Places to go in Southern Arizona
Sunrise at the Mission San Xavier del Bac, north of Green Valley.
The expansive Southern Arizona region stretches from the metropolitan Tucson area to the north, to the surrounding mountain ranges, the Santa Cruz River Valley and the U.S. border to the south. The region offers area residents and visitors a vast array of authentic Southwestern and multi-cultural experiences.
Famous for its dramatic beauty, the Sonoran Desert covers the region with spectacular cacti – including the majestic Saguaro, a symbol of the American Southwest. The region is surrounded by mountain ranges and canyons in all directions, offering scenic drives, extraordinary hiking trails, and even snow skiing. With more than 300 days of sunshine each year, there’s no shortage of attractions, festivals, day trips to make your stay here eventful — in fact, you may never want to leave!
Here are several of the region’s “must see” attractions:
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85743
(520) 883-2702
Website
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is mostly an outdoor experience on 21 acres of pristine desert. Includes 230 animal species, hummingbird aviary, 56,000 plants in the botanical gardens, a natural history museum, regional mineral collections, aquarium, art gallery, walking trails, and dining.
Biosphere 2
32540 S Biosphere Rd, Oracle, AZ
(520) 621-4800
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One of the world’s most unique facilities dedicated to the research of global scientific issues. The facility, located 32 miles north of Tucson, serves as a laboratory for controlled scientific studies, an arena for scientific discovery and discussion, and a far-reaching provider of public education.
Colossal Cave
16721 E Old Spanish Trail, Vail, AZ 85641
(520) 647-7275
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The 2,400-acre Colossal Cave Mountain Park showcases crystal-filled Colossal Cave and historic La Posta Quemada Ranch. In addition to cave tours, the Ranch offers horseback trail rides, a petting zoo, non-motorized trails, picnicking, and camping. Temperature in the Cave is always a cool 70°F.
Madera Canyon
S Madera Canyon Rd, via Whitehouse Canyon Rd
Friends of Madera Canyon
One of the most famous birding areas in the USA, and home to over 250 species of birds, Madera Canyon is a north-facing valley in the Santa Rita Mountains with riparian woodland along an intermittent stream, bordered by mesquite, juniper-oak woodlands, and pine forests. Campsites, picnic areas, miles of exceptional and varied hiking trails.
Mission San Xavier del Bac
1950 W San Xavier Rd, Tucson, AZ 85746
(520) 294-2624
Website
The Mission San Xavier del Bac, nicknamed the “White Dove of the Desert,” is an historic Spanish Catholic mission located 20 miles north of Green Valley. The mission that survives today was built between 1783 and 1797, and is the oldest European structure in Arizona.
Old Tucson
201 S Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ
(520) 883-0100
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The region’s premiere film location, immortalized in more than 400 films and commercial productions, made famous by movie legends such as John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Elizabeth Taylor. One of Arizona’s top Wild West attractions, featuring live entertainment, stunt shows, rides, dining.
Saguaro National Park
Rincon Mountains (East): 3693 S Old Spanish Trail
Tucson Mountains (West): 2700 N Kinney Rd
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The 92,000-acre park consists of two separate areas — the Tucson Mountain District, 10 miles west of Tucson, and the Rincon Mountain District, 10 miles east of the city — that preserve Sonoran Desert landscapes, fauna, and flora, including the giant saguaro cactus. Hiking trails, camping.
F. L. Whipple Observatory
670 Mt. Hopkins, Amado, AZ
(520) 625-8806
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The Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory is located on Mt. Hopkins in the Santa Rita Mountains, about 17 miles southeast of Green Valley. The largest telescope at the Observatory is the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT), a 6.5m optical telescope managed by the University of Arizona.
