When we travel, we like to find hidden gems or places that only the locals visit. This gives us a better sense of the area and usually means fewer crowds. One spot in Tucson that we think is worth visiting is Agua Caliente Park. It’s a beautiful regional park where you can bring your dog and enjoy the natural plant and animal life of Tucson.
While you won’t find sports fields or playgrounds here, you will discover an excellent walking trail and over 50 picnic tables. Let’s dive in and learn more about this Pima County park!
Agua Caliente Park is a 101-acre regional park managed by Pima County in Arizona. Roy P. Drachman donated over $200,000 in 1984 to purchase the park for public enjoyment. It’s a dog-friendly and family-friendly park with picnic tables, benches, walking trails, and beautiful natural scenery. This regional park is like an oasis in the desert with giant palm trees and three ponds. You’ll likely see turtles, fish, and birds on your visit.
Pro Tip: Only 2.5 hours away is Dateland, and its infamous Date Shakes. Are they worth the drive, though?
Agua Caliente Park is in Tucson, Arizona, off East Roger Road. The park is east of I-10, which runs directly through the city. It takes about 30 minutes to drive from I-10 to Agua Caliente Park. The Agua Caliente Ranch Estates are to the southwest, and the Thunderbird Trail Estates are to the northeast.
This area of Tucson is more remote on the outskirts of the city. You’ll find hiking trails, recreation areas, and dispersed camping options near Agua Caliente Park and farther north and east. It’s not a city park, but it can still get crowded on the weekends, so we suggest arriving early because the parking lot can fill up quickly.
The regional park is open from 7 a.m. to sunset. It would be a beautiful place to welcome the sunrise early in the morning, especially before the heat of summer. The Ranch House Visitor Center and Art Gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May to October.
From November to April, it’s open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no fee to visit Agua Caliente Park or the visitor center, but there are donation boxes to support the ongoing restoration efforts.
Agua Caliente Park isn’t a place with lots of activities. There’s no playground, and fishing, swimming, and wildlife feeding aren’t permitted. But it’s an excellent option for birthday parties, family gatherings, or Sunday afternoon barbeques. The picnic tables provide adequate shade, and charcoal grills are on-site. There are also public restrooms.
The walking trails are paved or hard-packed, so you can easily traverse them with tennis shoes. Many people bring their dogs and enjoy an hour or so of walking around the park. Make sure to keep your pets leashed, however.
We think you’ll love the beauty of this regional park. It’s not a botanical garden, but it’s a location where the native plants of Tucson are preserved and well-maintained. Because there are usually kids and dogs, it probably won’t be a quiet place of solitude. But if you want to enjoy the crisp morning air or get in a jog at lunchtime, it’s a beautiful park!
The wildlife at Agua Caliente Park is a bonus. Swimming in the ponds are turtles and fish. You’ll see various birds, from pond birds to owls to raptors to hummingbirds. A unique animal in the park is the Western Yellow Bat, which roosts in the skirts of the many palm trees. Other mammals you might encounter include squirrels, raccoons, and mule deer.
In September 2022, a fire damaged the entrance to Agua Caliente Park. Many palm trees burned because of a lightning strike. About 40 palm trees had to be removed, but instead of discarding them, the Parks and Recreation Department chose to repurpose them for an erosion project at Bar V Ranch.
Signs, picnic tables, a bike rack, and other property were also damaged. In response, Pima County transformed this area into a desert garden with native plants. Over the last year, the department and the Friends of Agua Caliente organization have worked to create this beautiful addition to the park.
Pima County also manages four other regional parks. Depending on which part of Tucscon you’re visiting, we think you’ll enjoy stopping by these locations. These parks offer play spaces for kids and more recreational opportunities than Agua Caliente Park.
In north-central Tucson, a 56-acre park provides recreational space for visitors. Brandi Fenton Memorial Park has three soccer fields, two covered basketball courts, horseshoe pits, two playgrounds, a splash park, five ramadas, an equestrian arena, an off-leash dog park, walking paths, and a memorial garden. It’s located at 3482 East River Road and is open year-round from sunrise to 10 p.m.
Curtis Park is in west Tucson and connects to the Chuck Huckelberry Loop, a 131-mile car-free path around the metropolitan area. There are also two lighted little league fields, a lighted baseball field, two picnic tables, one ramada, and a playground. The Sporting Chance Center, an indoor sports facility, is also on the property. Curtis Park is located at 2110 West Curtis Road and is open year-round from sunrise to 10 p.m.
One of the newest Pima County regional parks is the Julian Wash Greenway. Like Curtis Park, it’s also part of the Chuck Huckelberry Loop. Visitors can park at a trailhead at 7501 South Kolb Road. Many people enjoy bike riding, skating, horseback riding, and walking along the greenway.
If you’re looking for a place to let the kids run loose, McDonald Park in northeastern Tucson is an excellent option. This 38-acre park has lighted baseball/softball fields, batting cages, a lighted basketball court, soccer/football fields, a sand volleyball court, walking paths, and a dog park. The playground has separate spaces for younger children and older children and includes slides, climbing apparatuses, and swings.
Parking isn’t an issue even on crowded days, as the parking lot has over 260 spaces. McDonald Park is located at 4100 North Harrison Road and is open year-round from sunrise to 10 p.m.
Tucson, Arizona is well-known for its outdoor recreation. From off-roading to biking to hiking, there’s so much to explore around the city. Agua Caliente Park offers a place to connect with friends and family, take your pup out for a walk, and sit alongside the ponds and watch the wildlife.
You won’t find all of the activities that are offered at the other Pima County regional parks. Still, Agua Caliente Park is the perfect place to host a family get-together or relax after a long work week. And the natural beauty here is stunning!
Have you ever visited one of Tucson’s local parks?
