Sweetwater Preserve Trailhead

Quiet little spot perfect for hiking or biking and very much on a par with nearby Saguaro National Park, but without the fees. Plenty of parking and fewer crowds than the nearby more popular parks. A wide variety of cactii, plants, animals, etc. to see. On my first visit I even caught a glimpse of a roadrunner.

Great variety of trails to choose from to run, ride or walk. There is a large parking lot, easy to get in and out of with larger vehicles. The porta potty was dangerously full when I visited but the rest of the park was well maintained and the signage was clear. There are a few benches near the trailhead with shade trees. Beautiful dessert views throughout, plenty of cactus and other natural vegetation too. Great for dogs. I'll definitely return soon to explore more.

Well-marked trails and great views. Came here for a sunset hike. Trail was not too crowded. Chose to do the wildflower ridge trail and a part of the desperado loop before it got too dark.

Excellent and well-maintained bike trails Great for hiking, walking,and getting your dog out. Breathtaking views! And lots of friendly people!👍🏻

Great place to go for a hike and an even better place to take your bike for some good trail riding. The trail is very clean and there are sugauros riding each side of it making it feel as if you're walking through a gate.

Great trail system. The main loop (Desperado) gives you the option to go and explore small lines all around. We brought our mountain bikes to check things out and had a blast. The difficulty and climb of the trails is beginner-intermediate but they flow nicely so even experienced riders will enjoy. This a common spot for dog walkers and horse riding but if you yield and announce yourself there is absolutely no problem with that. Make sure to bring water as there was no visible water source around the trail system.

One of the best free activities to do in Tucson is to hike. This park is great, and I even saw a huge crested saguaro with arms! There's a decent amount of elevation during the hike so you'll get great views of the city and landscape.

Beleive it or not... there are rocks on this trail. I went there to mtb while passing through on my vacation. These trails were well maintained and provided a fun ride even during the steady rain in July. I never rode in Arizona before and wasn't sure what to expect. There is a lot of rock gardens, challenging sections as well as fast flowing sections. Lots of beautiful scenery which the trails did a good job of working around without disrupting the natural habitat. The trails were marked but I did get a little confused while navigating my way around. I ride a Trek Stache 8 hardtail and consider myself an above average rider and had no problems at all. I did have to walk my bike a few times due to not being prepared for the obstacle. Overall a great trail system and fun for all skill levels. There are NO bathrooms in parking lot.

I have been to this park at least three times before, hiking short loops in the afternoon. Yesterday I visited the park again to hike a larger loop and to finish at dusk. It was Sunday, 19 January, at 3pm. The large parking lot was full and people were still getting started, cycling or hiking with small children and/or dogs. There was quite a bit of dog poop in the parking lot. I bagged my dog's poop and a few other dogs' poop before starting. None of the trails are difficult or long. I used six trails to create an 8- mile loop that took us three hours. I was interested in the Black rock loop. The namesake rock should be called called Butt crack rock. This park is free to use from dawn to dusk and is dog friendly. There are two porta pots but no water station. And no matter how far away from the trailhead you go, you will always see homes in the area. A sign in the parking lot warns users to lock vehicles and to secure valuables

Fantastic spot for hiking or mountain biking. Most people are courteous to each other, which adds to the experience. I hope folks continue to be courteous and kind to others here.

Can't believe I've never been to this trail. It was a perfect day to be outside so we took advantage. The highlight of our walk was seeing a desert tortoise and rattlesnake. Very cool! Easy trails for walking or mountain biking. We will be back soon!

This is a wonderful place to take a hike. Bicycles and horses are also welcome. We hiked 3 miles here today, it's well marked and not heavily used. Note the damage to the saguaro cactus, it appears as though a fire ravaged this area maybe 50 years ago based on the only young saguaros being 4 feet tall or so.

Sweetwater sweet trail system for hike or mountain bike. I am sweating spinning solo so sweetly! Hardpack sand & decomposed granite. All 13.7 miles singletracks per my GPS are fast rolling, up-down, curvaceous, and total elevation gain 700 feet. Have a blast spinning over rock hoppers, bunny bouncing and suspension popping pop-pop-pop along the way. Some sections are "quasi" technical. Desert flora and fauna so sweet and lush with Palo Verde, Ocotillo, Prickly Pear cactus, Creosote, lots and lots of giant Saguaro cactii, jojoba and Mesquite. Watch out, a jumping Cholla may hitch a ride on your fanny, arm or leg---ouch, those spines so hard to pull out. In and out of washes surrounded by the presence of mountains, blue skies, warm sunshine and fresh air---I bet you wish you were here with me. It is an Intermediate level ride at best but so sweet surely---Sweewater preserve! All you need is water and/or fat tires or trail shoes. Horses and dogs ok. I even saw hikers with 2 huge goats. Well designed park with lots of intersecting loops of varying distances throughout. Big parking lot.

What can I say Sweetwater Preserve? It's truly my fault that I didn't find you earlier. Getting that off my chest and in the open, I can sincerely say that if you love being outdoors and are active, Sweetwater Preserve is the place for you. Hiking? Walking? Mountain biking? There is something that can be had for everyone and millions of memories that can be made. Before we made the trip, we looked up best trails in Tucson to walk our dog. We learned that the trail is pet friendly (don't forget the doggie bags for waste as there isn't any supplied and something to carry it in- there aren't trash cans) and people friendly too. There are plenty of trails that you can choose to walk which are all connected with a series of networking. Another great perk of Sweetwater? There are signs posted throughout so you won't worry about getting lost, even if it is your first or one hundredth time. People on the path are friendly and considerate too. We encountered many people walking their dogs and on mountain bikes. When we heard the bike coming we moved to the side and allowed them to pass. Not one person passed and didn't say hi or thank you- the people are just as wonderful as the views. We try as a family to make memories and this was a trail that my 11 and 8 year old could join us on and they loved it. Plenty of places to stop for shade and the most amazing views.

Great hiking moderate trail. There are a variety of paths for those that want to challenge themselves or those that want to take an easier path. Beautiful scenery everywhere you hike. Bicycles and even pups are welcome. There were barely any bugs either. Just a lovely time! But go early to avoid the HEAT!!! The earlier the better.

For those looking to try out solo hiking or mountain biking this would be a great trail system to start on. The trails are clearly defined, there are a few points with maps, and signage to let you know what trail loop you're on. I haven't explored all the trails in this system, but I have gone out and not paid a ton of attention to which loop I'm on and I have to say it was very easy to find my way back. There is a large parking lot here, and even though you can walk out just a little ways and feel like you're alone in the desert the parking lot becomes visible from different trail points, so I would say it's difficult to get lost out here. That being said: the trails out here don't gain much in elevation. They are rocky and uneven but this is a great place to bring out of town guests for gorgeous mountain views and stunning saguaro pictures. Definitely a must-hike for both inexperienced and experienced hikers.

Ah, what a gem in Tucson. It's easily one of those places I wish I knew about/tried earlier so I could add it to my rotation of hiking spots. The location of Sweetwater is between Saguaro National Park & Tucson Mountain Park, and all the trails are very clearly marked. One of the greatest things about this place is that you could seemingly try different combinations of loops & trails, so there's always a new combo. Sometimes when I go hiking, I like going for long hikes that aren't too rough on elevation so I can really thought process while walking. Sweetwater is perfect for that. I'll be back!

I really enjoy going to the Sweetwater trail! It is a good place for either trail running or mountain biking. There is a nice big parking lot when you arrive there, and the maps are easy to read. Most of the trails are a loop so it's a nice big circle and then you return back to the parking lot. The rolling hills are never boring and you'd be in awe of all the cactuses around you. You can even instagram the whole adventure while you're on the trails! It's a truly one of Tucson's best rare finds.

The Sweetwater Preserve is nestled among several parks on the west side of town. It's a popular pick for mountain bikers but is also great for trail walks and horseback riding. Dogs (on a leash) are welcome here too! I had no idea the preserve is over 700 acres until I stopped to read the informational signs. Pretty cool! As far as trail walking/hiking goes- I didn't find the terrain to be very challenging. But a mountain biker might have a different opinion in that- given that the trails are narrow, single track. So my assessment of the trails is for hikers/walkers. Anyway- there are various trails Interconnect- so you can connect to other trails that all loop around back to the parking lot, which is great. The entire loop is just over 7 miles. The trails start right off of the parking lot. Whiles there are signs along the way, the trails are not clearly marked. So make sure to stop and looks at the signs from time to time to make sure you're headed in the right direction. This is a great outdoor park. It's not too remote and the trails are clearly marked. Open dawn until dusk. Of course the ideal time of year to enjoy the desert is late fall through spring. Always bring plenty of water!

Beautiful trail! Took my dogs on a little run/hike here the other day when the weather was perfect. Not too much incline on the trail I went on, was pretty easy.

My husband and I visited this perserve for the first time. Very close to our home and dog friendly. The trails are in good condition with fantastic signage at every trail junction so you can't get lost. If you like to hike, bike, or ride this is a place close to town. You can get a good hike in but nothing extremely long. We will visit more often.

What a hidden gem. Beautiful scenery with gentle hills and elevation. Dog, hiking and bike friendly. I have hiked many trails in the area and this one is to explored. Excellent signage along the trails.