Landscape Locations In Tucson

Mount Lemmon! Just drive up and you'll get all kinds of great shots.

Hi Chris,

Try Saguaro National Park. http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm

Have a great trip!

Dave Gordon
prints.dgportfolio.net

David said what I was going to suggest. The Saguaro Park is beautiful. Lots of great photo ops. Nogales isn't that far. Been there a few times. If you want some cheap Mexican souvenirs. Make sure you carry passport and don't go alone if possible.

thanks... I will check them out... I do not have a passport... I do have an enhanced ID (gets me into Canada) not sure if it works down there...

I'd say that the desert museum, and Saguaro Natl Monument are wonderful. You should also consider Madera Canyon (About 1.2 hours south, outside Green Valley. It's incredible, if you like birds, and this time of year, snowy mountains. There is a hummingbird habitat at the desert museum.


For wild birds, there are likely to be Magnificent hummingbirds in residence in the winter, at the feeders of the B&B's in the valley. (They're supposed to be year-round residents there.) That bird is one of the largest in the US.

This bird's iridescence is hard to capture in flash you need him to be looking toward you with his beak down, so you can see crown AND gorget iridescence.

Mt. Lemmon only if weather permits...they close the road in winter when it snows and if you don't have snow tires or chains, it's a no go.
Catalina foothills, North of skyline has the best view of the city.
I'd suggest Tubac, a very old presidio and art community...close enough to the border of Mexico but still AZ.
You won't be hardpressed for gorgeous nature shots..Sonoran Desert Museum is a must and if you like old funky Presidios, you must root around in south Tucson. Make sure you have a gps.....we are a dark city at night because of the observatories on Mt. Lemmon.

thanks for all the suggestions

I'm planning on renting a mid-size car... so yeah anything that needs chains is out :)

I'm planning on bringing my fuji x100s which has a fixed 35mm lens... so birding is out... I'll have my 10 stop nd filter... the camera has a built in 3 stop ND filter... that and a couple nd grads... trying to pack light... I can stitch photos for wider stuff... I tend to print maps... on my last trip out west I found rather spotty cell networks compared to what we have here...

Chris, I think you will discover that this part of AZ is very civilized! Enjoy!

thanks... last visit was in the grand canyon then east through the Hopi indian reservation, south to Sedona and back west through Jerome (which I want to get back to... looked like a very cool place)... there were hours without cell coverage on that trip... here if we don't have 4g network connections there is an issue :)

Also, if you are in Tucson itself, there is a street there (help me Marlene or someone) that has the most gorgeous examples of colorful southwestern houses ... this place is either on that street or very near ...

If you don't have it already... download the free google earth, and start exploring ;O)

Once you zoom in close enough you will see lots of photos (little icons) click on them to see some examples of others photos. If not on by default make sure photos is checked on the left hand side of the screen.

Chris, Jerome is very special....you should try a day trip to Tombstone, the town that wouldn't die! Bisbee is very much like Jerome and is a bit further in the same direction.
Lois, that's the barrio in south Tucson...and right in the middle of it is the best doughnut shop in the world...le cave.

Marlene ... that's RIGHT!!! And we did stop at the barrio!! Such a cool area!!!

Although you are looking for primarily landscapes, there is also a beautiful mission in Tucson. It did say on the website that there are tower renovations. There were tower renovations going on when I was there in 2006! http://www.sanxaviermission.org/. The architecture is gorgeous!

Planning a visit in early March. Tagging discussion.

Thanks everyone... you've given me two weeks worth of stuff... I'll try and squeeze as much in as I can... all depends on how well my grandmother is doing... hopefully she in good spirits and I'll get to spend a lot of time with her and then see fewer of the things on this list... but if I have much free time looks like I will be pretty busy...

Chris, if you get out there and don't visit the Saguaro Park http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm

and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum https://www.desertmuseum.org

you'll be kicking yourself forever!!!! I considered setting up a cot and just living in both places, but they kept shooing me away.

: ((

Sabino Canyon take the tram ride to the top and walk down. www.sabinocanyon.com

haha Lois....I hear ya!
Not a day goes by that I don't look out the window and marvel at my good fortune to have moved here....

If you like birds, and can take the time, you should also consider the Patton House, in Patagonia, AZ. It's a drive, but you'll see active hummingbirds there, I am sure.
A small donation is requested.
Tucson Audubon Society -- Paton House

The Patagonia Sonoita Creek Nature Conservancy is a Riparian area, mainly including Sycamores, which has other species, truly right next door to Paton House, just outside Patagonia city limits. Reasonable visitor's fee.

South of Patagonia, on a dirt road, you can see the beautiful grasslands and semi-arid hills near the San Rafael Valley. (Should not have snow on those dirt roads, but check.)


There is a Riparian area on the Nature trail at Patagonia State Park, which is on the way from Tucson to Patagonia.

By all means, if this is a business trip, consider arranging to stay until Sun very early redeye. Often tickets are enough less to justify having your company pay your meals hotel for Friday and Saturday. (This last suggestion is good for any business trip that ends out the week, or begins the week.) If you're retired, consider renting a van to use as a camper, and doing the Grand Circle. But chains (or nylon straps with metal studs) would be necessary. Upper Rim of the Grand canyon is closed until at least April. The grand circle in winter is actually preferred by many photographers. My favorite would be the many areas around Escalante, particularly Capitol Reef National Park. I'm not at all sure about the conditions of dirt roads in the winter. Call each destination in advance for hours, snow accumulation is usually light, but in some places, like Cedar Breaks and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon it's normally extremely heavy and closes or impassible. Zion NP is usually clear, on the other hand, and allows parking on the road normally reserved for lodge guests and buses in the main season. We're talking mountain roads, in many cases, so even if you're just going to the desert museum, it's good to check on conditions. Take emergency gear. (Food, water, shovel, blankets, warm clothes) just in case. You shouldn't have a problem, unless very high in the mountains. There's a Mountain observatory on top of Madera Canyon, that you can hike to on a road on the south of the canyon, but snow is likely there.

I used to spend March to June in AZ/UT, missing our wedding anniversary each year because my wife is not a camper and was working, too boot. But she never booted me!

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