Pima County Arizona | Things to Do | Visit Tucson (2024)

Pima County Seat

Tucson, the governmental center of Pima County,invites a sense of freedom among all who visit. So don’t expect a ‘seated’ approach to exploring our region.

Metro Tucson and a large portion of southern Arizona are situated withinPima County, which covers 9,200 square miles and has nearly one million residents.

Visitor Attractions

Visitors to Pima County are often astounded at the number of world-class attractions found throughout metro Tucson.

•Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: This combination zoo, botanical garden, natural history museum, and the aquarium are TripAdvisor’s #1 Tucson attraction. It attracts thousands of visitors annually from throughout the world.

•Biosphere 2: Another popular attraction for U.S. and international visitors is the University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2, 20 miles north of Tucson. It is Earth’s largest living science center dedicated to studying the environment. It’s a must-see attraction for anyone interested in science and the future of Earth’s environment.

•Children’s Museum Tucson: Children’s Museum Tucson offers hands-on fun and entertainment for kids of all ages. Located in downtown Tucson, the exhibits are educational and it has become one of Tucson’s top attractions.

•Colossal Cave Mountain Park: Colossal Cave is on the National Register of Historic Places and had been used for centuries by prehistoric people before being rediscovered in 1879. Cave tours are available and visitors enjoy the beauty of the surrounding mountain park.Click hereto watch theWild Cavevideo.

•Old Tucson: Many know Old Tucson as the site where many famous western movies were shot, including Rio Bravo, McLintock!, and El Dorado.Check ahead for seasonal events and hours.

Photo: Pete Gregoire

•: Visitors from throughout the world enjoy more than 300 commercials and private and military aircraft on 80 acres of land. Admission includes the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame and the standalone 390th Memorial World War II Museum.

•Titan II Missile Museum: If you enjoy military and/or Cold War history, do yourself a favor and make the short trip south toGreen Valleyto enjoy the nation’s only publicly accessible Titan II missile site.

For information on many more attractions throughout the region, visit theSouthern Arizona Attractions Allianceand considerbuyingtheTucson Attractions Passport—The Book of Fun. It contains two-for-one ticket deals and many other values.

The Southern Arizona Heritage & Visitor Center opened on January 18, 2020.Southern Arizona Heritage & Visitor Center is located at115 N. Church Ave.,Tucson, AZ 85701.Call toll-free: (800) 638-8350 or check us out online atvisitsouthernarizona.com/

Interested in The University of Arizona?Parents and visitors, consider yourself part of the extended family. Get to know the ins and outs of being a Wildcat – up close and personal with these online visitor information links.

Birding

The Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival, held every August, provides a great opportunity for bird enthusiasts to participate in guided hikes, lectures, and more.For a comprehensive list of Tucson and Southern Arizona birding locations, visit ourbird-watchingpage.

Cycling

With more than 500 miles of dedicated bike lanes and Gold status as a cycling-friendly community, Tucson is one of the world’s top cycling destinations, and rides throughout Pima County are among the most popular in the country.Click hereto find out more about our cycling scene orvisit ourWinter Training Capitalpage to learn why professional and top amateur cyclists train in Tucson in the winter.

The Loop Trail: Kudos to Pima County for developing The Loop, which offers more than 100 miles of shared-use paths that wind through Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, South Tucson, and unincorporated Pima County. Residents and visitors on bicycles, skates, horseback, and on foot are welcome.

CruisingThe Loop

Golfing

In Pima County, golfing is a driving force dating back to 1945 when the first of many pro tournaments were staged here. Warm winters continue to attract pro and amateur players to a variety of municipal and resort courses that are both scenic and challenging. If you're serious about golf, follow the sun to a winter playground in Pima County. Browse ourgolf courseshere.

Hiking

Pima County features dozens of public trailheads that offer incredible views and varying degrees of difficulty. VisitTrailheads & Trailsto find trails of interest to you. Incredible hiking experiences can also be found at:

Madera Canyon: This canyon is located in the Santa Rita Mountains 25 miles southeast of Tucson. It offers many miles of hiking trails, along with picnicking and camping sites. It is also one of the best birding sites in southern Arizona.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument: This site, near Ajo—130 miles west of Tucson—covers more than 330,000 acres in southern Arizona and is operated by the National Park Service. There are numerous hiking trails of varying difficulty throughout the park. Route information is available at the park’s visitor center.

Sabino Canyon: Located in northeastern metro Tucson, Sabino Canyon is a popular site for Tucsonans and visitors to hike, horseback ride, picnic, and more. If you would prefer a driving tour, Sabino Canyon Tours offers a narrated, educational, 45-minute tram ride into the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

Saguaro National Park: There are two separate districts on metro Tucson’seasternandwesternboundaries that make up this park. The easternRincondistrict has varying elevations up to 8,000 feet and more than 128 miles of trails. The westernTucson MountainDistrict has lower elevations and a more dense forest of saguaro cacti.

Horseback Riding

What would the Old West be withouthorseback riding? Metro Tucson offers horseback riding at a variety ofguest ranches, includingWhite Stallion Ranch,Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch, andTanque Verde Ranch,and at numerous stables throughout the region.

Mountain Biking

If mountain biking is of interest, you’ll find many fun and challenging rides in the mountains surrounding Tucson and throughout Pima County. Mountain Bikers from around the world come to ride in Pima County for its well-maintained, yet rugged trails, beautiful scenery, and perfect weather. Find out more about Mountain Biking in the Tucson areahere.

Rock Climbing

Mt. Lemmon, 29 miles north of Tucson, offers more than 1,200 climbing routes. Visit ourrock climbingpage for information about local climbing, including companies leading rock climbing excursions on Mt. Lemmon and in the Coronado National Forest, bouldering opportunities, and more.

Skiing

Mt. Lemmon Ski Valleyissmall but beautiful andoffers expert, intermediate, and beginner run. Ski and snowboard rentals are available as is instruction for adults and children. Ski season typically runs from mid-December through March. Mt. Lemmon’s summit gets about 180 inches of snow annually and is just a short drive from Tucson.