Sabino Canyon Recreation Area — Attraction in Oro Valley

Let me start by saying this review is not about nature or the glorious experience of hiking Sabino. I am giving this one star due to the dangerous experience I had while hiking with a friend this past weekend. She sustained a serious injury in her calf and could not walk. We were a couple of miles from the parking lot. Eventually a volunteer came up on his bike - it was around 8 a.m. He said that he was a physician. We asked if he had a first aide kit. NOPE. Will he go to the parking lot and get the bus to come up? He said he would. He left. We sat on the bench. He came back a minute later and said he had to sit with someone injured. She was in extreme pain under the hot sun. This is where the craziness began. He calls 911 and says this is your only option to get to the parking lot. He said the bus won't come up until 9:30 a.m. and she would have to be considered a rescue for it to come earlier? Um... this is not a considered a rescue? She couldn't walk. He dials 911 and asks if she will accept. She asked a couple questions. He says to 911, she will not accept. Then he proceeded to analyze her injury and told her 911 was her only option but then again they may not drive up this road because it was for the tours only. He is looking at his pamplet to figure out what to do? He had been a volunteer for 5 years. Finally, a bicyclist comes up and saves the day. He assesses the situation and immediately rides to the bottom of the hill. 10 min later the tour bus comes up and gets her. On the way out the useless volunteer tells her she might have a blood clot. So we have an doctor volunteer without a first aide kit throwing out theoretically diagnosis and has no clue how to help in an actual emergency while the grounded cyclist knows exactly what to do. Sabino... please take care of this so that people don't suffer like this...

We took the tram because my wife doesn't like to hike. I'm planning to return next weekend alone for sure.

What an interesting and stunningly beautiful experience! The no extra charge headsets with access to a very good recorded narrative helped understand what we were seeing as we followed a good sized, fast running stream that can/does become a raging river during the rainy season. The guide said the monsoon season is spectacular! Be sure to bring your camera. It's a huge stunningly gorgeous canyon; the river is very, very beautiful and the canyon walls are nature at its very finest!

The tram was open air and quite comfortable, with roomy seats, easy on and off. Our driver and tour guide was both very friendly and informative during the about a half hour ride up the canyon and back down. There are nine pickup and drop off points. Most of these are points of particular beauty as well as departure points for short and longer hikes. I noted individual picnic tables tucked away in many attractive settings all along the tramway as well as restrooms at most stops.

The daily park entry fee, per car, is 8 bucks (might be 6 bucks. I paid by credit card and wasn't attentive). The all-day tramway fee is 15 dollars per person. Purchase can be done online or at credit card machines near the launch point. A ticket provides tram access at either end or at any of 9 stops, all day on the day...

Without a doubt, this is one of the best places to get outside and get some steps! It features everything from flat, smooth, hard-surface roads (with no traffic!) all the way to challenging trails up to the high country!

For a good walk (4 miles), I suggest hiking out to the mouth of Bear Canyon. Find the trail itself, after crossing the Creek, and follow it rather than the paved tram road. The footing is good and the grades are gentle.

If you are looking for a challenge, choose the Blacketts Ridge Trail, which climbs away from the Phoneline Trail. This is a short out-and-back spur, and it climbs with well-cut switchbacks to gain the ridge, then offers cliff-edge views of hikers on the tram road 700 feet below you! Not to mention hawk- and raven-eye views of the canyons and mountains!

Many people visit the Recreation Area every day, from before dawn until after sunset. Keep in mind that the restrooms at the entrance are closed overnight. Sabino Canyon requires a fee to enter, or that you possess a pass. Note that even when the parking lot is full, the place never feels crowded—there’s a lot of room for people to spread out and follow their own paths.

Remember to bring water, sunblock, and good shoes. Check the weather, as this Area seems to attract large, sudden storms. Bring...