Tumamoc Hill Hiking Trail — Attraction in Tucson

Every time we visit Tucson, we make this part of our daily routine. Apparently so does 95% of Tucson lol! It's never not crowded, especially first thing in the morning. We thought we were early risers but nope, show up any time after 8 and you'll be parking a quarter mile or more down the road. It's crazy to me how popular this particular walk is, but I think it's pretty cool that so many people enjoy this as part of their routine. The trail is paved all the way, and you'll see quite a diverse slice of society, from the young to old, women and men pushing baby strollers, super serious athlete types, people struggling but pushing on, college kids, retirees...it's pretty cool. A lot of people seem to treat this as a challenge like they are trying to set a personal record each time. The whole vibe is really fun, and the view from the top is very nice too! The one thing of caution is I always see A LOT of broken car window glass on the road side, not sure if this happens at night or what, but secure all your valuables and don't leave anything visible in your car. The road also sucks (as do 99% of Tucson's roads) and like I said you'll be parking far far away from the actual TH most likely, so be aware of your surroundings.

The trail is about 1.5 miles one way, and about 720' of climbing, so it's relatively steep, especially after the first quarter mile or so. My best time walking up is about 23 minutes and change, what's...

Trail is approximately 1.75 miles in length from bottom to top. It is approximately 3.5 miles round trip. It is paved the entire way about the width of a one lane road. (Sometimes used by facilities for travel to and from research site at approximate midpoint.) There is parking along W Anklam Rd. If this fills up (generally does from 0500-0600) many people choose to park in the south parking lot of Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital. Be aware there are signs in the parking lot that the spaces are reserved for hospital patrons, although if you go early enough you shouldn’t have a problem. As far as the difficulty of this trail goes it is approximately a 30% grade at its steepest point, but for the most part there is a gradual rise in elevation. Trail is open from 0400 to 10 PM year round. Peak times for hikers/runners are early morning and late evening. There are portable restrooms at about the halfway point. No unauthorized motor vehicles on the trail...

Tumamoc is a classic exercise spot frequented by tons of people in Tucson. Although there are always a lot of hikers on the trail, it doesn't feel crowded because of how wide it is. It's very safe and the trail is actually a road, with good condition pavement. It's definitely steep, with one very long climb at the beginning and two particularly long and steep sections near the top. In between it still climbs, but less steeply. It's a 1.5 mile trail with a 700 foot elevation change. The scenery is beautiful, with desert all around you and a nice view of Tucson. I often see animals if I go in the morning. The entire hill is an environmental research site, and there are a lot of signs that tell about the unique ecosystem there. The only downside is parking, which is mostly along the street, and often full. You might have to walk a bit to get to...