Tohono Chul Park
Trail Information:
Name: Tohono Chul Park
Agency: Tohono Chul
Contact: (520) 742-6455
Location: 7366 North Paseo del Norte Tucson, AZ 85704
Entry fee: Member: Free, Adult: $15, Children (5-12): $6, Children (under 5): Free, Student (with ID): $13, Senior (62+): $13, Active Military: $13, Groups (10 or more): 10% discount, Special discounts to members of AAA, AAM, and APGA
Trail hours: Summer hours: 7 am – 2 pm daily; Hours change with the season
Nature & Interpretive Center hours: 8 am – 2 pm daily
Guided tours are scheduled and included in admission
Transit: Sun Shuttle #401
Trail length plus more: 1.6 miles or less over 49 acres, Gain 30′, Elevation 2500′
Trail surface: Paved and packed-earth trails with more rugged surfaces (ruts, rocks, and sandy sections) along the outermost reaches
Description:
Tohono Chul Park is a 49-acre botanical garden of native and desert-adapted plants in the Sonoran Desert. The name “Tohono Chul” means “desert corner”, taken from the language of the Tohono O’odham Nation.
Dozens of paved and packed-earth trails lead visitors past saguaros, succulents, streams, and sculptures. Along these trails, hikers pass through themed gardens designed to feature local geology, climate, flora, and horticulture. The Streamside Garden and Desert Palm Oasis provide cool stops on a hot sunny day. The Desert View Trail loops for a half mile into the native environment with the convenience of benches, ramadas, and a water station. It is not uncommon to share the Park trails with roadrunners, quail, and hummingbirds, as well as lizards and a tortoise or two.
Tohono Chul Park is in north-central Tucson on a small, well-marked side street near the popular Casas Adobes Plaza. Street signs direct drivers to the entrance where there is ample accessible parking and a pedestrian path to admissions, restrooms, a gift shop, and a café. The hike begins on a paved walkway that branches into multiple dirt paths leading to points of interest.
A team of docents patrols the trails and can offer information about regional ecology and native cultures in the Sonoran Desert. Guided tours are available most days and included in the price of admission. Accessible restrooms, shade ramadas, water stations, and helpful signage are available along most trails.
The grounds are largely wheelchair accessible with some challenging sections along the outermost reaches, such as the South Loop Trail, the Saguaro Discovery Trail, and the Desert View Trail. If rocks, ruts, or roots are insurmountable, hikers can retrace to a firmer surface and continue along another route. The dense network of trails makes it easy to create a customized loop of your desired length, time, pace, and interest.
Whatever your route, the hike loops back to the entrance where visitors can have a cold drink at the hacienda-style bistro or walk through art galleries in the Exhibit House before returning to the parking lot.
A hike in Tohono Chul Park will give you an appreciation for the magical Sonoran Desert that some of us call home.
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.
A sign at this trail junction provides directions to three points of interest.
This winding trail is lined with a mix of desert flowers and blooming cacti.
The Desert Palm Oasis is a replica of the hidden palm canyons of Sonora Mexico.
Sections of the outermost trails can be sandy, narrow, and hot.
The Desert View Trail has rocky and sandy sections with obstacles.
The Park has a no pets policy with exceptions for service animals.
A paved trail leads to pots hung on a stone wall, creating a waterfall.
Find other things to do nearby using our Heritage Experiences Map!
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.