Reviews of Catalina State Park. (Sports Complex) in Phoenix (Arizona).
Catalina State Park
11570 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85737, United States
Description
Information of Catalina State Park, Sports Complex in Phoenix (Arizona)
Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.
We still haven't received any review on this business.
Map
Open hours of Catalina State Park
Sunday
5 am–10 pm
Monday
5 am–10 pm
Tuesday
5 am–10 pm
Wednesday
5 am–10 pm
Thursday
5 am–10 pm
Friday
5 am–10 pm
Saturday
5 am–10 pm
Popular times
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Reviews of Catalina State Park
Wgang
This was my first time here and it was such a cool experience! I loved every second of walking in the foothills of mountain! You can walk up close to the saguaros and take really neat and cool photos! We walked around a 3-4 mile ring that was amazing every step! I love seeing all the plants and nature around you! There was people all around but everyone keeps there distance so you feel like you’re alone there! It was a fun and neat experience !!! I will for sure be back! Very unique experience!!!
woglinda
We have traveled the country over in our RV, and this is one of our all-time favorite places to be. Spectacular views, one of the best possible state park set ups with spacious gravel pads and wonderful views. It’s uncommon for a state park to have electric and water hook ups, but you will find them here. No dump hookups at the sites, but dump station is easily accessible. A bit far from town, which is the only drawback. We love that hiking trails are within feet of where we are camped. When the weather is delightful, be sure to get reservations well in advance. Will come back again!
Sheri Lucas
We wanted to ensure we got in a couple of state parks around Tucson before we headed further west. After asking around and checking reviews we decided to check out Catalina State Park. One of the Important factors for us was dogs being allowed on the trails.
The first trail we did What is the Romero Ruin Interpretive trail. This trail was only .4 miles/.9 km and a very easy walk. There are some stairs that you need to climb to get to the top however they are not difficult and nice and wide. The interpretive guide signs explaining The history were very clear to read and in good shape; not like some other places we have been to. We met a couple up there that explained about the pottery that was scattered about and if they didn’t show us what a piece looked like we would never of known; now we know what to look for. But once again please do not remove anything from the park and keep it there for others to enjoy!
We spoke to one of the Rangers on our way in and he said his favourite spot to watch the sunset was on the ridge of Natures Trail. We parked and started this particular hike around 4:40 pm and got to a perfect spot where there was a rock to sit on to watch the sunset; which was scheduled for 5:20pm. It was a beautiful sunset like every Arizona night we have seen; it’s so nice to see it from different perspectives.
We didn’t see too many animals while we were in the park however we did see a tiny gopher/marmot, coyote birds, horses and deer prints. The kids were looking for a snake although I don’t think they really wanted to find one as we have experienced rattlesnakes up close and they are kind of scary :-)
Somebody on the trail told us to watch out for tarantulas- The only thing we really saw on the ground or lots and lots of ants.
This was a great place to go and stretch your legs!
Monica Williams
It’s a great park unless it rains or the snow melts. The bathhouse is clean. Lukewarm water but not bad. Nice hiking trails. Will we ever come back to this park well that’s a hard no for me. Will I stay away from parks where we have to cross a wash to enter said park oh hell yeah.
Landon Verbrugge
This is one of the best state parks I’ve been to in the United States. The scenery of the land is stellar. I hiked the canyon loop trail and there is so much to see along the way. The only issue with the park is that parking can sometimes be an issue. This is especially true on weekends. Overall, I would say it’s worth going.
TC Chicago
Catalina State Park is always a good idea. As a local, I take my dogs regularly. Easy to find, trails are amazing. Some are shorter if you just want to lollygag and some are longer if you want to make a day out of it.
Tina Hawley
I added this stop at the last minute to break up the drive from Mesa AZ to Deming NM, and I’m so glad I did! The campground is well laid out, the folks in the visitors center are friendly and helpful. We loved that the RV spaces have plenty of room and the views from our campsite were spectacular. The showers were some of the best we’ve found in state parks. We chose to visit Saguaro NP rather than hike the trails within Catalina, but will do that the next time we’re passing through, which we definitely will do!!
Gen L
Have lots of great memories hiking here, by myself and with family (we took a stroller once). Several, different trails right off the main parking. Would love to encounter more water. Very beautiful scenery, seems to be maintained well.
Courtney L. Nation
Many wonderful trail options located here.
Wonderful hikes leading into Coronado National Forest. Arrive early and pack lots of water and snacks.
Zak Harris
I've spent many wonderful times in that park and can't think of a more beautiful place in America when the sun comes over it. The forest Rangers are phenomenal, and the park is so well-cared-for.
Lauren
Great campground but very full in the winter! We got the very last spot. Clean facilities and really nice RV spots
CathyBob Family
Great state park. Quiet, trees at lots. Water and electric only sites, but dump stations available.
Joseph Strohmeyer
Great hiking. Had a wonderful time hiking with my Dad. Make sure to bring plenty of water and use sun block.
Curtis Jansson
Loved the views and the rv parking. Rv parking is staggered so that you see nothing but beautiful views from your camper. Clean grounds and very friendly staff...
Erin Sularz
This is an absolutely beautiful state park, with excellent choices of hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping. There are different trails with different levels of difficulty. It gets busy by 10am so for a quiet morning hike in the AZ sun, get there before! But absolutely beautiful scenery..a fire here( caused by lightning, encouraged by an idiot with a drone) caused some damage but still beautiful.
John Mares
Nice trails and picnic tables. Dog friendly and horseback riding is allowed in certain areas. The Bighorn Fire really devastated this beautiful park. Please come visit and support our local community parks.
Jenne Richardson Photo
Awesome sunset pics right from the side of the road of the beautiful catalina mountains. Clean campsites but not auper private, friendly gate staff, lots of walking and hiking trails for all levels. Will return!
Michael Mulligan
Great day for a hike. We liked the trails and the water in the riverbed. There was an exhibit about reptiles and creatures that are found in Tucson. Very cool. I think it's a great place to get out and enjoy nature.
T J
Cute little park with nice well maintained trails for any beginner. The one intermediate trail is closed for the year (Romero Pools). It’s doesn’t take much to hike all the trails. It is quiet and pretty. Do you research though, because the lady at the desk will not help you. She didn’t know anything about any of the parks and said I should look it up on line. Fair enough, I was just hoping someone working there would have basic information. It’s tough coming out of a pandemic and just being told that the park employees know nothing about the park. Visit, do not waste money on the state park pass unless you plan to visit other parks. You’ll see everything there in a day, but would be nice to go if you live close by. Also, dog friendly. But, people do not clean up after their dogs there.
Bruce Schafer
Wonderful park close to Tucson. Still recovering from fire a few years ago.
S Agthe
Worth the price of admission! What I love most about this park is the variety of trails. Whether you’re looking for an easy relaxing interpretative trail or a challenging canyon hike this park has it all. I recommend Birding trail for a short relatively easy relaxing hike (stairs both ways in this loop but even with a bad knee a hiking pole makes the stairs easy to tackle). Canyon loop trail for a moderate 45-50min hike with stream crossings and great views and Romero pools for an elevation gaining heart pumping but epic view worth the climb! There’s also a great picnic and parking area for enjoying lunch 👍 Jan - April best times to visit. Only $7 per car 🚘 less than a cost of a movie with lots more adventure!
Ken McCafferty
We camped here in an RV in late July for four nights. We camped in loop "A". Aside from the Camp Host there were only two other campers here!! This is a very nice and well maintained park. All of the campsites are paved and very level. They are also quite spacious. There are shower houses and flush toilets at both loops. They are immaculate and quite nice! There are several hiking trails available and a pretty cool Native American Indian ruins area along the Romero Ruins trail to check out. The park is just a very short drive from everything you'd need. There is also a laundromat about five miles away. We paid $30 per night for water and electric. There are no "Full" hook-up sites, but they do have a couple dump stations.
Joe Kiley
Stranded if it rains. There is only one entrance in that regularly washes out. You could be stranded for days like us, without access to most of the trails. They don’t warn you or communicate well when it happens so posting here. Sweet place when it’s dry.
Jeffrey Brookhouser
Nice park good for hiking, bird watching, camping and some flat biking. Definitely would be hot in sumer. Probably spring and fall would be the best time to visit. Some trails are limited for biking and trails can be crowded.
Mark Pabst
Extensive trails allow for a nice wintertime hike. Scenic although Romero Canyon was closed during my visit due to the fire. Make sure to visit Romero Ruins to see a historic Hohokam village.
Sajesh Enampurath
We camped at the Catalina state park campgrounds for 2 nights (campground B) in November and we loved it! The campsites are very well maintained with some good shade in some sites. The rest room are very well maintained and we are thankful to the staff for maintaining them clean. Beautiful views around and many trails to explore.
Georgina Lucas
Enjoyed our first time visit to this state park. It's nestled up against the Catalina mountain range with great views of the mountainside. The park entrance is not very obvious until you come right up to it and then you see the large entrance signs. It's very convenient to local shopping but yet very removed once you enter. The RV section is very clean and the spaces are wide apart for privacy. The hiking trails are well maintained and graded. The evening we stayed there was an outdoor concert that we did not attend but sounded fun from the notice the friendly attendants handed out at the gate. This was a very popular park even for day use so plan ahead. The river stream was running due to the recent snow storm the previous week and although the mesquite trees were still bare, the ground was covered in grass. Overall very nice state park in the spring. Make sure to take time to hike around. We made it to one of the easier hikes called Montrose Pools which was very picturesque and a great place for a picnic stop.
Guadalupe Andrade (Lupita)
The park is very well taken cared of, the bathrooms are nice and clean. The trails are awesome and they provide sunscreen. They also have some ruins here and the mountains look beautiful here. I wouñd not recommend hiking here when it is dangerously hot. Perfect time to go is when there is over cast and below 97 degrees. This park is great for a nature walk with friends or even a date. There is a plaza nearby with restaurants and fast food. Plenty of options for eating and resting after a long hike in the Catalina mountains. 👌🏼
Umpy Pufflepum
We enjoyed Catalina so much! We went on a hike to the Romero pools and had so much fun! The hike was a little longer than expected but we loved it and it was totally worth it. The Romero pools are very beautiful and cool. We are geocachers and very glad that the park encourages that! Such a wonderful experience!!
Claudia C
This is my favorite place to hike in Tucson. I find this to be a very beautiful state park with a variety of trails. I usually hike to Romero Trail. This trail is tough! There is a lot of climbing involved, it can be dangerous in some areas since the trail becomes very narrow and to one side is a very tall cliff. I wouldn't recommend to bring kids here. The trail takes you very high up in the Santa Catalina Mountains, but I have only hiked as far as the Romero Pools. You may want to go see the pools during spring time if you want to find lots of water.
The Nature Trail is very easy, great for kids, and they have lots of signs explaining everything about the plants and the animals you can encounter. The Birding Trail is also very easy and you do get to see lots of birds AND lots of javelina foot prints!
The Canyon Loop Trail is very easy, too, great for the whole family.
If you decide to hike Romero Trail, bring lots of water and snacks.
Vera Klose
I love hiking the Canyon Loop Trail and when I have time, Romero Pools Trail! The Canyon Loop is my favorite trail near home. This state park is quiet, well-kept and absolutely stunning. And I'm told the camp-sites for RV's are also really nice with large 'lots'. The only downside is the $7 admission per car. It may be best to buy a yearly pass, because you'll definitely want to go back.
Steve B
We camped here over a weekend in a 30' travel trailer at the B loop in a back-in spot, which was plenty long for the trailer and truck. They're all angled, so backing in was simple. Check-in was a breeze and the folks at the ranger stations are all very friendly and eager to answer questions. The spots in B loop are spaced far apart with trees between for added privacy. They are water/electric only, but there are dump stations at the front of the park and loops. The bathrooms are super clean and there is a cool "Give a book, Get a book" library by the vending machine. I wish more campgrounds did this! The B loop was full, but quiet, and everybody there was quick to wave hello. The site is surrounded by mountains which makes for some amazing sunrises/sunsets. There are a lot of hiking trails nearby, and horses as well. All in all, we were impressed and will definitely be back.
Ovidiu Bota
Unbelievable mix of landscape and vegetation - this is a park to remember.
Rosalind Gardner
We've been camping at Catalina during the winter months since 2011 and its my favorite State Park in Arizona, by far. The mountain scenery, flora and fauna are all so beautiful - huge saguaros and so many of them! It's nice that there are mesquite trees in the campground to provide shade during those hot afternoons. I appreciate that they allow bird feeders in the campground, and I think the birds appreciate it too. There were so many more roadrunners this past year, most often seen around the entrance to the B-loop. All of the hiking trails are great, just keep your ears perked for cyclists on the Fifty Year trail.
Jason Barney
One of my favorite places on the planet! Get here early to beat the crowds and the sun, and go for an epic day-venture. Don't underestimate the amount of water you'll need if you go for an extended hike up Romero Canyon. The park itself has a plethora of trails, incredible saguaros, and even some ancient ruins at the foot of the magnificent Catalina Mountains.
B H
Great place for beautiful scenery. Trails in great shape. It's spring so the washes have water running in them. Your feet will get wet wearing sneakers crossing the washes but that's part of the fun.
Karen Martinsen
We were there in late February after a storm, and some snow, which is quite unusual. The streams were actually moving fairly fast and on our 3-4 mile loop, we had to forge the river 5X’s to about knee- high. The flowers were starting to pop, and the scenery is amazing. There were plenty of people but it didn’t interrupt our peace. The trails are endless. Horses are allowed so if that’s an issue for you, take note. They don’t interfere with my experience but I know some people have fear of horses riding close by them ...
Crystal Blaker
Love this park, friendly volunteers, bathrooms, snack machines. Lots of great trails, dog friendly on the Loop trail which is a nice easy 1 hour hike. Gets water during monsoons and cooler weather.
Jenny Robinson
Who knew the desert had so much life to offer?! Great State park with numerous hiking trails. After a rare, wet winter, our visit mid-April spoiled us with water still around to splash and play in in the typically dry river bed. Be sure to stop by to visit the desert critters interactive display on Saturdays, manned mostly by friendly volunteers. Great for kids and adults alike!
Robert Newton
Gorgeous camp ground surrounded by mountains! Just in awe at the sunsets! We were here in the end of March, so the nights were chilly for tent camping, so bundle up. The days were nice and warm! There are great trails all around the park.
Michael Dull
Park is quiet. Park ranger at the gate was anything but helpful. Almost to the point of being rude. No I formation given to help us locate RV site. Did not give us password doe wifi. Was quite disappointed with the way we were treated at check in.
Elisabeth Degallier
Great state park near Oro Valley. It seems well managed with lots of activities and programs. We went for a short hike on the Romero ruins trail. It was an easy hike (some steps) with good information about the ruins. We plan to go back and explore more!
520 Nate
Fantastic views and lots of fun trails. They also have a lot of activities and entertainment to attend at various times each month. 30 & 50 amp with water and no dump on their "B" loop sites with restrooms and showers. The "A" loop sites have some with and some without power. There are also 2 easy to access dump stations in the park. Very close to town.
Will Langston
Great park to hike. We headed towards the Romero Pools, it was challenging and beautiful. Nothing but positive things to say about the hike and the park. Bought a few souvenirs afterwards, and the staff were great. Also cheaper to buy them here than elsewhere.
Gissel Mendivil
Excellent care and hospitality from the rangers, volunteers, and campers to my daughter and her friends during a flash flood in which they couldn’t get across the river until hours later. We will be forever thankful for the kindness and comfort we all received during this stressful day. We sincerely appreciate it.
Bill T.
Catalina State Park is magnificent. I hiked a 27 mile loop hike out to Mt Lemmon and back this month (Nov 2018). Intense elevation gain and loss (8000ft up and then down). Worth it! Cost me $12/night to park. I plan to come back for sure and hike more.
Zulikha Neumann
This beautiful park is a must visit while in Tucson. And if you can camp here, it’s even better! Beautiful views, great hiking trails and a quiet campground close to town. The campsites are large with beautiful views of the mountains and surrounding area.
Patty Schorr
Beautiful state park. Sites are large and scenery is lovely. Bathhouses very clean with large, hot showers. Many hiking trails. Much shopping right outside of park but once in the park, all of the hustle and bustle disappear and you are surrounded by the beautiful Catalina mountains.
Kevin Gesme
A must see in this area. Saturday is clearly the day to view the park, as the volunteers are plentiful with valuable information including the opportunity to see the live Snakes, Frogs, Gila Monsters, and Scorpions indigenous to this area. Simply outstanding....
Jim Sinclair
Nice camp ground. Clean bathrooms and showers. Some good hiking spots and nice sites. Close to town also.
Mark Kissel
Nicely kept park, clean toilets and showers, great nature programs by rangers and many volunteers. Good hiking trails of various levels. And not far from Tucson. If you need wifi, stay in campground B.
2strange STRANGE
Great park for hiking. Be prepared to get a little wet as the trails go through the wash. What a great hike, we did the Birdie Trail and loved it. Recommended!
Rob J
Very nice campground. Clean and well maintained bathroom facilities. Decent privacy at campsites. Good hiking trails. Plus, the location is perfect for exploring the Tucson area.
Anthony J. Bopp
Beautiful place to view wildlife and escape busy Tucson. This location is an excellent birding location with dozens of species throughout the year. Hiking trails are well marked and parking lots have restrooms, picnic areas and places to refill water. The surrounding hills are covered in the giant Saguaro Cactus that bloom in May/June. This is my favorite location in Tucson to view the tiny Elf Owl about the size of a soda can (They live in the Saguaro and migrate from Mexico every year around May/June). You can also hike into the mountains (Tonto National Forest) (Catalina Wilderness) but be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks to avoid dehydration.
Scott Lane
Magical Place for hiking. All levels available from the Birding Trail (easy) up the Romero Canyon (difficult) and everything in between. The Canyon Loop is a great trail for everyone. The views are breathtaking.
Laura Tovar Hart
A must see! There are so many trails of all lengths and difficulties. We did the Nature Trail, which had informational signs along the route. The views are awesome. I could spend a lot of time here exploring. FYI - it costs $7 to purchase a vehicle pass for the day but it is 100% worth it.
Sue Spencer
Great trails for walking, hiking, biking and horses. there are stables there if you bring your horses and camping areas. It was quite peaceful and made for a nice afternoon walk up into the hills.
James Ticknor
Beautiful trails. Some Creek crossings that can present a challenge for older people or those with large dogs. Rangers are professional and care about safety. One asked a lady and her hubby to get their large og on the leash and the guy was cursing at the ranger, but he kept his cool. Kudos to the hard working men and women rangers who have to deal with people who don't follow the rules! Respect the people and land, and you will have fun.
Jon Robichaud
For a park so close to a major road (hwy 77), this place is outstanding. The lots are large and spacious giving you lots of room to call your own. The peacefulness of the park is outstanding. The views of the mountains, clouds and catcus are breathtaking.
The staff/Volunteers do a great job of keeping the restrooms and showers very very clean. Loop B has an updated restroom area compared to Loop A. Some of the volunteers are on a power trip, but that's minor.
Kurt Holz
We always love coming to Catalina State Park! Beautiful views, great walking trails, and helpful/friendly staff. Bathrooms are always spotless and they have free WiFi. Catch a spot if you can...we stayed in B12 this last time (good spot).
Lori Hollis
First time to Catalina State Park. Loved the hiking trails and views! Camp host and rangers very nice. Only downside was the ant infestation in the campground spots. I got bit by a red ant and so did my dog. I understand not a lot you can do about ants in a park, but enough of an annoyance to mention.
cody bitzer
Absolutely beautiful area! Tons of hiking, biking, dog walking, horseback riding, or whatever else you can think of trails. The scenery is incredible and the park is prestinely kept. Great experience!
Raymond de Heer
A very nice state park, with helpfull staff at the gate. The park offers various hiking trails and at the head of these trails there is a large parkinglot to park your vehicle.
There is a gift shop, but opening hours seem to be irregular. However, hou can get cold drinks from the vending machine. Toilet are available too and quite sanitary.
David Hall
Catalina State Park is a beautiful park with really nice trails and really great views. The Romero Ruins are really cool too. There were lots of signs of wildlife and we saw some really cool birds out here too.
Julie Ray
Beautiful hiking spot - mountains, saguaro cacti, flowing creek, boulders - lots of trails to explore.
Victor B
Really great hike, if you are on the West Side of Tucson. (Eg. Oro Valley)
When your get to the part (pay the $7 entry fee per car) you can park at the first parking lot and do a super short 1/3 mile hike/loop, or go to the Romero Trail which is 2.5 mile in, to the pools/falls, and then 2.5 miles back. It’s a solid two and a half hour hike if you go slow. Don’t bring dogs and they are not allowed for much of the hike. We went today and water was flowing, which was awesome.
VictorB
Katie Klas
Absolutely beautiful place. The mountains are Amazing. Here for the rising of the full moon and it was spectacular.
The campsites could be better. We have stayed in nearly every AZ state Park. We like loop A. The sites are nicely spread out and it was quiet, but our grill had old charcoal in it and it did not look like they had cleaned the site after the last campers left at all. Lots of tall grass. We like some to separate the sites but we could have used a little more cleared to give us more room in our site. Most AZ State Parks have some gravel areas so there isn't the undergrowth. Would have been tough with a Tent to find a good spot to set up because of the ground growth.
Nice shower house and clean. Tons of amazing hiking trails. We will be back.
Bri Stone
Bathrooms were cleaned and stocked. This place is beautiful! It's the first of many stops on our roadtrip through Arizona and I was not disappointed. Nature's bounty.
D M
Beautiful park with nice campground. One plus with Arizona’s online state park campground reservation site is being able to book next day sites (most online sites are 48 hours min). We were able to find a last minute site for 1 night in the overflow lot. The bathrooms were clean and the trails fantastic. The hosts were very kind and informative.
Trent L McCormick
Great trails here. I've hiked to Romero pools, which is awesome. I've also done the shorter loop hike which allows dogs. I went in May and there was still water flowing in the stream. Lots of fun!
Carlos Valenzuela
Absolutely beautiful park with hiking and bird trails for both amateur /professional hikers.Live music on Saturday evenings and nature education mini classes. Camping and picnic sites with clean restrooms. A true Tucson experience.
Jason Eiting
Below are some of thr views at Catalina State Park. Trails are made of crushed stone and sand. Gorgeous views. There is a bubbler at thw enternace to the park and there is an entry fee. Bring hiking stick. Wheelchairs would be very difficult if not impossible to use. Mountain bikes seem to be allowed as there are tire tracks on the pathways.
Stephen Wasmund
Very nice park. We stayed in the very popular equestrian section with our donkeys. We were just passing through, so didn't get to hit any of the trails, but I hear that they are fun. Very clean and friendly.
Daniel Davison
Beautiful camp ground and state park. Gorgeous Mountain views. Super close to Tucson, but when you’re at the park, it feels like you’re very remote. Good WiFi in the B loop.
Rolf Snobeck
A beautiful park with spectacular views and easy trails for hours of hiking and picnicing. We saw various wildlife, including coyote, so keep the little ones close. We went back several time during the week we were in Tucson because we enjoyed it so much.
Kevin Jackson
This park is gorgeous. I came here for a winter run in December. It was just getting light enough to see the trails when I arrived. Spectacular sunrise! Miles and miles of well-kept trails. Great wildlife (spotted a couple of javelinas). Arrive early! After a thirteen mile loop the parking lot had filled up.
Steven Marzan
Park and Facility Hours
The park is open year-round
Day Use
5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. daily
Visitor Center/Park Store
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily
Park Entrance Fee
Per vehicle (1-4 Adults): $7.00
Military: $3.50
Individual/bicycle: $3.00
Pictures are from Romero pools
Make sure to bring an adequate amount of water with you, and get a map from the gate attendant
Malic Boyer
How could anyone not love this park? You might not be used to the desert but Arizona is truly beautiful. They have a range of hikes, picnic areas and camp sites for everyone to enjoy. I usually do Romero pools a few times a year or the Canyon loop. Romero is more difficult for those who have never done it, takes about 1.5 hours up and and 1 back. Whole the Canyon loop is like 45 minutes all together.
darcelle popoff
The 2 mile canyon loop trail, 1 mile nature trail and 6 mile Romero pools hike are a must when in Tucson. You will cross washes and streams from late August until October. Day fee is only 7$. Camping overnight is 25 and 35$. Views of the Catalina mountains are breathtaking.
Ahmed Salama
One of most amazing hiking parks I have ever been at.
Mendoza Horsemanship - Mobile Services
I booked my site a month in advance but didn't know there were tent sites. So I paid $30 a night to set up my hammock on these trees. It's a nice park and I chose it for the location, but afterwards I wished I had asked if there was an opening at the tents.
Everybody thought I was cold, but they don't know that hammocks are more comfortable than their 100k homes. Nobody told me to take it down so I stayed happy and comfortable.
If you're going to hike here, the trails and maps are horrible. I got lost on every trail I hiked. I had to use my phone the entire time, in the end I'm not even sure I was ever on a real trail for more than 30 mins. I literally hiked the entire day! They definitely need to add some markers here or something. It was still fun, but since I had my dog and there's lots of pointy things here, it got annoying.
Kory Thai
Beautiful place to visit. Lots of trails to hike on, from easy nature walks to challenging climbs. Pick your poison wisely.
Jacob Vaught
Great park, well maintained and lots of nice trails. Pet friendly.
Lin Hammond
Great place for a day visit. Lots of hiking trails. Great camping sites with flushing toilets and showers.
Catherine Wittel
Lots of trails to hike, beautiful desert landscape, sunny with mild temps in December. I love this place! Thank you Arizona State Parks!!!
A A
I usually only go during Fall, Winter, and Spring.
Patricia Smith
We spent the better part of the day hiking the trails in the area. Terrific equestrian area with corrals and camp sites.
Angeli Nordstrom
Really liked this campground. We were in a pull through and we weren't in tight quarters like in other CGs. Just be prepared to watch out for snakes and scorpions while at your site and adventuring. Went out to look at the stars and barely missed a scorpion who had came up onto the mat by our door. Would definitely suggest taking a black light with or purchasing one at one of the couple shops in the park.
Robert Neal
Review of campground (site B-11):
Wow.
Gorgeous backdrop (Mt Lemmon) and our own saguaro - at least we claimed it as our own :-)
Spacious spots length-wise, and the sites are moderately spaced apart. Very little shade (what do you expect in Arizona?) Very nice bathhouse - clean, hot showers.
The location reminded us of coming out of Great Smoky Mtns NP into Gatlinburg: one moment you are in the wilderness and BOOM - here comes "civilization". It's handy to have a Walmart etc. etc. right across the street, but...
Despite being so close to the road, we heard no road noise.
On our 24 day trip (Atlanta to Arizona) this was our favorite campground.
Paved sites; little to no shade
Tip: Of course see Saguaro National Park, east and west. And drive up to Mt Lemmon (but bring a jacket... Tucson was in the 90s and we ate a picnic near the summit, where it was 64).
TL Carver
The park staff was wonderfully helpful about the available trails and services in the park. We really enjoyed the well maintained and scenic trails.
Megan Hymers
A great place to walk and hike. There are numerous trails that are a few miles. We hiked with two kids, ages 4 & 6, and they really enjoyed the trail and scenery too.
Allan Wade
The Mesquite trees provided shade for a wonderful picnic. It was fun watching the beautiful birds (my photo doesn't do it justice) and lizards. And the settings Sun lit up the mountains.
Michael Freeman
From the cleanliness of the park everyone in there was delightful easy and challenging trails fun for the whole family or just you and your mate.
Warren Gonzales
Great place to go for a walk in the desert. Well marked trails. Lots of serenity!
Big Man Tiny Kingdom
This was my first time camping at a state park in a RV. I am very impressed with how well kept it was. The bathroom/shower facilities were extremely clean, cleaner than some gyms, hotels and people's houses. The campgrounds were well-maintained and all included a large picnic table, bbq grill, wide and long parkway for your truck, car, RV, etc, and power and water hook-ups are newer looking (I've been to some RV parks and I cringed and hesitated to plug in my rig because of how ancient and unsafe they looked), and the dump station area was very clean (no signs of "#2") and easy to access with plenty of move around space for the larger RVs, and plenty of space between you and your camping neighbor's sites. Really enjoyed myself here. Plenty to walk around and look at, lots of them cool little Prairie dogs, saw some hawks flying and landing around the park, and to my displeasure I saw some enormous Tarantulas by the bathrooms which had me stop in my tracks, turn around and run for my life... My theory is if you don't mess with them they won't mess with you LOL. Great place to spend my first RV camping trip.
daria mcneal
Love this beautiful park. Trails are well marked. Staff and volunteers take excellent care of this amazing place.
Renee Kline
Beautiful place to start your exploring. Access to trails for equestrian, hiking and biking. Close to Biosphere 2, 50 Year Trail, Honeybee, etc. Campgrounds are often full, so make your reservation as soon as you can.
Martin Metz
Very well maintained park with lots of trails. As of 2/14/2021 a vast area is burnt down though. The park has a junior ranger program available for 6-12 yr olds.
Sharon Ruffner
We have camped here many times in the past. This time one of our favorite spots were just overgrown with weeds. I understand the very wet summer but if your paying for a site they should be cleared. My dog has so many dried burrs on her. Many spots are fine just don't stay around side spots
Brian Derrick
Excellent state park. Campgrounds, showers, water, toilets. Also great hiking trails.
Bob Harvey
Beautiful scenery. Came out to check out the campground for a future visit for a travel trailer. No ground fires allowed, very disappointing. Did get to see a coyote wandering around the campground at about 4 PM pictured. Overflow area/backup campground not impressive. Regular campsites were pretty nice.
Cheryl Dimmick
Camped in campground A for the weekend. Beautiful views, nice trails to hike with the dogs. Cleanest rest rooms we have seen at a campground. The only thing keeping it from getting 5 stars was the fact they had the dump station closed so we were unable to dump the RV tanks on the way out. Dump station hours are posted to open at 7am, we left at 8:30am.
Maureen Hyland
This is one of the nicest state parks we've stayed in with our RV. Lots of space for each site. Free showers. Our only complaint is that the site numbers are nowhere to be seen for each row. Also, the numbers at each site are many feet off the road, so we had to shine a flashlight at the sites trying to see numbers. When we arrived in the dark, it took a long time to locate our reserved site, as this was our first visit. They could simply paint the numbers on the road or add them to the somewhat useless signs that day back in sites or pull through sites!
Allee Chavarria
State Troopers were supper nice; easy in and out no real trouble. The trails were clean and straight forward. My mother and I will be returning there again soon. Even saw some wildlife. Good for all ages.
Issa Khorrassany
Good place to camp and have little hikes around it. Organised and clean.
Gonzos Popcorn
So many options here. Wonderful hikes leading into Coronado National Forest. Arrive early and pack lots of water and snacks. Enjoy!
Kim Harden
Enjoyed walking a few of the trails. Note - the nature trail has a steep grade to start but it was a nice walk once on top. Some trails require you to go thru streams to continue. It was stunning and serene. Certainly and enjoyable afternoon.
Shannon Percival
Great park! Lots of hiking. Beautiful backdrop of the mountains!
Brenda Kuriousphotos
My wife and I went to Tucson and are Air b & b super host Kim and Kathy Windfeather, took us to this awesome place, Catalina State Park.
Deprecated Kyle Deprecated Green
Amazing hike that took a couple days to recover from but the views were well worth it.
Mary Littiebrant
This is a beautiful park! If you are reserving a campsite, beware! Ringtail loop does not have electricity or water hookup and it is not that easy to tell this on the reservation system. It is just a dirt parking lot for trailers to sit in.
There are amazing hiking trails and the nature in this park is stunning, especially the saguaros. The campground fills up fast so reserve early in the year if you want a site with electricity and water.
Susan Hardin
Nice place. Pretty busy on the weekend with the nature program. Several loop trails.
Maria Hoffman
Beautiful place to hike. Trails are well-maintained. Restrooms available, reasonably clean. Admission was $7 per car. We visited on a Wednesday morning in March and it was fairly crowded.
Adrian G
Beautiful State Park with a lot of hiking trails. Campers who own horses bring there horses and hike the park. A lot of scenery and trails to ride your mountain bikes.
Zackary Beckham
Nice easy trails that are dog friendly.
Gene Siepka
Overall had a good trip. Sites are paved for RV's with water and electric onsite. Dual dump station near the entrance road free to use when camping.Was nice to have a proper shower/bath house that was kept clean. Only complaint really is the site we were at (and seemed to be common on other sites we saw) was pockmarked by dozens of small prairie dog holes as well as tons of ant mounds. Still dealing with the itching ant bites from them from sitting outside at night. It's desert nature I guess so not sure how that can be remedied, but worth mentioning. Also disappointed to see the no campfire rule, although saw a few campers build a campfire in their cooking grills on the site, seems like a worse idea than just providing campfire rings. But had some beautiful mountain views from the sites and saw some cool wildlife. Even a tarantula walking across the road! Will likely return in the future.
Sonia Hodgin
In the Summer, water is running and in the winter a place to play in the snow here in AZ. They allow dogs so it’s a blast!
Joseph Klemm
Great park with beautiful scenery and nicely maintained trails.
K Matthews
Gorgeous surroundings, awesome hiking and still only 10 minutes from Walmart and other conveniences.
Arthur Herold
Was only here for 1 night but will return to hike the trails.
Jade J Trandem
Loved staying here, the bathrooms were cleaned everyday. Sites were clean, view was amazing. We stayed the beginning of June and it was getting HOT 🔥 but it was lovely. GEOCACHING WAS EVERYWHERE. I'll be coming back. …
jason kawchak
Lots of trails! Great price. Has camping for both rv and tent camping!
Sherman Tank Rogers, Jr
The camp sites are large
Power and fresh water at each camp
Super clean bathrooms and hot showers
VERY scenic hiking trails
Anthony Morales
Definitely a lot of trails for people who like to hike, but not much else to see. There are a lot of panoramic views. If you're into photography. Visitor center-wise not so much. They do have a small one at the entrance where you must pay a fee... I'm not so big into that.
Elizabeth Carden
Beautiful park, easy trails for beginners and super helpful rangers.
Jason Fair (Nomadic Nerd Project)
Beautiful RV Park, lots of snow, and crazy weather but worth it.
Forrest Kennedy
Very well maintained park. We went on a Spring Saturday so it was packed, but water was flowing so we were able to bring the kids to play in the water. Overall an enjoyable experience.
Helena Wolfers
Gorgeous park with plenty of trails to choose from, we took the Canyon Loop Trail. It took us 1½ hour to finish but we stopped multiple times to take in the gorgeous views.
Lawrence Byrd
Great hiking trails. Currently lots of water in streams coming from snow melt. Many spring flowers are popping out. Lots of yellow Poppy patches now.
Deborah Fleishel
Most beautiful State Park! Sites are fairly private, plenty of room for pull thru and back in on black top. Bathrooms are clean and large. Our second stay here and will be back!
Livyie Hast
Absolutely beautiful photography venue for practice or business. Many trials to hike and it's never boring. Great place to watch the sunset.
Alberto Ranjel
A gorgeous park just a quick jaunt from Tucson proper. Granted today drove the long way around, going through Reddington Pass, up to San Manuel, bypassing Oracle to get to the Mt. Lemmon Hwy up the baskside of the mountain (unsuccessfully...didn't have 4x4, which was my fault), then coming back around through Oracle, Catalina, and finally Oro Valley to get to the Park.
Hot? Yes. Little dusty? Sure. But gorgeous nevertheless. Come for a quickie like I did since I was pooped or for the longer stretch all the way to Romero Falls, the day pass alone is worth the entrance. Enjoy!
Tony Thrailkill
Beautiful hike. Get out there early and bring water
Donna Adams
Beautiful ❤️ lots of different trails to hike. Lots of birds for the birdwatcher. Nice break from the city. Easy to get to.
Ron Hebert
Lots of great activities and hiking trials in the foothills of the Catalina’s.
Manuel Mendibles
This place is a hidden jem of Tucson!!! Only bad part is no open fires for marshmallow smores. Lots of local wildlife. Prairie dogs, roadrunners, and snakes. Wild flowers and I think we saw about 12 different trails in the vicinity
Jamie Krupka
Nice park to hike. Trails are well defined though I didn't do any of the longer ones.
Johnathan Gartlan
I got lost in here for 5 hours and had the best day ever lol
ghost dog
Lots of land to roam and well kept. Great saguaros and mountains
Christopher Peart
Nice trails and great views. A nice place to get away from it all and just enjoy nature.
Parkin' In Paradise
This is a beautiful campground. Easy access off Hwy 77. Nicely spaced sites. Great hiking and biking trails. Reserve early. Very popular.
David Omstead
Walking trails are out of this world. From sunny to rain with a marvelous rainbow!
Joanne Anderson
A very well run park. Great walking trails, fabulous Saguaro, various activities and events going on regularly.
Josie Young
Beautiful park. Hiking, biking and horse trails. Bathrooms super clean and staff very friendly!
Mark Johnston
Scenery: Stunning. Campsite: Stunning. Bathrooms: Stunning. Bike/hike/horse trails: Stunning. Proximity to town: Easy. Five stars. Just prepare for a cooler climate than Tucson proper as we learned the cold air moves down off the mountain at night making a 15-degree sleeping bad necessary in early March.
LLF
Great little loop hike, only 1.8 miles long .An easy 45 walk....only one steep hill at beginning or end depending where you start.
John “JJ” Johnson
Great place to get away.
Great hiking trails start from here weather for day trip or extended backpacking in the mountains. Major shopping center is 3 minutes away.
Campsites are good, but barren/dusty, for the most part, so you don't have the privacy you might expect for sites that have power and water. But that's what you get, when camping in the desert. Campsite shower and restroom facilities are modern and clean.
Brenda Scott
Nice park and variety of hikes. Also great job on trail guiding stakes. Makes it nice to know your going the right way.
Rita Darnell
Great park, camping sites are spacious, beautiful view of mountain, nice clean restrooms and hiking trail within park. Also good cell reception at campground.
Sandy Kentz
Grew up in this area, nice park great trails to hike. Enjoyed by everyone when we had B-day parties there. Mature grounds for shade!
Other Barry
Kind of a rough hike up to Romero pools but worth it. Make sure you bring enough water for sure.
Beverley Pierson
This is a great place to be in the fall, winter and spring. Hikers, equestrians and bikers all have trails and roads for exploring. There are easy paths for those that don't want to climb mountains and extremely challenging trails. The gift shop is small, but well enough equipped near the main trailhead. There are Ranger tours to the ruins, a birding trail that's best appreciated in the spring during nesting time, a nature trail with interpretive signs, and wonderful spots to rest near springs (seasonal). The campground features clean restrooms, large sized lots with water and electric hookups. There is a dump-station, but that can become a bit of work if you stay for two weeks. The only reason I gave it 4 stars as opposed to 5 is the need for more signs on the trails. There is some improvement with the signage this year, but more is needed. A more detailed map of trails is an alternative. As always with desert trails take water, sun-screen and if you plan to be out for a full day, remember the desert cools down quickly late in the day.
Jenifer Radland
Dog friendly trails. Beautiful views. Everything from easy nature walks to more challenging and technical trails.
Kevin Keller
Very clean facilities, showers and other amenities are simple and well cared for. The grounds are spacious and inviting. There are many hiking trails in the park with options for small inclines and mountain climbing for some of the longer trails. The plant and animal life is divers and beautiful. Go ahead and enjoy.
Danielle White
We had famy pictures taken there. It was gorgeous. We have done a lot of hiking there too. It is great!
Holly Lewis
Beautiful state park with spacious sites and lots of trails. Warning the dump station was closed today. We didn't check why. We were not warned upon checking in that it was closed.
Patricia Canerdy
Did not care for their campground. Packed in like a can of sardines. Needs dedicated tent only campground site so you don't have to listen to the camper next to you run all night. Paths to bath house and rest rooms could use some lights. Bath houses very poorly lit.. upgrade with LED lighting. Thought the $30 per night plus the $5 registration fee was too much for what this park had to offer. Hiking trails were okay but could have used more signage showing howmiles, names of vegetation, etc.
Tinaagp, Velasco
Wonderfully quiet and serene mountain scapes! Low daily fees for various types of visits to the park. Nicely paved roads. Great hiking trails. Plenty of wildlife to see. RV and camping overnight section with real showers.There is an outdoor amphitheater for celebrations with bench seating and benches with tables. There are very nice picnic areas including very clean tiled floor bathrooms. This place has been a refuge for me and my family during cooler weather. Its a got to see not far from town with stores and restaurants very close by. Everyone needs to experience this gem of the desert set in a cooler area if you love the outdoors in Tucson!
Carol Fifer
Great campsite. Plenty of space between camping spots, birds everywhere, including hummingbirds. Many hiking trails, restrooms have flush toilets and are clean. The park is maintained mostly by enthusiastic volunteers. The only improvement I might suggest is for the trails to marked a little better, although some trails may have been made by people taking shortcuts. Be aware you may encounter snakes so stay on the trails.
Melissa King
Beautiful well kept campgrounds... Courteous and knowledgeable staff!!! This is our go to place!
Life in USA
Good picnic spot.
And good hike.
BunneyLust
I love this park! Not being a huge camper I worried when we started doing these group camps whether I would have any fun and honestly this is my favorite place. Yes the bathrooms are a definite plus but the entire atmosphere in the group sites is great! I love that every site has its own little fire pit! I love that you don’t have to find a space to set up your tents! I love that there is a table at each site too. We go in December and it’s been cold and moist both times and I guess I just loved it more! 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️ for being as close to a city as this park is you would never know. They do amazing work here!
Brian Beamish
I'm a local artists and I love going over and getting ideas for my ceramic
Kai Sparrow
A great hike if you start earlier in the day. View was beautiful. Catalina state park has a lot of different trails that are just gorgeous. There's a stream that runs through the park in different areas. Stopping there is refreshing when you get overheated. I recommend coming here for a nice view and cool experience.
Tess Yurik
There are a variety of trails and monthly concerts in the park during the summer. Great for short walks or longer hikes.
Roger Mathieu
Great park with lots of trails to pick from.
Gregory Kelderman
We typically go here every weekend to every other weekend to walk our dog. The park has some relatively cool shaded areas for when it gets hotter out, and the views are spectacular. There's even a nice creek off of the main trails and two trails that lead to waterfalls (mainly in early and mid-spring), but you can't bring dogs to those.
Marissa Morrison
A beautiful and well maintained park. Trails are well kept and easy enough to do with children and dogs, definitely family friendly. I arrived early around 830 am on a Friday and parking at the trailhead was aplenty; however, once I got back to my car around 11 the parking was completely full and people had to park on the side of the road. So keep in mind that it gets busier as you get closer to lunch hours.
Jean Marc Wampler
Amazing views, great trails, and easy access!
Mark Yambor
If you are looking for a great place to spend the day hiking then this is it. The scenery is fantastic and the entry price of only $7 is very reasonable. One of the better trails is the Romero Canyon trail which takes you into the heart of the mountains. Along the way you will cross the wash and this time of year had a decent amount of water flowing the down from the mountains. One you thing you will get out there is peace and quiet which is exactly what you want on a hike. One the day that I was there it was quite crowded however I had no problem finding a place to park. This place really is a gem that I don't think most people would even think to visit but they should.
Susan Donovan
Perfect!! Roomy and super clean camp sites. Very nice, modern and clean restrooms and showers. EXTREMELY well managed...speed limit, pet rules and quiet areas are strictly enforced. I hiked almost 10 miles of their WONDERFUL trails yesterday...well marked and very well maintained. I loved everything about this place...except...the lady at the small trail head gift shop had Rush Limbaugh blaring from her boom box. Bummed me right out to have to listen to that while I shopped. How about some nice music instead!!
norman cox
2nd time staying here. The camp hosts are helpful and friendly and keep the park in pristine condition.
The campsite itself is nestled at the foot of the Catalina's, and the scenery is beautiful. Great sunsets.
Wish we had time to stay more than one night, but hopefully we'll be back.
Ash Mancino
Beautiful state park!! Saw so much nature in two weeks, ground squirrels, tarantulas, scorpions, coyotes, rattlesnakes, gopher snake, and sonoran toads! The bathrooms/showers were cleaned daily and were a nice treat in the hot summer months for campers!!
Park rangers are friendly and volunteer staff at front entrance!! Will definitely return!
Joyce Lapera
This is our 3rd stay and we LOVE IT. We have brought our kids, grandkids and siblings and have a great time every time. The park is very easy to find and the campground spaces are big and nicely separated so you don't feel infringed on by other campers. The restrooms and showers are very nice and clean. The roads and sites are paved and you can't beat the scenery. Beautiful sunsets and surrounding mountains are so relaxing and peaceful. The music nights are great and we thoroughly enjoyed the one we were lucky to catch while there. We plan on being regulars for years to come :)
Jordan Beaty
Grate hiking trails, amazing senery, and just spectacular.
Judith Ballard
Breathtaking beautiful park. If you are a camera buff, you will get some amazing photos. Short hiking trails if you prefer that. Only seven dollars entrance fee for a car. There were restrooms there. I plan on visiting again.
BizarreLight “Ryan”
This is very likely the best campground in all of Arizona. It offers water and electricity at most sites and accommodates tents, trailers and RVs. There are several well cleaned modern restrooms with flushing toilets and showers that are always nearby your site, wherever that may be. Lots of activities and trails are available in the park. It is close to civilization in case you forget or need something. Yet the park still feels like it is away from city life. Dogs are welcome in the park, but not on the trails. It has been our family's favorite for many years now. I'm sure you will love it too!
Lapidary Prospector
Great place to be outdoors. Awesome view of the mountains and there were very few people there.
Sara Greco
Beautiful place but as with all easy-access hiking, very busy. Nice trails with some accessible for a walk rather than hike. Depending upon where you are in the park, the road noise from Oracle Road is pretty bad. Very nice that they have the little pavillion for concerts and such; while we were there, there was a wedding in progress.
All in all, a nice place to take visitors or for light hike. Go on a weekday for a less crowded experience.
Jeremy Kingsbury
We enjoyed our stay even though it rained almost the entire time we were there. It's a very clean park with clean facilities and friendly and helpful staff. We were allowed to switch our site from the reservation we made because the sure in the bottom right side of the first loop shouldn't even be considered a sure and or travel trailer wouldn't have fit there comfortably. We asked for permission to change sites and were able to as there were other sites available. We really appreciated that flexibility and really enjoyed our stay.
Mary Sunne
Rainy this weekend but we still sitting outside. Camper is facing the backside of the Catalina mountains and we're facing mountains. Watching beautiful low clouds drift through the canyons. We are in A19. Bathroom is very clean with great shower facilities. Coyotes sang their song nearby. Only one mile from civilization but very quiet. Great hiking trails. Highly recommend it!
Patricia Garza
Beautiful views overlooking Oro Valley, AZ and Tucson, AZ. We took the Romero Loop Trail which was a great hike. Plan for at least five hours to get to the water pools and get back down the mountain. It's a moderate to difficult hike depending on skill level and physical ability. Lots of rocks and narrow climbing trails at times.
Marc Pershin
Beautiful place to hike, soft sand trails, wash had very lil water, but could see at certain times that water could be aggressive. Plenty of parking, 7$ fee. Great views and this day was extra breezy so the trees were making that realizing zen noise. Highly recommended.
Edward Pedley
Great hike, easy walking, beautiful views. Many trails to choose from. Plenty of photo opportunities of native plants to the panoramic mountains.
Amber Runningwolf
Absolutely beautiful and amazing. Good for a nice day hike and even offer places for events like weddings or birthdays. There’s even camping available. All super good prices too! Makes it worth while for a day or a week. The bathrooms are so nice and clean, the showers are huge, and there’s even handicapable showers are are nice. There is even an amphitheater that is so beautiful and perfect for a wedding.
Carl Moore
I am lucky to live next to this state park. So many great trails to hike ranging from easy to difficult. Beautiful mountain views. Tons of wildlife and several bird species. Running water at most times of the year. Even Native American ruins with Pueblo foundations and loose pottery pieces laying around. A picnic area as well as RV camping. Very friendly Rangers. A great place to relax and enjoy nature.
Felicia
This is a great park for lots of different types of day hikes. There is a nice 2 mile loop that is great for families and dogs, then there are longer and more difficult holes for those looking for more of an adventure. I'm here all the time and never got bored.
Pam Vickers
Really good hike to the ponds. Definitely a work out
The Chess Guy 2.0
Great place to hike. Not bike / pet friendly though. They have picnic areas, camping areas, rv areas, an equestrian center, bathrooms and other things. Cost $7 per vehicle, but you get a huge deal if you are big into hiking, $75 for a year + $7 handling fee (i don't have the foggiest idea why they add that).
Matthew Reddoch
Beautiful park, definitely worth the $7 entrance fee. The best trail to take is the Romero pools one, but it does require you to cross a shallow stream/river to start it. One of the best parks to hike around Tucson and see the Catalina mountains (especially if you want to try something different from Sabino Canyon).
Ken Hunt
Very nice campground.
Clean bathrooms with showers.
Plenty of space between you and other campers.
Need to reserve well in advance for Jan - April.
You get a different crowd in the fall - more relaxed with fewer large RVs.
Gilbert Ray campground over Starr Pass is $10/day for tents.
Gina Ashton
Camped in a 35” motorhome. We are self-contained so cannot comment on restrooms/shower facilities. Water and electric. Dump station on site. Site #A16. We love this campground – will return.
Pros –
- Incredible views of the mountains
- Quiet campground
- Spacious sites and nice spacing between sites
- Many trails and bird walks in park
- Convenient to the northern Tuscon area
Cons –
- Better be quick to get an on-line reservation
Jeff Fearnow
A gorgeous gateway park. Want to chill in low impact flat areas with trees? Check. Want to embark on an extended hike into the Catalina Mountains? Got you. Mountain biking up into a network of trails that can be a couple hours to a couple days? Saddle up.
I wish camping wasn't so exposed (sometimes feels like a parking lot) but the view is year round/all weather fabulous.
Carol Arrasmith
On a motorhome road trip from California and after traveling through the California desert, this place was a welcome change! Situated at the base of beautiful cliffs we had outstanding October weather. The spaces between campsites were generous making our dogs happy too.
Bruce Pajak
This is great State Park. Good camping hiking and biking trails to go on not far from home. Great for pictures, spending time with my friends outdoors. Nature is great out here. And the horse back riders love it here to,they can camp and ride.
Annik Rousseau
Very nice campground surrounded by mountains. The sunsets are amazing. Very clean, and the showers are the best in the world. Rangers and hosts are very nice. 30$ for electric hookup, water and dump available on the campground. We were in the overflow ringtail campground at 15$ no hookup in March because it was busy.
Don Weiskopf
This popular park is very scenic, clean and well run. The surrounding area is beautiful, with several hiking trails; one which winds through a mountain sheep management area. Yet civilization is close by, with many good restaurants and shopping. Showers are very clean and work well. The only negative is cell service (Internet browsing, streaming, et.) Can be slow.
Bob Seamon
I hiked the Romero Canyon Trail to the Romero pools. This was my first hike in Arizona and it was great. The terrain was a little rough at points... You definitely want good hiking shoes. But the trail was well marked and maintained... You didn't need to worry about brushing up against the vegetation.
Amy Gillette
Great spot for a day hike, you can bring your dogs but only on one trail. You will have to step through some tiny streams within washes, and there's more water at the end if winter (March) due to snowmelt, and more during monsoon season. Expect to get wet feet. Bring lots if water and sunscreen.
Peter Papp
Amazing hike with lots of beautiful views and plant life. Wildlife too if you’re lucky. Given the right time of year you can even go swimming in the little ponds that build up water, which is the best relief from the heat. Make sure you take water with you because the desert sun really can take it out of you.
Matt Morgan
Great trails and scenery. Hiked a few of the lower elevation trails with just tennis shoes and a bottle of water. The ecosystem here is amazing. Wish there was a bit more about the local botany and geology, but great nonetheless. A bargain for 7 bucks too.
Sam Salamone
Amazing! Did the loop on my bike for the first time. So much FUN!!
paul hegedus
Beautiful layout nice amenities, suitable for any style of camping, and everything else you would need is within 10 minutes of the entrance
Carleen Rieger
Wonderful state park! Staff were friendly, encouraging, and helpful! Very clean. I enjoyed the Nature Trail. Perfect 1.5 mile hike to get some great views! Hard incline at first but then levels off.
Angela Greynolds
As an avid trail runner I love going to Catalina State Park and using these trails. There are multiple options for distances, elevation gain, and technicality. I purchased an annual pass and go frequently to take advantage of the great running. There are two trail races, one in the Spring and one in the Fall, that are also very fun! I've also been there for hiking with kids and it's suitable for all ability levels. Worth checking out for visitors in town too.
slade hafner
Envelop yourself in the beauty of the Sonoran Desert and all the wildlife it has to offer.
Tanya Mace
Great place to hike at any level! Up Sutherland Trail to the waterfalls
Sonjj Zairyn
Beautiful views and awesome park staff/rangers. Watch out for tarantulas near the bathrooms though!
magda cohen
All levels of hiking available as camping- dogs on leashes allowed- i chose a moderate hike and had a great time! I went thanksgiving weekend so there were people of all ages and dogs but not so many that i felt cramped in my experience- truly beautiful scenery!
Taylor Jackman
Beautiful mountain ranges has a nice Creek (you have to pull of your shoes and walk to the water to get to the other side of the trail) if you take Romero pools trail (the one I would recommend) you get to see beautiful mountain ranges with a bunch of cactus and trees, walking close to the stream for a while and at the end you get to see the pools and giant water falls. And it's not super long (you can bring kids (over 4) to it). However you do have to pay the parks fee
Lori Simonis
This is such a great place to camp
We've been here many times and it never disappoints. The park Nestle's in the foothills of the Catalina mountains and the scenery and wildlife are amazing. We've seen javelinas, coyotes, owls, ground squirrels and a merriad of lizards. We love it here. Oh and did I mention the park has a bunch of great hiking trails!
GrooveConsulting MG
Beautiful views and awesome place for anything!
jaruwan roberts
Beautiful views well maintained trails. Romero pools trail is not difficult but worth it. Love the bid trail never knew there were so many birds in AZ and it's like a different world. Loop trail takes about 45 minutes and only moderately difficult in a couple ares but mostly easy. Love the first Saturday concerts.
Jan Neitzert
What a surprise so close to the city! Beautiful setting and quiet. Level sites, although not too many trees. Walking trails from the campground, grounds nice and clean. Wished we could have stayed longer!
Barry Emmons
Excellent park. There are quite a few trails. The Ruins trail is short but has placards describing the settlement areas. There was a trail off to the east that was not on the guide where we saw a rattlesnake on the edge of the path so beware... We also went to the main trailhead and took the loop along the river that had many flowers and a good stream to splash thru. Worth the $7 day fee.
Caleb S
Really cool place to walk. We saw a roadrunner. Bathrooms are available and decently clean. Not too crowded. Please be considerate and leash your dog and clean up its poop.
Merlin Landry
If you like hiking, then Catalina State Park is a great place to indulge your sport. The trails range from super easy to difficult as you approach Mt. Lemmon. The trails are not paved, but the easy trails are really easy and the harder trails are rocky, narrow and steep in some places. There are literally miles of trails to hike. In addition to hiking, the weekends sometime offer special events like musical performances, nothing elaborate or large scale but small, simple and intimate. The plant and animal life that you may experience in the park is awesome and just the "icing on the cake".
Ed Gowland
We travel in a travel trailer and moved to three different sites during our two week stay. Very little leveling needed at each one. The sites are paved with asphalt and staff sweeps them off between uses. Activities are held at the trail head. Took in a reptile exhibit and an acoustic concert. All free. Miles upon miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to hard. Pets on a leash can hike with you. Good mountin bike trails and Equestrian trails too. Walmart and a shopping center are directly across the highway from the park entrance. The views of the Catalina Mountains is breathtaking. By far one of the best parks we have stayed at in our travels.
Christie A Cope
Very quiet but close to Tucson. Amusing little prairie dog type rodents too.
Susn Bice
Beautiful state park! Clean, paved RV/trailer pads. Plenty of room in between spots. Great hiking onsite, clean bathrooms, lots of wildlife. Close enough to town for supplies, restaurants & shopping. We cannot wait to come back!!
Manasseh Phillips
Nice park. But disappointed that we couldn't have a camp fire.
Sergei Lukovenkov
So unique place to enjoy Nature and Peace
Christopher Geyer
If you like mountain hiking this park is for you. Start early and take plenty of water. There are trails for all levels of hikers. If you go in the wet season there are streams and pools of water you can hike to. Trails are well marked and tended.
Jordyn Blagg
I LOVE Catalina State Park. It's a great place to beat the AZ heat without going too far. There is really nice river access really close to the parking lot. Great for kids, but be careful, the water can be REALLY cold in the winter and spring. If you are thinking about the Romero pools trail, make sure you are fit enough for a difficult hike. It's 1-2hours each way, with lots of uphill stretches. Probably not a good hike for little kids. The pools are worth it though, and the views are spectacular
Andrew Jamal
One of the best parks for hiking I have ever been too. Great marked trails and some trails with educational signs. We occasionally see Coatamundi here. There is also a trail for bird watching.
Bruce Crist
The RV sites are level and we'll spaced giving each site plenty of elbow room. Bathrooms are spotless and well maintained. There are no firepits and wood buring fires are prohibited, so if having a campfire is an important part of your camping experience, you may want to consider another park. Some of the hiking trails are rocky, but all of them are interesting with many options for distance and difficulty. This state park is very popular during the winter months, especially on weekends, so make your reservations early.
Nicky Clark
Hiked the birding trail, very nice flat trail with about 52 stairs up and then down another set I didn't count. Lots of trees. Hiked part of canyon trail until I heard there was a huge rattle snake and turned around as I was hiking alone and got a bit scared. Hiked a bit of nature trail too with a fairly steep incline. Very sandy trails. Saw a coyote who was stalking something I didn't see. Price was reasonable to get in-$7. Gift shop at the trailhead had terrible internet connection so it took awhile to check out. Most of my hike I had no cell signal so wasn't able to video chat back home to MN but no big deal.
Andrew Rabe
Amazing park with great trails!
Jean McRobbie
The campsites accommodate large rigs. You can bike in the area on paved roads. Town and shopping near my. Equestrian riding available. Not too many trees for shade. Clean well managed.
Eric Swain
Had a fantastic time taking a relaxed stroll. We originally planned to go on the birding trail but the maps they hand out are not completely accurate, so we ended up on a longer loop that was more in line with the amount of time we wanted to spend anyway. I recommend using Google Maps or another map service to get a better picture of the trails; that's what we ended up doing after realizing we weren't on the trail we originally intended to follow.
Ross Levin
Campsites in this park are in very high demand. The folks working here were very helpful in locating a place to stay in the park. The facilities are all immaculate. It is clear that the people running this place have a lot of pride in what they do. The park is beautiful with great trails and is situated convenient to Tucson.
Michael Ristagno
Had a great visit hiking with family and saw a rare Tortoise which was a real and rare experience!
Zother Onez2
Great way to relax! Took the 2 year old and my wife we went for about 2.5 hours it was free this weekend and they had a music in the mountains event (guy playing a guitar and foot drum in the park it was very nice. There was a reptile show right before that were kids could touch some snakes or something but I just wanted to play in the stream, and throw rocks in the water like my 2 year old did lol. However, it would be a great area to pan for gold lol!
Karol
Gorgeous with miles of trails. Spectacular scenary.
Tom S
Great State Park. Wide open RV Spots and very clean campgrounds. However no dogs allowed on many of the trails. I asked a Park Ranger why and they cleared it up for me. Some of the trails are connected to the BLM which is outside the park and US Govt managed. The BLM's policy is not to allow dogs, not the State of Arizona State Park.
Sandra Dana
Wonderful location. Get reservations well in advance. Wonderful spacing between camp sites. Very clean bathrooms & showers. Water + electrical. No sewer. But dumping station. Trees and wonderful views of Catalina Mts. Perfect hiking trails well marked.
Beverly Eaton
Most amazing place. Great hiking trails....great photo ops. Only draw back is no pump out at each site. 2 dumps on premises but would b better at each site. Overall.....wonderful!
Greg Spear
Participated in the 10th annual Move Two event. Awesome as always.
Mary Monell
Gorgeous views with mixture of terrain. Get there early as main trailhead gets dull quickly. And had access to port o potties
Bruce Wilk
Great hike! Saw a group of bighorn sheep.
Westside Concrete
Immaculate campsites. (Bearing in mind that this is pretty barren desert, with little ground cover, therefore not much privacy.) The restrooms / showers are modern, clean and tidy. There is free Wi-Fi over a large area. I good safe place to camp for both tents and RVs.
Laura Chastain
It's so close to our house and nice dog friendly trails.
Michael Kinnaird
Great campground, great staff, wonderful birds and squirrels.
Jill vanDenHeuvel
So beautiful! Totally different from the rest of the area...I actually saw water here! And green grass! Beautiful flora and awesome walking/hiking trails. I wish I'd left more time for Catalina State Park.
Keith Seymour
This park is fantastic, the views are incredible and the park is well maintained. The restrooms in the B loop are slightly nicer than the A loop but above average either way. The sites are plenty large and come complete with ground squirrels for entertainment.
Charlie
First be aware that a seven dollar fee is required if you are visiting the park. However, the park is a gem. Nestled at the base of the Catalina Mountains. They have weekly programs like bird watching hikes, geocaching 101, Nature trails, scenic trails, hikes to ruins and more. Camping loops A & B were both full as well as the overflow area. The overflow area does not have services where loops A & B had 20/30/50 Amp services. We did not camp at the park though we are full time RV'rs. Looking at sites to camp in online shows just how popular the park is. It's booked heavily until mid-March 2019. This is a must not miss place.
Larry Petersen
We found the camp site much better than expected. There are trees and enough space between sites to provide privacy for everyone. The camp host was there to help out and give advice. The rest rooms and showers were clean and well kept..all in all a very pleasant campground
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Bob Knipps
Great camping (bring your propane camp fire pit), hiking & birding in a close proximity to all the shopping & eating places you'll need
Cami Ward
What a beautiful place. Full of sweeping vistas, cactus, and history. Trails are well marked and easy to follow. There are trails for all levels of experience and various le gths. Gate fees are modest if you don't have an annual park pass, $7 per vehicle or $3 for pedestrians or cyclists gets you a day pass.
Michele S
Being out here was amazing. It felt like we were in the middle of nowhere! Dark starry sky, coyotes howling, just incredible! The campsite's are spacious, yet close enough to visit your neighbor if you're camping with family and friends. We forgot a few things and we're able to run to Walmart just across the highway without losing too much time during our stay. There are some great paths for hiking and plaques with local history. We will definitely go back!
GoVaca Com
Greatvstate park lots of trails for all hiker my only complaint is people need to clean up after there dogs if you don't start picking up they will stop letting dogs in the park
Susan Kendall
Camped here several times. Hot i, Mat, but cold in the winter. Daytime temps come up to high 60s low 70s. Like the spacious campground but wish they had full hookups...restrooms and showers are immaculate so really cannot complain. Love the weekend activities for families. Got to see and hear an aggressive green racer...scary!
Ben Ge
Well organized parking lots and beautiful trails. Some trails may look like they're's multiple directions to take, but they generally loop to the same part again(as in either trail will take you to the same place) reasonable $7 fee, nice open parking lot, beautiful trails.
Ryan Smith
Great park , great views and hiking , educate your self on pet restrictions before you take a dog there ,on Saturdays the have a wildlife exhibit which is fun and interesting . Keep and open eye for wildlife , snakes, Gila monsters, tortoises, deer , coyote rabbits etc , they add to the fun .
Anthony Lucian Sr (Lone Wolf)
Stunning scenery, pick your level of hike, peaceful. Horseriding trails, they have hiking trails and even a bike trail or two. Really nice weather this time of year. Everything starting to move around . Come on thru and enjoy some of the finest scenery and wildlife nature has to offer. Tell the Rangers that the Outlaw invited you. They all know and love the Outlaw. Sincerely, Tje Hillbilly Outlaw
Arlene Acosta
We hiked the 2 mile loop and it was amazing! The scenery was so relaxing. Don’t forget sunblock though because there’s not much shade.
Kim Lurie
Varied desert terrains. Ample parking. Beautiful scenery. Accurate maps.
Garret Lovins
I've been going here for years and I really love this place. What I love about it sometimes the most though, is all the changes they've been making! They've been having outings, lots of meetups, and even music on Saturdays! I think this is a really good community resource, and a great place to hike, bike, and become in touch with the outdoors again!
Tina Pickford (Ting Ting 婷婷)
Cool place for hiking, well signposted trails.
Adrienne
Nice short hiking trails
elinore Grennan
This is a beautiful and peaceful park. The sites are roomy.the rangers and staff are always friendly and helpful. We have been here about 8 times and planning on returnimg often. Lots of hiking trails. Ameneties just outside the park.
Ray Skinner
Had a memorial service for a dear friend in their pavilion. Very pleasant place.Lots of seating.Have to arrange for adequate sound.Another pavilion a short distance wit ability to have a large meal.Will visit later in year for a picnic.Costs $7.00 per car to enter for day use.will be beautiful in spring.
watertripper1
Gorgeous setting with Catalina Mountains as a backdrop. Cycling to the trails was easy and not far. Campsites nicely spread apart. Ranger at entrance was super friendly!
bobbie wilke
Fantastic park. Great RV sites, all are level. Water and electric hookups, lots of hiking trails. Very clean and modern bathroom facilities with great hot showers. Highly recommended!
Holly Sweeney
Saguaros everywhere- beautiful vistas- great trails- be prepared to cross water to many of them- can be over ankles depending on conditions. And the mountains turn pink at sunset! Music in the Mountains on designated Saturdays is fun. Many other activities- check the calendar
cici Munguia
Especial place to camping, hiking,Run, And more!!!
Durval Menezes
This is an excellent nature park very near Tucson. We camped there twice, in 2012 and 2015, a few days each, and loved it. Great hikes and great nature, excellent climate during winter.
Patrick Wynne
Hiked the Romero Ruins and Birding Trail. It was about a 2 mile hike. It was very peaceful and beautiful. Paved road all the way to the trail head. Rest rooms and even sun lotion at the trail head.
Dane Hemmings
Great place to see the native fauna, and go for a hike, long or short. Some historical areas as well. Short drive to get there from most places in Tucson with great all around views from it's many trai heads. Well worth the trip!
Werner Schueller
the state is placing a fee collection station in front of a national forest access. and not much else beyond that. questionable. unappealing, RV infested campground. enjoy the generators and all that comes with it shower and bathroom facilities are nice though.
Nicholas Kerr
Fantastic park for novice campers! Did you forget to bring something from home? There is a Walmart less than ten minutes away. Dinner turned out to be inedible? Never fear chipotle is near! Waking up to the gorgeous Catalina mountains is something I won’t soon forget.
Keith Kilborn
Very scenic campground with large spaces. If it had sewer, it would be a 5 star. Wi-Fi a little iffy in spot B-7. Seems like many people rent spaces but don't show up as campgrounds listed as full but many in unoccupied spaces. This was weekdays before Thanksgiving.
Greg T
Cleanest restrooms I've ever seen at a campground. This place is beautiful and so close to town. I highly recommend Catalina State Park for new campers or people looking for a quick get away. Only negative was the slightly pushy camp host... When they tell you you have 5 minutes to pack up and leave they mean it. That was our fault for being late though... It's a busy place and they need to keep things moving.
Carol Townsend
It's clean and quiet. In a forrest of mesquite trees. Wind was the only issue. Kept us inside. No activities if you have little ones. Good for bike riding.
Carleta Bolack
Great views, quiet, nice State Park facilities.
Amy Gillette
This park is my favorite. It's so convenient and has tons if beautiful hikes. Dogs are welcome on some of them and I love that! Sometimes they even hold events.
Rachelle Madrigal
I just love this park. We live, maybe, 15 minutes away. We have been averaging about every two weeks for camping here in 2 months. So far we have only stayed at the Ringtail camp ground. It is now closed for the season. Next weekend we have reservations in Camp ground "A".
Since my review above, we have been back 3 more times. We brought 4 elderly women that we care for twice. Stayed at the site right next to restroom. I will be back in August with our motorhome.
Darlene Athey-Hill (Dar*Dar)
Love this park. Beautiful area with lots of trails. Great, spacious RV sites with power and water hookups for $30. Lots of scheduled hikes and presentations.
Debb Haley
Always an exciting experience hiking here. It's been years since I've been back and it felt great!
Douglas Garrett
Has free WiFi but it seems to slow way down during busy periods. Also little to no cell reception. Little foliage between sites. But still give it four stars. Friendly, and helpful staff, remote looking location but near lots of stores, nice, clean bathrooms. I'll be back! After all, I go to get away from the internet.
Juli Vaught
Warning: do not bring your horses in March on a weekend and hope to get a spot at the equestrian center. Pens are first come, first served, no reservations accepted, which means if you're like us you will be very disappointed. We called ahead to ask about the horse facilities and no one bothered to mention they were bursting at the seams already with horse campers. Beautiful, frustrating place.
AJ Hope
This is by far one of the best state parks of all the places we have visited in the U.S. We've been to Virginia, D.C., Alabama, Florida, Tennesee, North and South Carolina, etc... This park is immaculate. Beautiful bathrooms, paved spots, and of course lots of trails. Only thing is, its friggen hot in the summer!
Byron Giron
One of my favorite places for a quick and easy hikes.
Ian Barker
If you’re trying to get vertical on some rocks this isn’t the place for you.
Loop trail gets the heart rate up a wee bit. Pet friendly, and if you’re lucky you may find yourself ankle deep in the crick. No biggie if you have some cargos that zip into shorts.
*pants zip cargo* pro tip.
Kevin Cantrell
I enjoyed Catalina State Park over Sabino Canyon because there wasn't a tram to dodge on the trails. The solitude was better and the scenery was comparable. This Park offered beautiful scenery and great experience overall.
Glenn Sikes
Simply spectacular spring flowers this year. The trails were well groomed and varied. We saw a fair amount of wildlife also.
David Bercume
It was an amazing 2nd camping trip with my friend. We had a great time, we almost didn't go because there was no available spaces, but when we went to the front gate office thdy said they have Andover flow area we Dan try, we did and towards the end, the other camper neighbors were complaining about my friends dog, we kept saying,nits sbdog talking and being a dog, we can't sit there with her while trying to leave and relax. In my opinion the over flow area was bad in a big way.... it was nice we got a spot there and all, but it wasn't that relaxing or unstressful....complaining campers and dog barking....doesn't work together. Then when we were about to leave, the dumb awning got caught in the dumb tree that was hanging over. Causing the whole trailer awning to be replaced from that dumb tree and the stress caused by the neighbors, the neighbors had a loud generator at night, we didn't vomplain, but they did about my friends dog, And the outer arms are bustedcanf bent and the motor was busted off the arm.
Tip: never park near people close to you and dontbpark next to a dumb tree, because it will get you madcand yelled at by the camp rangers.
But otherwise, we had a great time!
Wesley Johnson
Got married here wonderful place
Local Guide 89
Great views, super clean bathrooms with hot water and private showers.
Stryder Staffa
Beautiful. With lots of nice trails around. Make sure to take the trail up to Ramero Pools and bring a swim suit and a towl. There are places to jump off the rocks up there but be careful and make sure to check for debris in the water. There's nothing worse than suddenly discovering a tree branch just below the waters surface as you impact it at high speeds. But proper prevention will prevent this. In the park itself you will find a chilled out atmosphere. I have seen a great deal of wildlife here. Including deer, coyotes, rabbits, javalina, lizards, many birds but especially roadrunners and owles, scorpions, tarantulas, and praying mantis. I'd recommend checking this place out in the spring or fall. It's worth every penny. And remember, "Leave no trace and take only pictures."
Scott Gardner
Couldn't have been more surprised, clean neat quiet little park right outside town. Great access to some hiking trails. Facilities are clean and neat as a pin.
Robert W. Astro
Beautiful Flora and Fauna.
Lots of great and interesting Trails to enjoy.
Nature, Birding, and Historical Features.
Lots of people bring their dogs.
Sara Brewer
We love bringing our RV to this state park. It is beautiful, clean and feels secluded but is very close to restaurants, shopping and things to do in town if you wish.
Alberto Accomazzi
Make sure you hike the Canyon Loop trail, it's easy but quite beautiful. You will cross over the Canada a few times, usually not a problem unless there have been heavy trains
Paul Hardersen
The park offers a variety of trails ranging from 1-9 miles that are scenic, pretty easy to navigate, and very enjoyable. It’s another natural treasure in the Tucson area!
Edward Trudeau
My wife and I enjoyed the Canyon Loop trail. You might want to check out 'Music in the Mountains' concert series! Next show is at 4pm 3/17
Jack Meyer
Great setting, views and hiking. Close to bike trails and amenities of town.
Emily Buchach
Lota of creepy crawlies and critters! We loved the quietness and it was so beautiful here!
Linda Taylor
I’ve been here twice now and I love the site I stay at. Friendly and clean people. Great views. Nice trails
Kent Baker
Great place to go camping. Staff keeps campsites clean and tidey. Bathrooms and showers are clean and like new condition. We noted campers are respectful to the grounds. Only improvement I would suggest is to enhance the WiFi. I love this place!
Connie Brady
Second time we have camped here, and 2 weeks this time. Wonderful, clean and well kept park. Lots of hiking spots.
Suzi V
We loved our week stay!
Melinda Nino
Lovely outdoor concert with a fabulous singer storyteller, Nancy Elliot, she also does a brunch at Monterey Court. Don't miss this wonderful human, singer. She is a gem of a find. Thank you state parks for the lovely setting for these outdoor concerts, more to come in the next few weeks. M
Rodger Beard
We visited the park again last weekend, our 4-5th visit so far, for the free concert by jazz singer Rene Taylor. In cost us 7 bucks to get our car into the park on a suddenly beautiful winter afternoon. What a setting. What a show.
We used to live on the Monterey Bay in California and attended many outdoor music events there before moving for business to Southern California. Those events were wonderful and missed them very much until moving to Saddlebrooke almost 2 years ago. The free music shows at Catalina State Park are every bit as good and that is the highest complement I can give.
Oh, the camping and hiking is wonderful too.
Tim Bade
Beautiful park and a true back country experience. You’ll see every walk of life along the trails. The trails are lightly maintained. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was because of the African bee infestation. No matter where I went in this park it seemed to be a problem. You pretty much need to get ready inside your car and then take off running
Andrew Fedie
One of the most scenic of all the Arizona State Parks! It's close proximity to the City of Tucson makes it be great place to get out of the city and right into the beautiful sonoran desert for a day of fun and sun!
John Carr
Great park, hiking, biking or just walking, the desert is beautiful. The sites are large, with a lot of pull throughs. Close to shopping, but you would never know it from your campsite.
Tom Z
Can’t say enough about it. Go in the spring and enjoy the beautiful ocotillo flowers, palo verde, agave other cacti. My favorite spot was Sycamore Reservoir but you can’t go wrong with any trail in this world class State Park
Debbie O'Byrne
Beautiful views of the mountains and very nice bathrooms/showers, but very little shade, which even in the winter is important here. Decent amount of space at a lot of the spots, but not really anything extra special.
Carol Simmons
Hawk was stationed right behind the restrooms. Such a beautiful bird, this pictures doesn't do him justice.
Andy Ɖáwʊɖa W
This is a great State Park, with some of the best views of the rugged north side of the Catalina Mountains. These views are even more rocky and dramatic than the view from the south side in the Tucson foothills.
William Bailey
Very nice place, very nice layout ,lots of things to do. Price reasonable. Employees very friendly. Drinking water and shore water very warm in summer heat! Not much shade. Should allow more than 14 days in summer!
Brittany Brown
Such a beautiful campground! Well taken care of and close to town for modern convenience, dining, and shopping. Also, super great trails and views.
Curt Olson
Very nice clean park. Plenty of picnic tables and areas to sit and enjoy nature. Sat and watched the ground squirrels play while eating lunch.
Clint Harris
Great views, awesome trails, bring lots of water and watch out for buzz tails.if you get tired take a break in the shade. Please if you pack it in pack it out!... and stop stacking rocks on boulders.... I get it u were there.. I don't care and neither does anyone else.
joy allbright
i was happy to camp here, the rangers very kind and helpful. the bathrooms so clean and very pleasant as are the showers.
BUT- I came to GET AWAY from neighborhood lites on alk nite. SHOCKED TO SEE WHAT RVS ARE DOING. the idiots have all gone crazy with brite solar led lights that shine bright ALL NITE the camper next to me had darn elec light shinning out into the nite all nite. GEEEEZ, what is with these jerks. i come to see stars and be in the dark, to hear nature. why are the big rigs alliwed to lite up a campground i think there should be a 10 pm lite out rule. no bright lites shinning out into the nature and at other peoples camnsites. very disappointing indeed
Richard Lesnewski
I like the loop trails when I'm hiking with the dog. Perfect trails, very scenic and you can hike the loops multiple times if you want to hike a certain # Of miles.
james bleess
I enjoy Catalina State Park. I would enjoy it more if Arizona would admit taxes are paid in April and parks are no charge. Otherwise the views are great, the trail heads take off from here and
facilities are maintained.
Rudy Serrano
Perfect place to escape city life and enjoy nature.
J Heal
Beautiful state park with a massive network of trails. Hiking, backpacking, horses, dog friendly. Water runs all winter and spring. One of our favorites.
Robert Lee Muñoz
Beautiful park. Very well maintained. Easy access to trails. I would gladly pay for my five hours a week volunteer work.
Melody Walsh
I love this State Park! Walk among Saguaro in the foothills of Catalina Mountains. Birding is fantastic! Facilities are clean and staff and volunteers are friendly. Very scenic.
Alfie Fujitani Eldridge
Great park. Beautiful mountains, nature trails for hiking, equestrian center. superb facilities, sparking clean restrooms and showers. Resort quality.
Greg Kopish
A fantastic park. Facilities are good, staff is helpful, and then there are the bonuses of concerts in the park and a ton of well thought out geocaches. Definitely going to stay here again.
Gloria Handley
Loved our time there over thanksgiving. Great park,but no arizona state park will disapoint you. I liked it was easy to go in to tuscon. We ate out once and got some groceries on another trip in.even made black Friday
Pam Davis
Beautiful day. We went to check on the stream in loop trail, and it burbled nicely. Not too many people, a few flowers, and birds including a cardinal.
Eli Lara
The cleanest park I have ever been too and the restrooms are nicer then my home! The only thing missing is a little classical music playing when you walk in.
Michael Knight
Great campground. Clean and up to date showers.
We'll maintained, I highly recommend camping here.
There is no bad site all are paved and level.
Garrett Williams (The Traveling Bamboo)
nice scenic route we were definitely hoping to see a lot more while flowers out there however if you want to exercise this is plenty of room and friendly people to visit while you're out there.
Margaret Nichols
We sure lucked out! There was no choice of a campsite when we looked for a place to stay for two nights. I don't want to name the site we had because everyone will want it! It was the best. Clear sitelines to the Catalinas behind us and saguaro covered ridges to the north. It was like being all alone out there. This truly is a quiet and special spot.
Dano847
Great state park. Camping is nice and clean, but some spots lack shade. Try for spots on the outside. Close to town, which can cut either way.
Jim Themelis
Saw a Sonoran Desert Tortoise, 3 Jackrabbits, Hawk,
1st Pinacate Stink Bug of the year, Great Horned Owl, Coyote and had a mutual starring contest with a White-Tailed Deer for 15 minutes! What a day, What a Park.
Rebecca Ruth
Jack, the Park Ranger, is very accommodating, friendly and courteous. Sites are level, clean, and volunteers and crew go out of the way to offer assistance and perform maintenance promptly. We will be back!
Blaze Griffen
Nice views, camping, near Walmart and other shopping.
Bob Manwaring
Love hiking here. Romero trail to Romero pass offers amazing views. I'd rate this trail as moderate due to elevation gain and rock scrambling skills needed.
Andrea zanchi
We stayed with our tent one night. Facilities are very good and clean perfect bathrooms and showers for just 15 $. The only downside was the campground keeper. An EXTREMELY rude man with very unpolite manners.
Caran Howard
Great views and clean facilities. Close to Saguaro NP and town.
Brad Wright
Easy trail (canyon loop) with good veiws. Good for our small dog. There are some great more advanced trails up there too.
Nat Rowell
Love this park. Have been hiking here before it was a park. Always get a yearly pass and love the campground. But its always full.
Chris Fieldsend
Breathtaking location. Excellent showers and separate dishwashing area. Huge pitch and very quiet. No hiker / biker rates unfortunately.
a b
Awesome hike very rugged and tough on a hot day but worth it for the pictures and if you make it to Romero Pools awesome because the hike down hill back to Catilina Park is not that bad. BRING LOTS OF WATER
Carole Hale
Absolutely beautiful State Park. RV sites are really nice with plenty of room in between. Only 4 stars because internet access was abysmal even on our hotspots.
johnny b
Always a great hiking place. Easy hikes to strenuous. Going to Romero Pools is work especially in summer. Take lots of water and sunscreen.
Amanda Trost
We love enjoying live music in the park every first Saturday of the month! The scenery is gorgeous, the people are nice, and the campsites are clean!
Patrick Cunningham
A perfect place to hike, bike, camp or enjoy being outdoors.
Very very pretty.
At dusk, you can hear the sounds of birds and desert critters packing it in for the day.
Jeffrey Thompson
Probably our top 10 favorite parks. The staff ate incredible and everything is so clean and we'll kept. Only the sound of coyotes,loved it.
Bruce Voigt
Beautiful park with many different hiking trails, all marked well. Will definitely return here to camp in the future.
Maria Olea
Awesome family adventure/ camping Veron grounds..... Beautiful views and a small running stream , fishing, camping, fishing, restrooms, picnics, guided tours and events.... Peaceful place to unwind with lots of hiking trails... $7.00 entrance fee but rarely people respect the unmanned post, its based on a trust system , where they trust you'll be honest enough to pay the park fee.
Seth Kagan
Amazing hike to the Romero pools, if you go midday bring a lot of water and snacks and make sure you have sunscreen if you burn easy because there’s no shade the whole way
Tom Weissgerber
What a great state park, with several short and long hikes. We stayed two nights in the overflow area. the bathrooms were very, very clean.
DaSuz
Very nice park. The restrooms were clean and nicely maintained. There were nice hiking trails and a few bicycle riders here. Close to shopping.
Jon Wetzel
Nice hiking trails and views. A close drive from Tucson. A easy place to get out and see the desert. Probably busy on weekends. Has campgrounds.
liz gray
Top notch State Park...from hiking to campgrounds. Something for all levels of adventures.
Gary Stude
Been coming here for years and always been a enjoyable and peaceful experience, the view of the Catalinas are worth the price of admission which has gone up five dollars a day but well worth it they now offer 50 amp for the large rv's so you can run both a/c which you need for these hot Tucson days,love it here!
DC Musgrove
One of the best state parks in Arizona. Convenient and just north of Tucson off North Oracle Road. Great facilities and big rig pull through camp sites.
Lisa J.
Returned to the park for another fun adventure. Pristine views draw us back every chance along with great hiking trails for moderate and advanced hikers.
Barbara Robertson
Nice views and hiking trails. Comfortable campground with large camp sites, both pull through and back in. Water and electric. Dump stations available.
FARMBOY234
Beautiful location, individual site are clean being serviced by park staff when vacated. Electricity and water are available at most sites. No campfires are allowd however. Large shopping area is across the street from the park.
GaryJoanne Gardner
Awesome Arizona State Park! Great scenery and hiking/biking trails. You can also hop on The Loop Bike path right outside the park!!
Patricia Weigand
The Sutherland Trail is an easy-to-moderate hike through some of the most beautiful park land in Southern Arizona. The Saguaro cacti are huge, multi-armed, and stately. We counted 19 arms on one!
Timeless Aerial Photography LLC.
A little hot out today but a lot of fun, lots of hiking beautiful scenery amazing sunsets. Lots of wildlife cannot say enough about this place absolute beautiful and breathtaking. Be sure to bring lots of water and affair hiking in the afternoon bug spray.
Janet Fink
We love the Tucson area and you can stay in the serene campground at Catalina State Park and enjoy the shadows of the Catalina mountains. Restaurants and groceries are just a mile from your campsite.
Elias Remus
Very clean and well maintained, I have done volunteer work here for the past 6mo and we take pride in the park! It has great views and an amazing history and artifacts in the park!
Cara Jago
Great park, lots of hikes with different personality. Pit toilets at trailhead and picnic tables with shade. Sunscreen dispensers in case you forget it!
Todd Stapleman (Odd)
One of my favorite places on Earth. My grandfather was a volunteer here for 20 years. He said it was the greatest job he ever had and he was never paid a dime.
Randy Hunt
Many hiking trails for all levels. Great scenery and not to busy to enjoy all of the surroundings.
J schwager
We stay a few times a year. It is an excellent stop. Hiking, bike riding, beautiful mountains and more.
Candler Whitaker
Beautiful hikes and views. You can almost do a different hike every time you visit. Excellent options for hikes with different difficulty levels and distances.
Rachel McGuire
Awesome place to stay! Beautiful views and lots of trails for hiking/biking.
A full service park:)
TomMavis
Only water electric hookups. Nice Clean Showers/ Tiolets. Very busy park. Near large shopping mall with WalMart, Olive Garden lots more. Get Reservations well ahead of time it can be very busy.
April Miyasato
Love to stay here! City camping but you don't feel like it. Got everything you need close by. I highly recommend this state RV/tent park!!!!
gabe Sanchez
Beautiful no matter what time of year. Short trail but steep. Especially nice when water from the mountains are running there course!
Carrie Campbell
Very nice. Clean and well maintained. Enjoyed the hike but the pools might have been a little over-hyped.
Debbie Turner
Our favorite hike and the pups love it too! No water this time of year but hopefully the monsoons will come soon
Nathan Swartz
Thoroughly enjoyed this park. Big mountains, old saguaros, and a decent campground for RVing. Proximity to Tucson without feeling like you're in a city though made it even better!
Marcia Rieke
The Romero Ruins hike is a short walk that gives one an appreciation of the difficulties faced by archeologists in discovering sites. But don't expect to see a gorgeous reconstructed Hohokam village.
Ashish Bhandari
Great place. Entry is seven dollars.
Heather Salerno (Circus Salerno)
Camped at the Ring tail Group Site with our Cub Scout Pack. Lovely park and excellent amenities (nice, clean restrooms and showers).
Richard Herrera
Excellent views. Great for those who like to camping in established camp grounds. Clean bathrooms with showers are also a plus.
Bia Mic
Hiking the catalina mountain was fun but you gotta do this early in the morning when the time is a bit cool. bring enough water and wear something very light , airy and cool.
Johnny Dionne
Catalina State park is absolutely enchanting. It is very sad to see the smoke that is encompassing the mountains. So far over 7,000 acres have burnt.
Stephanie Lynn
Very nice and relaxing park. It is in the foothills and not too advanced for anyone to enjoy. I used to come here with my grandfather.
Gary Deuter
This place blows. After paying admission, I see signs "campground full." Love thy neighbor- they are practically on your campsite anyway
Monica Nies
What a beautiful place for a hike! Barrel cacti in bloom, many nice plants along the trails. Many trails for hiking, beautiful scenery
Deidre Greenwood
Friendly staff, nice park and hiking. Rv spots were well placed and accessible. If it had sewer it would be 5 stars.
George Hardisty
We had an amazing time at Catalina State Park. The scenery is gorgeous. The campgrounds are also very beautiful and well equipped.
Patrick Griffin
Great hikes in the Catalina State Park. Lightly trafficked trails, dogs welcome, excellent views of mountains and desert life.