With More Than 5,000 Acres To Explore, Arizona's Largest State Park Is Worthy Of A Multi-Day Adventure
By Katie Lawrence|Published July 28, 2022
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
If you consider yourself an outdoorsperson, Catalina State Park in Tucson definitely belongs on your bucket list. The largest state park in Arizona, this desert oasis spans over 5,000 acres, and it’s the perfect destination for hiking, wildlife viewing, and camping. Take a couple of days to explore all there is to see and do here – it would be an excellent weekend trip!
Situated in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Catalina State Park encompasses over 5,000 acres of rugged desert landscape. Though merely minutes away from the bustling Tucson metro, the park is a fortress of solitude that feels like a whole different world.
Whilst here, you have several different options for exploring the park. Hiking is the most popular activity - miles of trails meander through the Coronado National Forest, showcasing lush greenery, towering canyons, and babbling streams.
Easily the most popular hike in the park is the Romero Canyon Trail. Though it's rather long - 7.2 miles each way, to be exact - the payoff is totally worth the trek.
If you complete the entire trail, you'll ascend 6,000 feet and end up at Romero Pass, which you can take all the way up to Mt. Lemmon, if desired. Otherwise, you can stop at around the three-mile mark, where you'll find a popular swimming hole known as Romero Pools. This shorter version of the hike only has about a 900-foot elevation gain.
There is no "best" time of year to visit the park - it all depends on what type of scenery you enjoy most (and your heat tolerance). One thing we will say is the spring wildflowers are dazzling!
Since there's so much to see at Catalina State Park, you should plan on staying at least one night. The campground is excellent, boasting 120 electric and water sites with picnic tables and BBQ grills at each one.
Have you ever explored the largest state park in Arizona? If so, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments! Don’t forget to check out our previous article to learn more about the famous Romero Pools.
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