Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Cactus Ramada 2

SABINO CANYON RECREATION AREA CACTUS RAMADA 2 in AZ — photo 4

Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Cactus Ramada 2

About this campsite

Overview

Cactus Ramada 2 is a reservable group picnic site within the extremely popular Sabino Canyon Recreation Area at the edge of Tucson, Arizona. The facility is accessible and can accommodate up to 25 people. Groups can picnic, hike and ride horseback in this desert oasis of Coronado National Forest.

Recreation

Hikers are drawn to Sabino Canyon for its beauty, scenery and challenge. Three popular trails begin at the recreation area and offer access to the dramatic landscape of the Santa Catalina Front Range, famous for its deep canyons and soaring ridges. A sunset hike reveals the lights of Tucson framed by the black silhouette of surrounding mountains.

The self-guided Desert Nature Trail at the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center provides an excellent way to get to know the plants that have adapted to living in this demanding environment.

Several area trails can also be used for mountain biking and horseback riding.

Facilities

The group site can accommodate up to 25 people. Amenities include a vault restroom, picnic shelter, three accessible picnic tables, one serving table, one bear-proof trash can and one large grill. Access to Cactus Ramada 1 is through the use of the Sabino Canyon shuttle service or by foot travel 1/3-mile to the Cactus Picnic Area from the parking area. There are also many individual first-come, first-served picnic sites scattered throughout area. A visitor center and bookstore are nearby.

Natural Features

The recreation area is located along Sabino Creek at an elevation of 2,800 feet at the foot of the Santa Catalina Mountains. For many who come to visit the Southwest, this area provides their first close encounter with the Sonoran Desert and the fascinating variety of plants and animals that make it their home.

Winter temperatures are pleasant, and springtime brings the desert to life with numerous flowering cacti and desert wildflowers.

Nearby Attractions

The recreation area or visitor center can be used as a home base for exploring scenic and natural areas of Sabino Canyon. The city of Tucson is just a short drive away and has many attractions and amenities. Other notable places nearby include Saguaro National Park and Colossal Cave.

Location

SABINO CANYON RECREATION AREA CACTUS RAMADA 2•AZ

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

SUN☀️

32° / 23°

—

TODAY☀️

33° / 24°

💧 2%

TUE☀️

33° / 23°

💧 1%

WED☁️

34° / 25°

—

THU☀️

33° / 25°

💧 1%

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

9.5 km away

Gordon Hirabayashi Campground

Campground: Gordon Hirabayashi Campground. Operated by USFS.

11.5 km away

MOLINO

Overview Visitors are drawn to Molino Campground for its group camping area, scenic mountain surroundings and hiking and mountain biking opportunities. While most other campgrounds in the Catalina Mountains are closed in winter, Molino Campground and its picnic area are open in late fall, winter and early spring. The pleasant winter weather at this elevation makes it a great time to visit. Molino Basin is conveniently located 5.5 miles from the base of Mt. Lemmon on the Catalina Highway, and about 10 miles northeast of Tucson. Recreation Hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are popular activities. The Arizona Trail, which extends from Mexico to Utah, passes through the campground, and the Molino Trail leads to the Pusch Ridge Wilderness (hiking and horseback riding only). A variety of additional trails, including some on 9,157' Mt. Lemmon, are available in the area for those who wish to venture away from the campground for the day. Facilities This facility has a few dozen individual campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis, along with a reservable group camping and picnic area. The group area is accessible with a paved walkway, and is equipped with a large picnic shelter covering several picnic tables, two serving tables, grills and food storage lockers for bear safety. Six cleared tent pads, as well as one accessible tent site, are adjacent to the picnic area. Most of the tent sites are open and sunny. RVs and trailers are permitted. Visitors must bring their own drinking water; none is provided. Natural Features Campsites sit amid a high desert oak scrub ecosystem at an elevation of 4,500 feet on the slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Along the banks of Molino Creek, which flows during and immediately after rain or snowmelt, species such as cottonwood, Arizona live oak and mesquite provide a scenic setting. Views are dominated by rugged, rocky hills. Colorful wildflowers bloom in spring. Nearby Attractions Catalina Highway (also known as General Hitchcock Highway and Sky Island Scenic Byway), the only paved road that leads to the upper reaches of Mt. Lemmon and the Santa Catalina Range, is one of the most scenic highways in the Southwest and definitely worth a day trip. Other notable attractions include Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, Colossal Cave and the city of Tucson.