Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists present a variety of guided
nature walks, hikes and interpretive activities for the public
year-round – except on two major holidays – but they offer more of
these events during the more temperate months of fall, winter and
spring.
Sabino Canyon is located at 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road, north of
the intersection of East Sunrise Drive and Sabino Canyon Road.
All the activities listed here are free except for the required
Sabino Canyon parking pass, which is $5 a day or $20 a year.
Thursday’s regularly scheduled activities will resume next week.
But if you’re up for a hike today, you can enjoy the canyon on your
own – just make sure you have a parking pass or you might get a
ticket.
You can pay for a parking pass on Thanksgiving Day via a pay
tube but you’ll need the exact amount. On other days you can buy
one at the Visitor Center, which is closed two days a year – today
and Christmas.
Here’s a list of regularly scheduled weekly happenings in Sabino
Canyon.
• On Mondays from 2 to 4 p.m., join Volunteer Naturalists Bill
and Louise Kaufman in front of the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center for
the ever-popular Secrets of Sabino Revealed: Nature Trail Walk in
Lower Sabino Canyon.
• On Mondays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., B.J. Martin offers a
predator/prey demonstration table with various skins and skulls in
front of the Visitor Center.
• On Tuesdays, join Volunteer Naturalist Joan Tedford and
friends for a guided three- to four-mile Sabino Canyon Plant and
Bird Walk. Naturalists on this walk include trained botanists and
expert birders to spot and identify plants and birds. Meet in front
of the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center at 8:30 a.m.
• On Tuesdays at 10 a.m., meet Volunteer Naturalist Dick Dobrin
at the Visitor Center for a one-hour Nature Walk.
• Wednesdays you can meet in front of the Visitor Center at 8:30
a.m. to join Volunteer Naturalist Ned Harris and friends for the
Sabino Canyon Nature Walk. Harris identifies and offers photography
tips for insects, birds, plants, lizards and geological formations.
The walk covers three to four miles on moderately difficult
trails.
• Thursdays provide a rockin’ time for geology buffs. Meet
Volunteer Naturalist Bruce Garrett at the Visitor Center at 8:30
a.m. for a three-hour Gneiss Walk investigating some of the geology
of lower Sabino Canyon. This leisurely walk covers three to four
miles on moderately difficult trails.
• On Thursdays between 10:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., visitors can
pan for garnets with Volunteer Naturalist Bruce Kilpatrick. This
activity is dependent upon weather, stream flow and operation of
the tram. The tram drivers have the exact location.
• Fridays offer guided trail hikes in Sabino Canyon as well as
other trails in Tucson. The complete list of hikes, start times,
duration and mileage are at www.scvntucson.org/Hiking.htm
• Visitors on the first Saturday of the month can join Volunteer
Naturalists Mark and Jean Hengesbaugh for the First Saturday Bird
Walk, held in concert with the Tucson Audubon Society. Start times
vary so check the website for details.
• On the second and fourth Saturdays, Jeanne Granger and Louise
Kauffman present Sabino Canyon Plants – Food More at the
Interpretation Ramada in front of the Visitors Center.
Before you visit …
Remember that visiting Sabino Canyon is an outdoor experience –
wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water, especially for
activities that include walking and hiking. Children younger than
18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Find out more
For more information, visit the Sabino Canyon Volunteer
Naturalists’ website at www.scvntucson.org or call the Visitor
Center at 749-8700.