★★★★☆ Moderate / Tucson

Find splash-worthy pools, a canyon stream & seasonal falls on this short, rocky trail. Swimming season or not, Tanque Verde Canyon is a fantastic area to explore! With its seasonally-flowing waterfalls, huge granite boulders and high canyon walls, it’s a narrow desert oasis.

TRAILHEAD: Reddington Rd. , Tucson •  DIFFICULTY: Moderate  •  DISTANCE: 1.6 Miles (3 Miles Round Trip) •  APPROX. TIME: 1-2.5 HOURS RT •  ELEVATION GAIN: 375 FEET RT (27 STORIES)  •  APPROX. CALORIES BURNED: 450-510 RT •  BEST TIME OF YEAR: Marh-Nov.  • PETS: yes  •  KID FRIENDLY: yes (10 and OLdER)  •  FACILITIES: none  •  FEES: none

Tanque Verde Hiking Trail; Tucson; Arizona; Rincon Mountains; Canyon; Boulders; River Bed; Steam; Sky; Clouds; Copyright azutopia.com; no use without permission.Forcing its way out of Tucson’s Ricon Mountains, the Tanque Verde River cuts a dramatic path. Colorful canyon walls, seasonal waterfalls, over-sized boulders and pools of water mark its route. 

Hikers; Tanque Verde Hiking Trail; Tucson; Arizona; Rincon Mountains; Canyon Top; Saquaros; Mountains; Sky; Copyright azutopia.com; no use without permission.The lower Tanque Verde Falls Hiking Trail accesses this river via a short 0.5-mile hike down Tanque Verde Canyon. Long views over the canyon and mountains make this hike pretty sweet from the start.

Hikers; Tanque Verde Hiking Trail; Tucson; Arizona; Rincon Mountains; Canyon; Boulders; River Bed; Steam; Copyright azutopia.com; no use without permission.The real adventure begins once the trail reaches the canyon floor. The remaining 1-mile hike is unmarked, following the river upstream. Scrambling up water-smoothed granite boulders, along uneven banks and through pools of water is required! 

Tanque Verde Hiking Trail; Tucson; Arizona; Rincon Mountains; Canyon; Boulders; Waterfall, Pool, Tanque Verde Falls, River Bed; Steam; Saquaros; Copyright azutopia.com; no use without permission.The reward? During wet seasons two large waterfalls cascade through the canyon. The first is 30′ high. And the second is 75′ high, sporting an ample swimming-hole beneath!

Tanque Verde Hiking Trail; Tucson; Arizona; Rincon Mountains; Small Eddit; River Stones; Reflections; River Bed; Steam; Copyright azutopia.com; no use without permission.Whether the fall is flowing or not, the rugged beauty of the Tanque Verde canyon is a blast to explore.

Total Nerdery The Tanque Verde Canyon gets plenty of use in Summer. And some people like to enjoy it “au naturel.” You’ve been informed :).
WARNING: Keep your eye open for weather, especially during monsoon season! Flash floods can roll through quickly and dangerously.

Resources Click here for directions

Click here for a video of the canyon & falls.

Directions From the AZ-10 (in Tucson) take exit 257 east onto Speedway Blvd. Drive 12.4 miles on Speedway Blvd. then turn left / north onto N. Houghton Rd.  Take N. Houghton Rd. for 1.1 miles, then turn right/ east onto E. Tanque Verde Rd. Continue on E. Tanque Verde Rd., which becomes Reddington Rd., for 6.7 miles. The Tanque Verde Falls Trailhead parking lot is on the left / north side of the road, a short ways after it becomes gravel.