucson, Sabino is perhaps the all-time favorite running location in Tucson, with trails all throughout the area and a 3.7 mile car-less roadway through the canyon. Bathroom and water available at the parking area.
Trails everywhere – easy mostly flat from the Visitor Center east then around along the streambed; up Phone Lines; up Blackett’s Ridge; up to Seven Falls; up and around Bear Canyon – you get thepoint, up, then down. Gorgeous. Scenic. Historic. The ultimate in trail running. Watch your footing. Don’t get bitten by snakes or eaten by mountain lions. If you go off-road, please be careful.
Saguaro National Park East:The 8-mile loop is the iconic Tucson location. Site of the popular TMC Saguaro Labor Day Run, this hill paved loop challenges even the most experienced runner. Bathroom and water available at the National Park Service parking area, but not on the route.
Some of the best trail running can be found in Saguaro East, with your choice of flat desert running or rolling hills or rugged mountain climbs to the top of the Rincon Mountains. Parking at the eastern end of Broadway and the eastern end of Speedway leads to miles and miles of trails. Parking at the Saguaro East Visitor Center does not have immediate access to trails, but you can access a beautiful trail at two locations on the 8-mile loop.
Udall Park: With paved and gentle dirt paths, as well as an indoor jogging track, the City of Tucson’s Udall Park at Tanque Verde and Sabino Canyon Road in the northeast section of the Tucson area is a perfect place for novice runners and those seeking easy jogging. Plenty of bathrooms and nearby water. See https://www.tucsonaz.gov/parks/udall.
Oro Valley: To the north of Tucson and on the western flank of the Catalina Mountains is the Town of Oro Valley. For paved running, the Loop paths starting at Oro Valley Riverfront Park provides a beautiful view of the Catalina Mountains. See https://www.orovalleyaz.gov/parksandrec/parks/canada-del-oro-riverfront-park for details. Don’t expect water in the Riverfront. One of our favorite races is the TMC Arizona Distance Classic, a road half-marathon, quarter marathon, and 5k in early March — see https://exploreorovalley.com/events/tmc-arizona-distance-classic-half-marathon-quarter-marathon-and-5k/.
There are a lot of trails in the Oro Valley area, including the Honey Bee Canyon trails that are popular with mountain bikers. Catalina State Park and nearby Linda Vista Trailhead is popular for rugged trails.
Sweetwater Preserve: One the west side of Tucson, this isquintessential Sonoran desert landscape, with your choice of rolling hills or mostly flat. Gorgeous scenery, sharp rocks, lots of cactus. No water, no amenities. You can run to what we call “Wedding Rock”: the rock where Tia and Randy got married in 2006. See http://webcms.pima.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=1531
Starr Pass: Sometimes labeled Tucson Mountain park (http://webcms.pima.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=1531), the Starr Pass trails are as wild west as anything you’ll find anywhere. If you’ve watched any old cowboy movies, you’ve seen this landscape. Easy access can be found at the JW Marriott Starr Pass or the Gensler Trailhead, near the famed Starr Pass golf course. Neither the trails nor the Gensler Trailhead have water or amenities. We produce February’s TMC Old Tucson Trail Run in the western edge of the Starr Pass area.
Wine Country, Sonoita area: About 45 minutes southeast from Downtown Tucson, we like to run at the famed Empire Ranch, just north of Sonoita, AZ and the site of January’s Empire Ranch Trail Run.
There’s more, but this is a good start on running routes in the Tucson area.