Silent Running: Sabino Canyon goes electric with new shuttles

Sabino Canyon Crawler service adds 4 smaller vehicles, providing electric shuttle service to Bear Canyon

Visitors to the Coronado National Forest’s Sabino Canyon Recreation Area in Tucson, Arizona, can now experience a quieter, cleaner ride through Sabino Canyon and Bear Canyon on a smaller, 23-passenger electric shuttle.

The smaller shuttles travel the scenic 1.9-mile Bear Canyon route to Bear Canyon Overlook and Seven Falls Trailhead and complement the larger, 62-passenger Sabino Canyon Crawler (electric power car and trailer) which operates on the 3.7-mile Sabino Canyon route. The smaller shuttles also will operate on the Sabino Canyon route during low volume months.

“We’re grateful for Tucson Electric Power’s support that made this expansion possible,” said Mary Carter, Director of Mobility Management and Services for Pima Association of Governments. PAG manages the Regional Partnering Center which operations the Crawler system. “TEP’s contributions provided the financial foundation to sustain and extend our electric shuttle service, and we appreciate our ongoing partnership.”

TEP, which provided $2.5 million in overall capital investment for the Sabino Canyon electric shuttles and electric utility work to support the shuttle system, provides ongoing investment in the system. Last year, the system carried over 95,000 passengers.

“We’re proud to support a project that protects Sabino Canyon while expanding access for the community,” said Dallas Dukes, TEP Senior Vice President of Customer and Strategic Affairs. “Our investment in the electric shuttle system reflects our commitment to long-term environmental stewardship and to partnerships that make a real, lasting difference for southern Arizona’s most treasured places.”

With American-made components by Moto Electric Vehicles, the new shuttles expand the canyon’s growing electric fleet. The MotoEV Electro Transit Buddy 23-passenger model, each weighing 4,695 pounds, features a regenerative (REGEN) electric motor supported by front and rear hydraulic brakes and a rear mechanical parking brake.

Chris Garcia, General Manager of the Crawler system, said the new vehicles can run all day in Bear Canyon on one charge and make about 13 runs in Sabino Canyon.

“I think this is an amazing improvement,” shared District Ranger Donato DelMastro. “Who can’t get excited about replacing old, smelly, loud diesel buses with quiet and efficient electric shuttles? This will absolutely improve the visitor experience in Sabino and Bear Canyons. I want to acknowledge the hard work of Mary Carter, Rob Samuelsen and Chris Garcia. Their leadership and commitment to providing world-class recreation experiences at Sabino Canyon is what made this possible.”

Starting May 1, 2026, the Bear Canyon route will operate with hourly departures from 9:15 a.m. until 4:15 p.m., and the Sabino Canyon route will continue operations hourly from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The wheelchair-accessible Sabino Canyon Crawler operates 360 days a year at 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road. Shuttle fees do not include the $8 daily or $10 weekly vehicle fee to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. Shuttle tickets may be purchased in person or online at SabinoCanyonCrawler.com. 

The Sabino Canyon Crawler service is operated by the Regional Partnering Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit entity managed through Pima Association of Governments. PAG is the region’s metropolitan planning organization for transportation, air quality, water quality and economic vitality. The RPC, which has a special use permit with the U.S. Forest Service to operate the Sabino Canyon Crawler service, advances policies, practices and solutions to regional planning, environmental and energy challenges in Pima County.

MTM Transit, which is based in St. Louis, MO, operates the Sabino Canyon shuttle services under contract with the RPC.

The USDA Forest Service has, for more than 100 years, brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the United States, of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.