![]() Cactus Forest Scenic LoopĪbout a dozen mi (19.3 km) east of Tucson, on the slopes of the Tanque Verde and Rincon Mountains, the eastern half of Saguaro National Park covers nearly 58,000 ac (23,500 ha) of rolling desert landscape. From here, old US-80 follows a series of one-way surface streets into compact downtown Tucson, first following 5th Avenue, then 6th Avenue, the pre-interstate main highway. Across Tucson: Old US-80įrom the north and west, the best old road introduction to Tucson is the so-called Miracle Mile, a few blocks of slightly seedy old neon-signed motels, right off the I-10 freeway at exit 255. There’s more hiking, plus camping and the excellent Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (520/883-2702, daily, $22) in the adjacent Tucson Mountain Park. A visitor center (520/733-5158, daily, $25 per vehicle) has details of the many hikes here, like the popular Hugh Norris Trail, which winds along a mountain ridge to the 4,687-ft (1,429-m) summit of Wasson Peak. From I-10 at Cortaro (exit 246), a loop road runs southwest, then back east through rugged mountainous terrain, which, though popular, is a great place to get a feel for the Sonora Desert landscape. Northwest of Tucson, the more popular half of Saguaro National Park protects extensive stands of saguaro cactus as well as ancient petroglyphs, spring wildflowers, and generally gorgeous desert scenery. Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain Park ![]() US-80 runs through downtown Phoenix on Van Buren Street (which was also US-60 and US-70) before heading south to Tucson. Keep checking with the park to see if these will reopen before the end of the year.I-8 is by far the fastest way east from Gila Bend to Tucson and beyond, but if you have the time and inclination to follow the old road, it took the long way around: From Gila Bend, US-80 veers north across the usually dry Gila River along what’s now an unmarked county road, then east through the towns of Arlington, Palo Verde, and Buckeye, where a 25-ft (7.6 m) statue of “Hobo Joe” stands along East Monroe Avenue downtown. Cavern formations inside Colossal Cave, AZĬolossal Cave also offers a Ladder Tour and a Wild Cave tour where visitors can explore some lesser traveled parts of this cave system, however, these tours were not available due to COVID restrictions. Some people think the stolen cash is still underground. When they escaped, it was told, they escaped without their loot. It became famous because in the 1880s some train robbers hid out and waited out marshals. It was formerly called Five Mile Cave, Arizona Catacombs and Mountain Springs Cave. The name was changed several times before it became a park. It’s modern discovery is credited to Solomon Lick in 1879. The cave was probably discovered by the Hohokam about 1,000 years ago. ![]() Our guide, Blake, was very helpful and knowledgeable, pointing out many formations and sharing the history of the cave. On our trip, we took the classic cave tour. View of the Vail, Arizona, valley below mouth of Colossal Cave. The short, one-mile, Path of the Ancestors Trail walks by some Hohokam ruins. But we hope to return soon to do the Bundrick Trail and the Path of the Ancestors. We did not have time to do a hike on our visit, because the park had to close early due to COVID. In fact, part of the Arizona Trail cuts through this park. The entire park is around 2,400,so there’s lots to explore by foot, horseback or mountain bike. Entrance to Colossal Cave, Colossal Cave Mountain Park, Vail, AZ There is a small network of hiking trails that snakes around the property and good areas for picnicking and bird watching. 33…Ĭolossal Cave Mountain Park, located just on the edge of Vail, Arizona, southeast of Tucson, offers more than just cool views and a cavern tour. Passport Overused on Arizona Bucket List No. 32…Ĭblraider2011 on Arizona Bucket List No. 23 – Tucson Boutique HotelsĬolorful Sisters on Arizona Bucket List No. 20 – Hoover Dam, Colorado River Kayak & Camping
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