A Beginner’s Guide to the Seven Falls Hike in Tucson, Arizona
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Located deep in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness of Tucson is one of my favorite hikes, Seven Falls. It’s a decently easy hike that offers stunning views of Arizona’s beauty.
This hike takes you through the mountains, past a scenery of cacti, and finally to the culmination of multiple waterfalls in the middle of the desert.
Getting here is straightforward and you’ll have two options for trailheads:
- Sabino Canyon Recreation (must pay for parking or take a shuttle)
- Via Bear Canyon Road (shorter hike but less parking)
Deciding where to start the 7 Falls hike will depend on your situation and I will go over all the details so you can decide for yourself which is best.
How to Get to Seven Falls in Tucson
Determining where to start your hike to Seven Falls will depend on whether you’re an avid hiker, want to reduce the distance of the trail, or are only interested in the recreation area.
Some options are great for those wanting expert information about the area while not hiking and others to reduce the trail distance.
A great hike in West Tucson is Brown Mountain if you’re based around there.
Shuttle to Bear Canyon Trail
If you have your car or decide to rent one, this is your best option to find a parking spot (at least earlier in the day).
Parking here will cost $8 per day or $10 for the week. You can buy the pass at the parking lot or if you have the America the Beautiful pass, simply put that on your dashboard.
The trail to 7 Falls will start from this parking lot.
Parking at Sabino Canyon Recreation
Also leaving from the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area is the shuttle to Bear Canyon Trail, which is what you want to use if you’re interested in hiking to 7 Falls.
This is cheaper than the other shuttle and costs $8 for adults and $5 for children. You can book these tickets through the Sabino Canyon Crawler website.
This is a popular way to reduce the distance hiking while also learning about the area in the process.
Parking at Bear Canyon Road
There’s one last option you can do if you want to shave off some mileage to this hike. You can park at the Bear Canyon Trailhead and this will take off 2 miles to the total!
Get here early as parking is more limited than the Sabino Canyon Recreation area. Once you arrive at the trailhead, you’ll hike north until you reach a road.
Follow that road for a little bit and you’ll be on the main trail to Seven Falls.
Shuttle Inside Sabino Canyon Recreation
If you’re not much of a hiker or want something more relaxing, taking the shuttle inside the Sabin Canyon Recreation Area might be the best option.
This shuttle starts at the Sabin Canyon parking lot and takes you around the recreation area while an expert in the region explains everything you need to know about what you’re seeing!
The cost is $15 for adults and $8 for kids.
It’s suggested to book your tickets in advance through Sabino Canyon Crawler.
Everything You Need to Know
Still undecided if the Seven Falls hike is for you? I’ll go over more details about the 7 Falls hikes that you’ll want to know before heading out.
Another hike that you can do in Sabino Canyon is to Hutch’s Pool, which I highly recommend!
As always, bring plenty of water and protection from the sun!
7 Falls Hike Details
Seven Falls via Bear Canyon Trail
Sabino Canyon Recreation to Seven Falls
Is Seven Falls a Difficult Hike?
Seven Falls trail is considered a moderate hike with low elevation gain. If you start from the main parking lot you’ll be on a paved road for around 20 to 30 minutes.
The entire hike is only around 1,000 feet in elevation, which is low considering it is around 8 miles long.
If you’re looking for a hike with a better overlook and more elevation gain in Tucson, I’d suggest checking out Wasson Peak or Picacho Peak.
Is It Dog Friendly?
It is against the rules to bring your dog with you on this hike, even if it’s on a leash. There is a lot of wildlife in this area and the terrain is also not ideal for a dog.
What Wildlife is Present in the Park?
Arizona has an abundance of wildlife and that is no different here. You’ll have the opportunity to see lizards, insects, bobcats, and maybe even a Gila Monster!
Bring your nice camera and a pair of binoculars for a chance to see as much wildlife as possible.
How to See All Seven Falls
You’ll be at a flat area at the bottom of the falls when you reach the end of the trail. Get ready for some climbing if you want to see all seven waterfalls.
We didn’t see all of them but we saw people climbing up the mountain to reach them but they will look stunning from any viewpoint.
My Experience Hiking to 7 Falls in Tucson
The day started a little later than we would have liked. We got to the parking lot around 9:30 am but luckily we still found a parking spot at Sabin Canyon Recreation Area.
We didn’t know at the time but could have skipped the parking fee if we placed our ‘America the Beautiful’ pass on our dashboard. Oh well, next time!
The Beginning of the Trail
The trail to Seven Falls begins right at the parking lot and starts on a flat terrain that turns into a road.
You can’t drive on this road as this is the road that the tour shuttles use.
We were wondering at first if we were on the right trail because we didn’t know the road section was this long. It’s drastically shorter if taking the Bear Canyon trail.
After the bridge, the road will continue. But instead, there’s a trail to the left that we took and I suggest doing the same.
Others stayed on the road but I think that had more to do with not knowing there was an actual trail nearby.
A Steady Incline
This hike isn’t too difficult. The hardest part was that as the day went on, it got much hotter. We were prepared for this but we saw plenty of people who weren’t.
There are a few river crossings that are shallow enough to walk through if that’s your jam!
After each crossing, the trail went up steadil,y but the majority of the incline was towards the end of the trail.
With that being said, still it isn’t anything I’d worry about.
Along the trail, we were constantly surrounded by stunning views of the mountain peaks and of course, cacti!
Arriving at 7 Falls
After about an hour to 1.5 hours, we arrived at the legendary Seven Falls! It was crowded already but we were still able to find a good spot to sit down and enjoy the views.
The trail leads up alongside a cliff and when we looked to our left, we could see all of the waterfalls from this vantage point.
There are some rocks to climb over once you get down there but it’s well worth it! You can even climb up the side of the waterfalls if you’re an adventure enthusiast!
This is a good spot to eat your lunch and snacks while taking in the scenery.
After about 30 minutes to an hour, we decided to start the hike back to the parking lot. The hike back always seems longer than the way there as all the fun is usually over.
But not here! Keep your eyes out for wildlife and take some photos with the cacti!
We arrived at the waterfalls at around 11:00 AM and this was a decent time. Going during the middle of the week helped a lot with people traffic.
More Tips When Hiking
What to Bring
This area of the United States is not typical terrain or weather. Hiking in a desert is a unique experience but it’s important to be prepared!
Below are some of the things I suggest bringing with you:
Go Early
There are many reasons you should hike early in Tucson. You’ll miss some of the heat, it’ll be easier to find parking, and there will be fewer people at the waterfalls!
I love hiking early in the morning as you’ll still have a majority of your day left after the adventure!
There is a lot to see when visiting Tucson and you want to be able to see as much as possible!
Explore the Other Trails
There are more trails inside the Sabino Canyon Recreation area than just the 7 Falls hike!
Some are more challenging than others but here are a few I’d suggest looking at:
- Phoneline Trail to Blackett’s Ridge and Saddleback: This trail takes you on the other side of the Seven Falls to one of the many peaks in the park.
- Sabino Walkway Loop: If you’re looking for an easier hike but don’t want to take the shuttle, this is the one for you.
- Esperero Canyon Trail: This 13-mile trail is not for the faint of heart but it’ll take you deep inside the Pusch Ridge Wilderness.
Best Places to Stay in Tucson, Arizona
- Graduate Tuscon: If you’re looking for a nice hotel with a view, then this is your top choice.
- Hotel McCoy: One of the most unique hotels in Tuscon, this is an art lover’s dream.
- Holiday Inn: You can’t go wrong with this one and especially the free breakfast.
Other Hikes in Arizona
If you’re visiting Phoenix, Sedona or simply interested in what other hikes you could do on your next visit, check these out!
- Sunrise Peak
- Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale
- Piestewa Peak
- Devil’s Bridge in Sedona
- Cathedral Rock
- Subway Cave
- Schnebly Hill Windows
Final Thoughts
This hike lived up to the hype and I’d suggest to anyone planning to visit Tucson! It’s everything you wanna see when visiting the desert but also isn’t a super challenging trail. Different options will make the hike shorter and there’s truly no downside to this hike. Pack a nice lunch, bring plenty of water and enjoy some of the best scenery in all of Arizona!
