Looking for a great place to spend your day this summer that isn’t too far away? Well, don’t fret…the key to happiness is just a few miles away. That’s right — just 15 miles northeast of downtown Tucson lies an oasis that hikers, picnickers and lovers alike will enjoy.

Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountain range, Sabino Canyon hosts hordes of people every day who go there for a dose of peace and quiet. Between its huge canyon walls lie sparkling swimming holes and a diverse population of plants and wildlife. It’s definitely a nice retreat from the city on a hot summer day.

My first visit to Sabino Canyon took place in early May. Upon entering the parking lot at the visitor’s center, we began to wonder where this beautiful canyon we’d heard so much about was. It didn’t look like much around us — maybe just a few mountains and cactus. We managed to find a parking spot and headed towards the visitor’s center. From here there are trams that drive up and down the canyon for around $7, which isn’t too bad for the ride. We decided to take the tram up the 3.8 miles to the top of the canyon and work our way down from there.

After traveling about a mile into the canyon, we found the oasis we were looking for. There were lush plants lining the creek, and the water looked absolutely wonderful. Our tram weaved its way over many rustic bridges, and we finally got off the tram at the top of the canyon. From there we found a few narrow trails leading off into the wilderness, and we decided to try our luck with one. After ducking under numerous low trees and avoiding the threatening cacti, we found ourselves at the creek bed. To our delight, we discovered a huge, glimmering pool with massive boulders surrounding it. It was a great place to stop for lunch, and it was quite entertaining to watch a giant school of fish flopping about trying to attack the pieces of bread we threw to them.

On our way back down towards the visitor’s center, we noticed many interesting rock formations. To the right, you’ll see a picture I took of one we particularly liked. Along with the beautiful views, there are also many interesting people in the canyon! You’ll never know who you’ll run into while you hike the trails.

Sabino Canyon is a great retreat from the stress of daily life. It’s well worth the short trip and is a great place to get some exercise. But one important thing — don’t forget your sunscreen!

For more information call the visitor’s center at (520) 749-2861.