If you’re looking for dog-friendly hikes in Tucson, you cannot get any better than the variety of hiking available at Catalina State Park. With spectacular views for you, and inviting sniffs for your dog, hiking year-round may be the best activity to strengthen your bond with your dog.

Bernie, Lizzie, and I have explored all seven of the trails below. Each one offers unique views of the Santa Catalina Mountains here in Southern Arizona. You’ll want to hike all of them!

Keep reading for an introduction to Catalina State Park and details on each of these seven hikes.

Trail	Distance	Difficulty	Terrain	Wash Crossings	Horse Poop	Benches	Shade
Canyon Loop Trail	2.3 mile loop	moderate; 90 stairs or steep hill to climb	varies	multiple	yes	4	varies
Nature Trail	1 mile loop	easy-moderate; steep climb to access loop	some parts rocky	none	no	several	none
Bridle Trail	1.4 miles, one-way	easy; flat	wide; pea gravel	none	yes	1	varies
Birding Trail	1 mile loop	easy with moderate climbing	mostly double track	2	no	several	varies
Romero Ruins Trail	0.75 mile loop	easy; 80 steps to climb then flat	double track; sandy	1	yes until stairs	2	none
50-Year Trail	approx 5 miles roundtrip within park	moderate; elevation gains gradual but consistent	mostly single track; rocky	none	yes	none	limited
Alamo Canyon/Bathtub Tank	3.1 mile loop	moderate; elevation changes throughout; stairs	single track; rocky	multiple	no	none	limited

Labradoodles Bernie and Lizzie McSquare eagerly sniff the air on the 50-Year Trail at Catalina State Park in Tucson, Arizona.

A Beginner’s Guide to Catalina State Park

Where is Catalina State Park in Arizona?

11570 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85737

Just six miles north of Ina Road, the park entrance is located right off Oracle Road (SR 77). Across Oracle Road is the Oro Valley Marketplace, so there is a traffic light.

What are the Catalina State Park hours?

Catalina State Park is open year-round.

Day use: 5am - 10pm
Visitor center/park store: 8am - 5pm daily
On Thanksgiving & Christmas Eve, the visitor center/park stores closes early at 2pm
On Christmas Day, the visitor center/park store is closed

What are the Catalina State Park fees?

Entrance Fee: $7/day per vehicle with 1-4 adults

If you plan on hiking in Catalina State Park regularly, then buying an Arizona State Park & Trails annual pass may be your best option. If you purchase online, the annual pass costs $75 plus a $7 handling fee, and the pass will be mailed to you.

After visiting 12 times, you’ve recouped the cost of the annual park pass.

You can purchase the annual pass at the park entrance, but I advise against it if you’re alone with your dogs. Dogs are not permitted in the Visitor Center where they will process all of your information, so you would have to leave your dogs in the car.

Where can I get a Catalina State Park map?

Before your visit, you can explore the Catalina State Park trail map online.

When you arrive at the park, you may ask for a trail map at the entrance. Their map makes excellent use of color to distinguish the various trails.

A partial screenshot of the trail map for Catalina State Park in Tucson, Arizona.

When is a good time of day to visit?

Generally speaking, the park is less crowded early in the morning and closer to sunset.

During the summer months, arriving early is advisable, especially in July and August when the humidity from monsoon season will make hiking pretty sticky business. If getting up early is a challenge for you, I share my Seven Strategies for Maintaining Good Sleep Hygiene.

During the more popular winter months, I tend to hike in the middle of the day and I avoid the popular Canyon Loop Trail. The vibe I get from visiting snow birds is that they like to hike in the morning or the afternoon. By hiking around lunchtime, I avoid more crowded trails.

No matter what time of day you visit, be sure to bring plenty of water for you and your dog.

Check the “Popular times” feature in Google Maps

While the individual trailheads don’t have this data right now, Catalina State Park is popular enough that you can get a feel for how many people are visiting at specific hours on any given day.

What are the rules regarding dogs in the park?

Pets must be kept on a leash.
Pick up after your dog.
Pack out your poop bags to trash cans located at trailheads and in various parking lots and picnic areas.
Dogs are not allowed in the Desert Bighorn Sheep Management Area.

What kinds of wild animals are in the park?

Most of the animals you will see will be various birds, whitetail deer, mule deer, coyotes, and javelinas. While most of these animals will scare off when they see, hear, or smell humans, I like to talk to my dogs as we explore. Carrying a walking stick or trekking poles could be useful as well.

We did come across a juvenile javelina once on the Bridle Trail as we rounded a curve. Little guy was on the far side of a boulder. While I think we scared him more, I definitely picked up our pace as he scurried away. I wanted nothing to do with mama.

Learn more about living with Arizona wildlife on the Arizona Game & Fish website.

Since the park is located in the Sonoran Desert, you need to be situationally aware because you could come across rattlesnakes, raptors, bobcats, and mountain lions as well. Just four more reasons to keep your dog leashed when you’re hiking.

If you plan on hiking with your dog in the desert regularly, I highly recommend researching rattlesnake avoidance training. You don’t want your dog sniffing and accidentally discovering a rattlesnake. Read more about the rattlesnake avoidance training we did with Bernie and Lizzie.

What do I do when I see horses on the trail?

Catalina State Park does have an equestrian center so visitors bring in their horses to enjoy the trails. According to the National Park Service, hiking etiquette requires hikers yield to horses.

We’ve encountered horses several times on different trails.

I usually step off the trail as much as possible and place my dogs in a sit-stay. I say hello to the rider, or lead rider. I talk to my dogs in a soothing voice and remind them that they’ve seen horses before. Since I always have my treat pouch with me, I liberally reward their good behavior. All of the talking may seem excessive, but it also lets the horse know that I’m a human and no threat to them.

Talking also gives the rider the chance to let you know what would be best for them. On one encounter with two horses, one rider passed us while the other pulled off the trail and gestured for me to go by her.

7 Dog-Friendly Trails in Catalina State Park

Canyon Loop Trail

By far, this 2.3 mile loop is the most popular trail in the park. It’s actually made up of three separate trails strung together:

the Romero Canyon trail
the Canyon Loop Connector trail
the Sutherland trail

At the trailhead, there’s this beautiful mosaic celebrating all the Sonoran Desert plants and wildlife that call Catalina State Park home. Be sure to spend some time enjoying this art installation either before or after your hike.

Mosaic of desert flora and fauna within Catalina State Park. This mosaic marks the trailhead for the Canyon Loop Trail.

Labradoodles Bernie and Lizzie McSquare pose at the trail juncture for the Romero Canyon and Canyon Loop Connector trails in Catalina State Park, Tucson, Arizona.

Since this trail is a loop, you can choose whether you want to climb a steep hill with your dogs or climb about 90 stairs with your dog.

If you prefer to climb the steep hill, then you’ll want to proceed southeast across the wash to the Romero Canyon trail.

Trust me, once you’ve crossed the wash, you’ll see the steep hill. There is a bench at the top if you need to rest. Thank you logical Park Rangers! You guys rock!

One thing to note about all of the park benches on this trail: they’re all in full sunlight. None of them are placed anywhere near shade.

The advantage of taking this route is that now the rest of hike is pretty easy. You’ll walk along a wide flat trail until the Romero Canyon trail splits off into the Bighorn Sheep area.

Since this trail is so popular, chances are good that you’ll pass other people with leashed dogs. I usually take advantage of this situation to practice passing in neutral dog mode. Why not get a little training practice in while you’re enjoying the outdoors.

At the trail split, do not enter the Bighorn Sheep area with dogs. Instead, veer to the left and stay on the Canyon Loop Connector Trail. This section of the trail has some beautiful cacti and desert views.

At the Canyon Loop Connector Trail’s mid-point, there’s a vista with two more benches. A perfect spot to take a hydration break and some photos. Remember to bring plenty of water for you and your dog.

There’s no shade at this vista point, so your stop probably will be brief.

Next you’ll be going down the 90 stairs and walking next to the wash. Once you cross the wash you’ll have transitioned onto the Sutherland Trail.

During the summer monsoon season, this section of the trail gets more humid and buggy. If you’re sensitive about how many bugs are flying around you, I would suggest hiking from the midway vista back to the steep hill you climbed, and avoid this part of the trail altogether.

Once you’re on the Sutherland Trail, you’ll gradually climb out of the wash, including some stairs that are pretty easy to navigate. Again, there’s a bench for resting at the top of these stairs.

Here’s me lollygagging behind everyone else on a pack hike with Ruff House Dog Training to capture the beautiful light hitting the Santa Catalina Mountains. That’s the Sutherland Trail section of the Canyon Loop just before the stairs that lead to c… — Here’s me lollygagging behind everyone else on a pack hike with Ruff House Dog Training to capture the beautiful light hitting the Santa Catalina Mountains. That’s the Sutherland Trail section of the Canyon Loop just before the stairs that lead to crossing the Sutherland Wash.

For the rest of the Sutherland Trail you’ll be hiking parallel to the Sutherland Wash. You’ll gradually descend to cross the wash two more times. If there’s been rain or snow melt, prepare to get wet.

Sometimes the water isn’t much at all. Just a fun distraction for your dog. Other times, though, the water has come midway up my calves, and deeper depending on where I step.

As the Sutherland Trail gets closer to the trailhead, you’ll see how it splits off in many directions to connect with other trails. By this point, it’s usually easy to see the parking lot.

If you would prefer to climb the 90 stairs with your dog, then when you’re standing at the trailhead mosaic, head slightly northeast walking into the paved roundabout. On the right, you’ll see a sign for the Canyon Loop Trail.

Nature Trail

I love taking this trail with our two dogs, partially because it’s a one-mile loop so I can go around 2-3 times if I want more exercise, but more importantly, there’s no horse poop on this trail!

Bernie and Lizzie love the Nature Loop because there are so many rocks. Lizzie, our little trailblazing mountaineer, jumps on every rock she can, and Bernie sniffs excessively.

Labradoodles Bernie and Lizzie McSquare love all the different rocks they can jump on and sniff around on the Nature Loop at Catalina State Park in Tucson, Arizona.

Labradoodle Bernie McSquare reads more about the Santa Catalina Mountains while we’re exploring the Nature Loop at Catalina State Park in Tucson, Arizona.

Getting to this trail seems a little harrowing.

There’s another steep hill that you have to climb, which is why horses can’t access this area.

I’ve watched numerous types of people hike up and down this hill. Even if you’re out-of-shape, or not as agile as you once were, a slow and steady pace will help you manage.

I always use the easy cue with our dogs to remind them that they’re not allowed to walk faster than me. This cue also really helps going downhill as well.

Trekking poles could steady you too since the loose dirt and rocks here can be pretty slippery.

There’s also a bench at the top of this climb, but it’s in the sun.

Once you’ve reached the Nature Loop, though, the trail is mostly flat. There are some rocky parts, but nothing overly taxing. I don’t see any advantage to hiking clockwise versus counterclockwise on this loop.

There are various educational signs around the loop featuring information on different desert animals and the mountain geology.

The signs about the wildlife include a set of the animal’s paw prints carved into ground markers, which is useful information to soak up if you plan on hiking around the desert a lot.

While there are plenty of benches for resting all along this trail, there is absolutely no shade. Bring plenty of water if you’re hiking here.

Bridle Trail

The Bridle Trail is probably the easiest trail to walk at Catalina State Park since it’s mostly flat, and covered with a pea gravel.

The trail runs from the Equestrian Center, which is closer to the campgrounds, to the main trailhead parking lot because horses are not allowed on the roads or in any of the paved parking lots or picnic areas.

If you want to vary up the sniffs and scenery, you can easily meander around the picnic areas, group areas, and parking lots that line the Bridle Trail.

While this trail may appear a bit ho-hum for some, our two exciting wildlife encounters have occurred while we’ve been on this trail. This is where that javelina scared the poop emojis out of me. Another morning when we were all taking a water break at the one bench, a herd of mule deer galloped by on the field.

While this trail is more of a mellow walk than a hike, the sniffs are just as exotic. There are several large Saguaro along this trail along with large boulders for your dog to jump on.

Labradoodle Lizzie McSquare sits atop another rock on the Bridle Trail at Catalina State Park in Tucson, AZ.

Birding Trail

Another one-mile loop that’s a good hiking trail for dogs is the Birding Trail.

Just like the Nature Loop, horses are not allowed on this trail, so there’s no horse poop to deal with. While there' aren’t as many big rocks for jumping on, both of our dogs really like taking their time on the stairs and sniffing away.

Labradoodle Lizzie McSquare waits to climb some of the stairs on the Birding Trail at Catalina State Park in Tucson, Arizona.

Bernie and Lizzie McSquare pose on the Birding Trail near the Sutherland Wash in Catalina State Park in Tucson, Arizona.

If you start at the mosaic art installation at the main trailhead, you’ll want to head southeast across the Sutherland Wash like you’re going to the Canyon Loop Trail.

Once you’ve crossed the wash, the Birding Trail veers to the right.

There’s some shade along the trail as you walk parallel to the wash toward the actual loop. After the Big Horn Fire in the summer of 2020, the shade coverage isn’t as consistent.

There’s even a bench within this somewhat shady section, which makes for an ideal hydration spot. There are several other benches on this trail, but those are in direct sunlight.

Once you get to the loop, you can choose to walk in either direction. Either way, you’ll be going up and down some stairs.

If you prefer a more gradual ascent, I’d recommend walking the loop in a clockwise direction.

Since this trail has a little more climbing, I’ve never taken the loop more than twice with our dogs. Usually after two loops on the Birding Trail, they’re ready for breakfast or an afternoon nap.

Also, I generally avoid this loop during our summer morning hikes since there seem to be some serious bird enthusiasts who visit Catalina State Park. We see plenty of people examining the plants, pointing at birds, and enjoying this landscape in a way that’s drastically different than my two Doodlebutts sniffing away, so it just seems polite to avoid the Birding Loop during the quieter summer months.

Once the busier Snowbird season arrives, though, I take advantage of this trail, especially if I see a full parking lot.

Romero Ruins Interpretive Trail

This trail is the shortest of all the dog-friendly trails within Catalina State Park with its own parking lot with picnic tables. The trailhead sign stands out clearly when you’re driving in, so you won’t miss the turn for the parking lot.

After you park, you have to cross the main road and the Sutherland Wash to reach the loop’s trailhead. You’ll see a hitching post for horses at the base of some stairs because horses cannot access the Romero Ruins Trail.

Once you’ve climbed the 80 stairs, the rest of the .75 mile loop is flat. Once again, there’s a bench at the top of the initial climb with a great view over the park, including the campground.

There’s also no shade on this loop.

I am always impressed with the line of Saguaros along one section of this trail. When the Saguaros are blooming, it’s a beautiful spot. Sadly, the one picture I thought to take of this area was on a bright sunny day in the middle of the afternoon. Not an ideal time for capturing how gorgeous this trail can be, but that just means you’ll have to go see it yourself:)

Labradoodles Bernie and Lizzie McSquare pose in front of several blooming Saguaro cacti on the Romero Ruins Interpretive Trail in Catalina State Park in Tucson, Arizona.

Since this loop is so short, I usually combine it with some time on the Bridle Trail. When you’re in the Romero Ruins parking lot, you’ll see a variety of connecting trails to the picnic area that’s right by the Bridle Trail.

You can walk toward the campgrounds or the main trailhead. You can circle around walking on the roads because there’s hardly anyone driving back away from the main road. There are some group areas back there as well that can extend a walk without overextending you.

Combining the Romero Ruins Interpretive Trail and the Bridle Trail is a great option for those days when you want your dog to enjoy Catalina State Park, but you don’t have the oomph for a full hike.

50-Year Trail

If you’re up for a rockier, longer hike with your dog, this trail may be just what you’re looking for.

When I read Canine Enrichment for the Real World, the authors shared that hiking can involve problem-solving mental enrichment because your dog is “figuring out how to get over, under, and around obstacles as well as determing where to place feet.” The 50-Year Trail definitely offers that great mental enrichment.

You’ll want to park by the Equestrian Center, so prepare for a lot of horse poop in the parking lot and near the trailhead. Walking through this maze of horse poop is actually pretty hilarious, and a great opportunity for reinforcing Leave it with your dog.

Once you pass the Equestrian Center, you walk east until the 50-Year Trail splits off more to the north. In the photo below, the 50-Year Trail heads up that slight incline toward the Saguaro.

Labradoodles Bernie and Lizzie McSquare sit at the juncture of the 50-Year Trail and the Bridle Trail in Catalina State Park in Tucson, Arizona.

The elevation gain on this trail is pretty consistent, but gradual. My FitBit usually gives me credit for about 40 floors of stairs climbed. Since the terrain is rockier, both of our dogs love navigating along.

There are no benches and very little shade on this trail, so I tend to take this trail on overcast days since it’s a longer trail than others in the park.

This trail is also the only trail in the park where I’ve encountered people mountain biking, aside from seeing cyclists on the park roads. Thankfully, the mountain bike people we’ve encountered have always been polite, which is more than I can say about the privileged urban cyclists who plague Tucson’s shared pathways that they’ve claimed as their own.

The mountain bike cyclists always slow down, and sometimes stop depending on trail width, and they make sure that we can all pass one another safely.

The first half of the 2.5 miles to the park’s boundary is quite scenic. Since you’re farther away from the Catalina Mountains, you’re seeing the mountains from a perspective that’s unique within the park.

Labradoodles Bernie and Lizzie McSquare pose on the 50-Year Trail by a plump Saguaro in Catalina State Park in Tucson, Arizona.

Once you get farther into the hike, though, the scenery becomes less majestic. The first time we tried this hike, I started wondering when we’d get to the gate that marks the boundary to the park.

When I saw telephone poles, I got a little worried, but we were still within the park.

Sign for the 50-Year Trail within Catalina State Park in Tucson, Arizona.

Screenshot of Google Maps overview of 50-Year Trail that’s annotated with location of the Equestrian Center and the boundary gate for Catalina State Park.

As you get closer to the gate at the park boundary, be aware that there’s a shooting range northwest of you. Sometimes you can hear people firing guns when you’re hiking the Canyon Loop Trail, but on the 50-Year Trail, you can really tell how much closer to the range you are.

Bernie, Lizzie, and I have hiked to the park gate once. When we got back to the car after our five-mile round-trip adventure, we were all tuckered. Now we’ll venture out onto the 50-Year Trail for about an hour, which keeps us around more of the interesting cacti and scenery, but gets us back to the car before we’re completely zonked.

Labradoodles Bernie and Lizzie McSquare pose at the gate marking the boundary to Catalina State Park on the 50-Year Trail.

Alamo Canyon/Bathtub Tank Trail

I discovered this trail, which is not on the official Catalina State Park trail map, when I was searching for other dog-friendly trails on The Hiking Project website.

This 3.1 mile loop has varied terrain with lots of rocks, stairs, climbing, and even a little scrambling. Another fantastic hike if you’re looking for a mentally and physically enriching activity for your dog.

While we’ve seen other people out on this trail every time we’ve taken it, it’s not nearly as busy as some of the park’s more popular or well-known trails.

On the pro side, this makes for a quieter and more peaceful hike where you can truly enjoy just being with your dog. On the negative side, you are hiking into an area where you’re more prone to run into mountain lions and bobcats. As Mad-Eye Moody would say, “Constant Vigilance!”

Labradoodles Bernie and Lizzie McSquare stand at the juncture of the Romero Ruins Trail and the Alamo Canyon/Bathtub Tank Trail in Catalina State Park.

You’ll want to park at the Romero Ruins parking lot and cross the street. Follow the initial trail across the wash, and toward the Romero Ruins.

The trail to the right that’s not marked is the Alamo Canyon/Bathtub Tank Trail. Follow this trail up the steps and back toward the mountains. You’ll see several trails around you pretty much through most of this hike, but the main trail is more worn than the others.

As you walk toward the mountains, you’ll be gradually climbing. When you get close to the actual Bathtub Tank, you may have to scramble around some rocks as you descend into the canyon.

Again, I find using the easy cue with our dogs super helpful here.

We visited Bathtub Tank a few times earlier in 2020 when there was snow melt, so there was water for each of our visits. Crossing the water wasn’t a problem. A few splashes in water that was a few inches deep. Keep in mind, though, that the amount of water present will vary depending on the amount of snow melt and recent rain there has been.

Climbing out of the Bathtub Tank area is probably our favorite part because it’s mentally challenging for the dogs, which is great fun. The view’s gorgeous with lots of rocks for Lizzie to jump on. As we wind back toward the parking lot, crossing the wash at several points, I’m always looking behind me to take in the mountains.

Labradoodles Bernie and Lizzie McSquare hiking out of Alamo Canyon in Catalina State Park in Tucson, Arizona.

Again, there are several trails all around, but the main trail is incredibly worn. I choose to navigate based on my convenience, which mostly means keeping out of the muddiest spots. You can see how the trails intersect, so you might backtrack a little because you don’t want to walk through a particular patch of mud.

Once we can see the road, the number of trails around us seem to explode. Rather than going all the way back to the Romero Ruins trailhead, I choose a trail that cuts across the flat field out to the road. We usually end up at the far end of the parking lot for the Romero Ruins trailhead, and happily pile into the car.

A final desert tip…

Once you’re home from your hiking adventure at Catalina State Park, you might consider giving your dog a paw bath. Our dogs regularly get paw soaks to clean out all sorts of desert debris.