Tucson is full of outdoor attractions that go unseen and under appreciated. With its beautiful saguaro forests, incredible mountain ranges surrounding the city and unforgettable sunsets, it is most definitely an alluring destination. 

Here are 3 places any Tucson local or tourist should visit if they are searching for a new adventure and want to learn more about the history of this beautiful city.


SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK 

Saguaro National Park is a must see destination if you are new to the area, or want to understand Tucson's history on a new level. This large park is separated by the city with the Rincon Mountain District to the East and the Tucson Mountain Ranges to the West. Both places offer a variety of hiking and biking trails along with horseback riding and breathtaking desert views. The Rincon district is the most visited area of the two, and offers visitors the opportunity to experience both desert and country forest in the same day. The Tucson district, on the other hand, has more historical meaning behind it. Visitors can see hundreds of petroglyphs left by ancient Native tribes, which can be seen from the Signal Hill picnic area or from neighboring hiking trails!

Address: 
- Rincon Mountain District (East), 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail
- Tucson Mountain District (West), 2700 N. Kinney Road

COLOSSAL CAVE MOUNTAIN PARK  

Colossal Cave is one of the most unique attractions in the area. This park is an astounding 2,400-acres where you can explore the underground side of the park during a 45-minute cave tour, or a small guided ladder tour with hard hats and flashlights. If an underground tour isn't for you, you can also take an above ground trail ride from La Posta Quemada Ranch, which is a working ranch that has been around since the 1800s.

Address:
- 16721 E Colossal Cave Road


VENTANA CANYON HIKING TRAIL
If you're up for a more challenging hike with beautiful views, Ventana Canyon is the place for you. This hiking trail has some of the most amazing views in all of Tucson, but isn't a highly visited area because it is harder to find and has steeper, rockier trails than most places in the city with an elevation between 2,950 and 7,000 feet!

Address: 
N Flying V Ranch Rd, Tucson, AZ 85750 (Located in Coronado National Forest near Ventana Canyon Resort on Kolb Road. The trailhead starts at the end of the employee parking lot and you will follow the trail around to the back side of the apartments)