20 Things to do near Santa Cruz River Park
first prev 1 next lastShowing results within 50 miles Distance miles of 1418 North Riverview Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85745, USA City, Zip, or Address
Randolph Skatepark
Tucson, Arizona
4.9 miles EA free concrete street course and vert ramps open to skaters during school-year afternoons and until dark — a classic Tucson skate spot.
Skateboard
Sam Lena Park
Tucson, Arizona
5.5 miles SEA disc golf course that plays around two baseball fields with 8-foot fences adding to the challenge — 3 tees per hole make 18, but a map is essential since tees are not marked.
Disc Golf
Sears Park
Tucson, Arizona
7.5 miles EA compact 9-basket layout in Tucson with dual tees that stretch to 18 holes — pink and white whiskers mark the front and back tee sets.
Disc Golf
Groves Park
Tucson, Arizona
10.4 miles SEA grassy disc golf park with large mature trees near Tucson — play it backwards for 18 holes, and check the second website for course maps.
Disc Golf
Groves Park, East Juniper Drive, Tucson, AZ, USA
Tucson, Arizona
10.4 miles SEA grassy, cactus-fringed Tucson park with 9 baskets spread across 18-hole routing (A and B pads), picnic tables, and a canopied playground — a laid-back spot to practice or bring the family.
Disc Golf 1.0-1.2 mi
Maiden Pools
Tucson, Arizona
10.5 miles NEGranite pools carved smooth by the Ventana Stream, best filled in late winter and spring, with shading oak trees and big rocks for picnicking — 2.4 miles up Ventana Canyon Trail.
Hike, Rock Climb, Swim 1.3-3.5 mi
Seven Falls
Tucson, Arizona
10.9 miles NESeven Falls crosses a stream seven times through Bear Canyon before arriving at pools best visited in late winter when snowmelt keeps the water flowing strong.
Hike, Swim 0.5-3.8 mi
Hutch's Pool
Tucson, Arizona
10.9 miles NEA famous desert pool in Sabino Canyon — 8 miles round trip from the trailhead, plus up to 8 more if you walk from the visitor center — with spectacular desert views the entire way.
Hike, Swim
Marana Rock Disc Golf Course
Tucson, Arizona
13.1 miles NWA scenic disc golf course in a water detention basin, with mature tamarisk trees for shade and obstacles and lots of elevation — wear shoes with good traction.
Disc Golf 1.0 mi
Montrose Pool
Tucson, Arizona
13.6 miles NA seasonal catchment pool about a mile up the Romero Canyon Trail in Catalina State Park, filling after rainfall — best hiked October through May and dog-friendly to the pool.
Hike, Swim 1.4-1.8 mi
Romero Pools
Tucson, Arizona
13.6 miles NA two-hour canyon hike through Romero Canyon leads to year-round stream-fed pools surrounded by Catalina State Park desert — best enjoyed September through May.
Hike, Swim 1.2 mi
La Milagrosa Canyon
Tucson, Arizona
15.7 miles EA hidden canyon east of Tucson with rock-climbing walls and a seasonal waterfall pooling into swim basins — best after fall or winter rain, with boulder scrambling required.
Hike, Mountain Bike, Rock Climb, Swim
Cactus Forest Trail
Tucson, Arizona
16.0 miles EA flat, multi-use 2.5-mile desert trail through old-growth saguaros and cholla in Saguaro National Park East — welcoming to hikers, horses, and bikes, with the Rincon Mountains as a stunning backdrop.
Hike, Mountain Bike 2.4 mi
Sycamore Reservoir
Tucson, Arizona
17.0 miles NEA small lake up in Bear Canyon on Mount Lemmon with a sandy shore and a dam that creates a small waterfall — best hiked in fall, winter, or spring, when the desert foliage is at its most striking.
Hike, Swim
Seven Cataracts
Tucson, Arizona
17.5 miles NEA set of waterfalls deep in Willow Canyon near Tucson, reached by off-trail canyoneering scrambles — visible from the Catalina Highway pulloff after rainfall.
Canyoneer, Hike, Swim 3.6 mi
Lemmon Pools
Mount Lemmon, Arizona
18.8 miles NEA steep, rocky 8.5-mile trek through the Wilderness of Rocks to hidden pools tucked in the Santa Catalinas.
Hike, Swim 0.5 mi
Tanque Verde Falls
Tucson, Arizona
19.0 miles EWaterfalls and pools in Tanque Verde Canyon reachable on a short hike — but this site has about 30 deaths since 1971 from flash flooding and cliff jumping. Check weather carefully and use extreme caution.
Hike, Swim 4.4 mi
Chiva Falls
Mount Lemmon, Arizona
21.1 miles EA desert waterfall tucked in Coronado National Forest, best reached by mountain bike or motorized vehicle on rocky double-track — with a pool at the bottom to cool off in (check depth before diving).
Hike, Mountain Bike, Swim 0.2-4.6 mi
Frog's Hollow
Vail, Arizona
24.7 miles EMultiple small pools and shallow waterfalls in a frog-filled Arizona canyon, best in fall through spring after rain — hike via the Arizona or Indian Springs Trail.
Hike, Mountain Bike, Swim
Agua Caliente Hot Springs
Green Valley, Arizona
37.7 miles SCLOSED. No more public access. Almost dry. Short hike down rough road into canyon with intermittent spring swimming hole and hot springs.
Hot Springs
