Best Arizona State Parks in the Spring
Start / End
Tucson / Phoenix
States Covered
Total Distance
539 miles (867 km)
Suggested Days
8ā10 days
Suggested Season
Spring
#ThisIsMyRoute
Getting Started
Itinerary
TUCSON & KARTCHNER CAVERNS STATE PARK
This park is one of the gems of Arizona, and as your first stop on vacation youāll want to spend a few days here settling in and unwinding. Rent a cabin or park your RV and start exploring. First, get the lay of the land and some fresh air on the above-ground trails in the beautiful Whetstone Mountains.
Then, embark on a cave tour to learn all about this unique cavern system. There are remarkableāand totally uniqueāformations that you have to see to appreciate. Notably, this cave wasn’t discovered until 1974 and was kept a secret for 10 years before Arizona State Parks was approached to preserve and protect this astounding resource.
In the evenings, watch for bats and other wildlife, and at night gaze at the stars from this international dark sky park. Before April 15, both sides of the cave are open for separate tours, before the migratory bat population comes back to their maternity roost for the summer. You’ll want to spend at least two nights here before moving on to your next Arizona State Park.Ā
CATALINA STATE PARK
1 HOUR, 20 MINUTES ā 71 MILES/114 KM
Get your hiking boots ready, because Catalina State Park is a hiking mecca. Spend at least a couple of days here to explore the wide variety of hiking environments, from sandy to steep ascents, from peaceful birding loops to an archaeological tour of sites that date back to 500 A.D. Pro tips: don’t miss the Romero Ruins Interpretive Trail for history and the Sutherland Trail to walk through the Desert Bighorn Sheep Management Area.
If you prefer, you can also explore this sizable park via equestrian trails from from the equestrian center or on bike!
Between hikes, spend some time in the Visitor Center or at park events learning about the wildlife, desert plants, and early people of this part of Arizona.
Conveniently, you can pop into Tucson for hot meals and supply refills before heading back into the great outdoors with your family or on to your next park!
PICACHO PEAK STATE PARK
45 MINUTES ā 167 MILES/58 KM
Another short, 45-minute drive north, and youāll arrive at Picacho Peak State Park. As you approach on I-10, it will become clear exactly where youāre headed, as the parkās namesakeās unique shape rises up from the desert floor.
You may be thinking of it as a place for epic hikes and peaceful campingāand it is. But Picacho Peak State Park also has a fascinating history. From the Anza Expedition in the 1770s to gold-seeking 49ers to being site of the westernmost Civil War Battle in 1862, this park has a lot of stories to tell.
This park is rich in outdoor recreation opportunitiesāincluding up Hunter’s Peak for incredible views of the wilds and of the metropolis below. Couple all those trails with wildlife watching and, when the season is right, remarkable wildflower blooms, and you have reason to spend at least two full days here.
LOST DUTCHMAN STATE PARK
1 HOUR, 30 MINUTES ā 73 MILES/118 KM
A 90-minute drive through the Phoenix area (fill up on whatever food you keep craving in camp and some extra sunscreen), and youāll arrive at a goldmine. Almost literally. The legends abound in Lost Dutchman State Park, as do unique views and iconic desert hikes.
If you have your bike with you, give the new bike loop a try, or simply hit the trail to suit your hiking ability right from your campsite or cabin. The next day, hike deep into the Superstition Mountains (take extra water, sunscreen, and know where youāre going) to see what treasures you might find (fair warning: it will probably be epic views and wildlife). And don’t miss the famous Watch Me Grow saguaro, which the park started measuring 25 years ago!