Best Oro Valley Tucson AZ Hikes & Tips
Hiking is one of the best aerobic activities because the hills increase the intensity of your hike, turning it into a great fat burning interval workout. Hiking also improves health by lowering your risk of heart disease, improving blood pressure, facilitating weight loss, and even boosting your mood. Here are 25 of the best hikes near Oro Valley Tucson AZ and beyond along with essential hiking tips to help your hike be more enjoyable and safe.
Best Hikes in OV Rancho Vistoso to Turn Up Your Calorie Burn
Pusch Ridge or Pusch Peak in OV *both options are incredible workouts 2-6 miles
Linda Vista Loop in OV *quick 2.2 mile fun workout with views
Romero Pools in Catalina State Park *water awaits at the end 5 miles
Finger Rock to Mt. Kimball in The Foothills *most epic hike in Tucson 9 miles of hardcore work
Pima Canyon in OV *fun easy rocky hike from 3-10 miles
Additional Trails Nearby to Get Your Hardcore Cardio On!
Ventana Canyon to Maiden Pools in Foothills *one of Tucson’s best! 6 miles
Sabino Canyon in Foothills - Blacketts Ridge or 7 Falls *iconic Tucson hikes, 4-8 miles
Mt Lemmon Wilderness of Rocks *bucket list hike from various trailheads 13 miles
Picacho Peak near Marana *choose longer easier trek or short intense climb 2-6 miles
Easier Trails for Active Recovery or Quick Exercise
West Lambert Lane Park in OV 0.5 mile
Honeybee Petroglyphs in Rancho Vistoso 1.2 miles
Riverfront Park to OV Marketplace shared use path 5 miles
Wild Burro in Dove Mountain *connect multiple trails for various lengths of hiking
Oracle State Park *connect many trails for all day fun
Esssential Hiking Tips
Before going on a difficult hike, you will want to prepare by walking a few miles a day and then building up to more difficult hikes. If you have a wash or a beach nearby, walking or running in the sand can help you get stronger and build muscle. It is also better to have a hiking companion with you in case anything happens.
Having a routine where you walk stairs for a certain amount of time can also help you get in shape faster for a difficult hike. If you have a gym membership, using the stair machine for 10 minutes 5 times a week is perfect, but you can also just use the stairs at your house or any outdoors stairs for intervals. The stair workouts in the video here are great options for hike conditioning!
Building your core and upper body strength is just as important as having strong legs. Core strength can help with balance and upper body strength will be beneficial to have if you are carrying a pack with all the essentials listed below. The playground workout in video is a great one to prepare for hiking with sand resistance, uphill lunges and plank work that mimics bouldering.
What to bring in your hiking backpack:
Water Water & More Water
Sunscreen, Hat & Sunglasses
Snacks i.e. Nuts, Fruit, Bars, Beef Jerky, Gels
Ibuprofen, Salt Tabs or Electrolyte packets
First Aid Kit with Tweezers for Thorny Cactus Needles
Extra Hiking Socks, KT Tape, Ankle or Knee Wraps
Light Jacket or Rain Gear
Of course good hiking shoes are a must have because you will be on your feet all day. You should also break in new hiking shoes by wearing them on your shorter walks before wearing them on a difficult hike. It is also very possible you won’t have service, or your phone could die, so make sure someone knows your hiking plans before you go if you don’t have a companion is very important.
Hikes Worth Driving The Distance to Go Do
Chiricahua Mountains near Wilcox - Heart of Rocks *rock formations will amaze you
Madera Canyon in Green Valley - Old Baldy to Mt. Wrightson *incredible views
Lost Dutchman East of Phoenix - Siphone Draw *fun day of bouldering and steep hiking
Prescott South of Sedona - Watson Lake or Thumb Butte *so many great day hikes
Sedona Near Phoenix - Courthouse Butte or Boynton Canyon *so many other shorter ones too
Grand Canyon - Grandview Trail or Bright Angel *train hard for this!
Utah AZ Border - Slot Canyons *too beautiful to miss plus hikes for all levels
