Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What times are bikes allowed in Sabino Canyon?
Before 9am and after 5pm every day EXCEPT on Wednesdays or Saturdays. Bikes are not allowed at all on Wednesdays or Saturdays. E-bikes and other motorized bikes are not allowed in Sabino Canyon beyond the parking lot.
Q. Are dogs allowed in Sabino Canyon?
Possessing, storing, or transporting any bird, fish, or other animal or parts thereof is prohibited in accordance with 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(s).
Exemptions to this rule include: Persons with a Service Animal as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act, Persons with saddle or pack animals utilizing NFS trails and any Federal, State or Local Law Enforcement Officer or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
Q. What are the hours at Sabino Canyon?
Sabino Visitor Center is open 8am-5pm every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. The main parking lot and recreation area never close.
Q. When does the Overflow Parking Lot open?
The Overflow Lot is open from October 15th to April 30th. The gate is open from 6 AM-6 PM daily.
Q. Is there water in Sabino Canyon currently? Is it safe to hike?
Water levels in Sabino Canyon can vary from dangerous flood levels to almost completely dry. Conditions can change rapidly due to upstream precipitation and snow melt. We don’t always know exactly how the water is looking day to day and cannot guarantee you’ll see a waterfall. If it has rained within the last 24 hours, the water levels will rise. If there is snow melt on Mt. Lemmon the water levels will rise. It takes about 8 hours for water from the mountain to get to Sabino Canyon. If it rains only on the mountain the water levels in Sabino Canyon will rise. Always check the weather before you hike.
Q. Where can you backpack/camp in Sabino Canyon?
Camping is not allowed inside the recreation area, however there are places that you can backpack to from Sabino Canyon. Most visitors looking for a backpacking/camping option hike to the Arizona Trail via the Sabino Canyon Trail or Bear Canyon Trail. These are both significantly uphill hikes.
Q. Are wheelchairs or other mobility devices allowed in the canyon?
Yes, mobility devices are allowed in the canyon.
Q. Are alcoholic beverages or glass bottles allowed in the canyon?
No, alcoholic beverages and glass bottles are prohibited. See closure order.
Q. Is nudity allowed in the canyon?
No. Nudity is prohibited in the recreation area. See closure order.
Q. Can you carry a firearm in Sabino Canyon?
Yes, but firearms are prohibited inside all government buildings, including the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center, and you cannot discharge a firearm within the recreation area.
Q. What passes work in Sabino Canyon?
America the Beautiful Passes (ATB): Interagency Annual, Senior Annual and Lifetime, Access, Military Annual, Veteran/Gold Star Family Lifetime, and Every Kid Outdoor. Coronado Day, Week and Annual Passes are also accepted.
Q. Where can I buy a pass?
America the Beautiful Passes: Sabino Canyon Visitor Center, the Coronado National Forest Supervisors Office in downtown Tucson, and online through the USGS store.
-Coronado Annual Passes: Sabino Canyon Visitor Center and the Coronado National Forest Supervisors Office in downtown Tucson.
-Coronado Day or Week Passes: Sabino Canyon Visitor Center or online at www.recreation.gov.
Q. The shuttle just drove past me why didn’t it pick me up?
The shuttle only stops on its way back down the canyon. There must be room available, and you must be at a shuttle stop. If you do not have a ticket, you will be required to purchase a one-way ticket.
Q. What time does the shuttle leave? Can I buy tickets in advance?
During the winter months the Sabino Canyon Crawler, every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour from 9 AM to 4 PM. During the summer months every hour on the hour from 9 AM to 4 PM. Prices are $15 for adults and $8 for children. It runs 3.7 miles up the canyon and is a narrated informational tour on the way up and will only stop on the way down.
Bear Canyon Crawler runs every half hour from 9:15 AM to 4:15 PM December 15 – March 10 and hourly from 9:15 AM to 4:15 PM April 1 – December 14. It does not go all the way to Seven Falls. Prices are $8 for adults and $5 for children. Bear Canyon service is not narrated.
Visit the “The Crawler” Page for more information.
Q. I see volunteers helping out around the canyon and would like to know where to find out more about becoming a volunteer myself.
To learn more about volunteering and how to apply, simply visit www.volunteer.gov.
Q. Can I drive to the top of Mount Lemmon (Babad Do’ag, Tohono O’odham)?
Yes! Mount Lemmon Highway is a scenic road in Arizona that climbs up Mount Lemmon from the desert floor near Tucson, offering stunning views and a diverse landscape change as you ascend from desert vegetation to alpine forests.