Hiking in Tucson

For hiking inside Tucson city limits, you can test your skills climbing trails up Sentinel Peak ("A" Mountain), but there are also hundreds of other trails in the immediate Tucson area. The Santa Catalina Mountains, Sabino Canyon, and Saguaro National Park East and West beckon hikers with waterfalls, birds, critters, and huge saguaro cacti.

Catalina State Park (11570 N. Oracle Rd., Northwest. 520/628-5798. www.pr.state.az.us) is crisscrossed by hiking trails. One of them, the relatively easy, two-hour (5.5-mi round-trip) Romero Canyon Trail, leads to Romero Pools, a series of natural tinajas, or stone "jars," filled with water much of the year. The trailhead is on the park's entrance road, past the restrooms on the right side.

The Bear Canyon Trail in Sabino Canyon (Sabino Canyon Rd. at Sunrise Dr., Foothills. 520/749-8700. www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado), also known as Seven Falls Trail, is a three-hour, 7.8-mi round-trip that is moderately easy and fun, crisscrossing the stream several times on the way up the canyon. Kids enjoy the boulder-hopping and all are rewarded with pools and waterfalls as well as views at the top. The trailhead can be reached from the parking area by either taking a five-minute Bear Canyon Tram ride or walking the 1.8-mi tram route.

The local chapter of the Sierra Club (738 N. 5th Ave., University, . 520/620-6401) welcomes out-of-towners on weekend hikes. The Southern Arizona Hiking Club (520/751-4513. www.sahcinfo.org) leads weekend hikes of varying difficulty. For hiking on your own, a good source is Summit Hut (5045 E. Speedway Blvd., Central. 520/325-1554), which has a collection of hiking reference materials and a friendly staff who will help you plan your trip. Packs, tents, bags, and climbing shoes can be rented here.