Fort Lowell Park and Neighborhood
Trail Information:
Name: Fort Lowell Park and Fort Lowell Neighborhood
Park’s agency: City of Tucson Parks and Recreation
Contact
Park: 520-791-4873
Tour: Presidio San Agustín del Tucson, 520-622-0594
Location:
Park: 2900 N. Craycroft Rd, Tucson 85712
Trailhead: 2900 N. Craycroft Rd, Tucson 85712
Parking fee: None
Trail hours: Morning tour, days and times vary with season
Transit: None
Trail length plus more: 1.4 miles, Tour 2-hr, Gain 30’, Elevation 2400’
Trail surface: Sections paved and hard surfaced; curbs and potholes
Description:
For history buffs, the tour through the Fort Lowell Neighborhood is a hike through both time and space. The route passes through a native Hohokam settlement from the 6th century. It explores the territorial fort dating to the late 1800s during the Apache Wars. The tour stops for a meditative moment at the San Pedro Chapel, built in the 1920s. And the return route takes hikers through Tucson’s historic preservation district. The guided tour starts and ends at Fort Lowell Park, which offers a shady lake for a picnic under a ramada.
The trail is a mix of sidewalks, dirt paths, and city streets. The tour guide will ensure your safety as the 12-person group transitions from one surface to another while competing with passing cars. Multiple obstacles to wheelchair access can be circumvented with an attendant and some forethought.
The trailhead at Fort Lowell Park offers accessible parking and restrooms, as well as drinking fountains and large shade trees. The tour begins with stops at three historic sites in the Park – 1) the Fort Lowell Post hospital, 2) the historic Cottonwood Lane, and 3) the Commanding Officer’s Quarters, which now serve as a museum.
The tour then leaves Fort Lowell Park, crossing Craycroft Road, and continuing along a sidewalk to visit more Officers’ Quarters. The most challenging part of the hike is the half-mile walk along the 2-lane Fort Lowell Road. That route takes hikers to the Post Trader’s Store, the commissary, barracks, and Old Fort Lowell school, all while sharing the road with car traffic.
The tour finishes with a peaceful visit to La Capillita shrine and a few moments in the restored San Pedro Chapel. This is a place of worship and ritual, where you may see a wedding party under the ocotillo ramadas nearby. From there, the return route to Fort Lowell Park is along a quiet road through a neighborhood of Tucson homes.
This walking tour covers much more than just history. It offers a review of Arizona culture, hydrology, agriculture, urban development, technology, and current preservation efforts. The guide summed it up by saying, “If you understand the history of the Fort Lowell area, you understand the history of Arizona.”
So, contact the museum at Presidio San Agustín del Tucson to schedule a day and time for your tour.
Disclaimer: The information provided is for general guidance only and may not reflect current conditions. Users must assess trails, consider their abilities, and assume all risks from trail use. Always use caution and prepare appropriately when visiting trails.
AllTrails Map
A wooden sign marks the main entrance to Fort Lowell Park from Craycroft Road.
Cottonwood trees along the lane that once lined the front of officers’ quarters.
The paved sidewalk along Craycroft Road leads to Fort Lowell Road.
A dirt path leads to San Pedro Chapel.
A man-made riparian area.
Peeking through the adobe remains of the fort’s hospital.
A fountain at Fort Lowell Lake.
Find other things to do nearby using our Heritage Experiences Map “Plan Your Trip” tool!
Content provided by Tucson AccessTrails. Their trail reviews are created from the perspective of users with various disabilities or ability levels to provide relevant information to determine applicable use. For more information about this trail and others, please visit the Tucson AccessTrails website.