Rillito River Park

Name: Rillito River Park’s section of the Chuck Huckelberry Loop

Parks agency: Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Department
[Rio Vista Park, City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Department, 520-791-4873] 

Contact: 520-724-5000 

Location: Parking at two starting/ending points:
Rillito Racetrack, 4502 N 1st Ave, Tucson, AZ 85718, 5:30am-9:00pm
Rio Vista Park, 3974 N Tucson Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716, 6:00am-10:30pm
[Parking is available at 4210 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719, dawn to dusk, but there are few spaces, no restrooms, and a difficult entry off a busy street.
Parking is available at the large accessible parking lot in St. Phillip’s Plaza with business patronage, at 4280 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85718.]

Parking fee: Free

Trail hours: Sunrise to sunset

Farmers Markets: Sunday 9am-1pm at Rillito Racetrack

Saturday & Sunday 8am-noon at St. Phillip’s Plaza

Transit: SunTran buses arrive near (but not at) parking lots

Trail length plus more: 4.2-mile loop [or parsed into 1-mile up-and-back sections from one of four parking lots], Gain 50’, Elevation 2300’

Trail surface: Alternates repeatedly between a paved path shared with cyclists and a wide dirt path for pedestrians.

Description:

The Chuck Huckelberry Loop is a system of shared-use paths along river parks and greenways for a complete 138-mile circuit of Tucson. The Huckelberry Loop connects trailheads, city parks, bus and bike routes, restaurants, shopping areas, and entertainment venues. We chose a 4-mile section along the Rillito River Park that includes all of those and more, without fighting any street traffic or struggling with parking.

The Rillito River Park follows a channeled river that is normally dry but can flow bank-to-bank after a monsoon rain. It is an ecological corridor for desert wildlife, and you will likely share the path with a roadrunner. In the evenings, it is common to see swallows, swifts, and bats snapping up insects under streetlamps.

This 4-mile hike starts at one of two designated parking lots – Rillito Racetrack on the north side or Rio Vista Park on the south side. Restrooms and water fountains are available at both. A paved route connects the parking lot to the trail.

This hiking loop alternates repeatedly between a paved path shared with cyclists and a wide, packed-earth path for pedestrians. Dogs are allowed on both.

The hike is generally flat except for pedestrian underpasses (beneath busy streets) that have descending and ascending inclines of 3-5° and can extend for up to 150’. Pedestrian bridges (at the east and west ends of the hike) safely connect the hikes along the north and south sides of the river park. Numerous benches, some shade trees, water fountains, mountain views, and picnic tables are all available along the hike.

The artwork along this path includes Tucson’s famous 4000-square-foot Tracks and Trails mural, the Javalina on a Tandem sculpture at the Mountain Street bridge, the Batty Biker flying overhead at Campbell Avenue, the Red Stallion at Rio Vista Park, and dozens of tiled bridges crossing small washes along the hike.

This hike can be broken down into shorter walks, customized to your time and mood. For an upbeat experience, plan to visit the outdoor farmers’ markets at Rillito Racetrack and at St. Phillip’s Plaza, where musicians and street vendors gather on weekends. In contrast, a stroll through Rio Vista Park offers a grassy, shady respite for a picnic or a stop at the playground, and a compassion garden with unobstructed mountain views. Or, this loop could be tailored to an urban experience by viewing outdoor art and sampling cuisine at cafés on the north or south sides of the river. This city stroll might just have something for everyone.

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.