AZ: Fun Run Near Tucson?

[illzoni]

Hey all,

My kids are visiting next week while on spring break. I'd like to take them out for a fun ride in the 4Runner. Nothing too long or too technical. Someplace with decent scenery, maybe a bit of 4x4 use, a steep spot or two for some excitement, maybe a good place to stop for a picnic.

On on the northwest side of Tucson.

Any ideas?

Thx,
Jon

 

[OCMike]

Try Box Canyon & Martinez Canyon. My Uncle took us out there when we visited 2 weeks ago.

 

[GG Beast]

We just did Box Canyon and Telegraph Canyon runs this weekend and that 'Waterfall' in Box Canyon is quite challenging - We were with a group of 12 vehicles and everyone made it 'up' the waterfall but we had 2 vehicles with damage on them (one lost a tail-pipe) and these are all very well equiped vehicles. Telgraph Canyon is really pretty though. It's a fairly simple trail but there are some off-camber bits but nothing really troublesome. These are both in the Superior/Florence area. If you're not going with another vehicle I wouldn't recommend Box Canyon. I would plan 2-3 hours for either of these trails.

If you want something really easy and super scenic there is the Apache Trail with a great little pit-stop area for lunch - Tortilla Flat. I would plan for a couple hours on this run

Another recommended run, also in the same area, is Montana Mountain - This is also a really pretty trail. It's going to be a bit more challenging than the Apache Trail but quite a bit milder than the Box Canyon trail

We've done all of these trails recently and all are in pretty good condition, but expect some dust!

Have a great time!

 

[OCMike]

I don't think we made it to the waterfall during our trip. We stopped at the top of a ridge with a cattle guard and ate lunch then turned back and headed to the old silver mine in Martinez Canyon? then over to see the Petroglyphs. This was all done in a 2001 stock 4Runner with a rear locker.

 

[Rockdawg84]

What side of tucson are you on? If you don't want to go to far the reddington pass and chiva falls on the east side is fun and you can picnic at the bottom of the only naturally occurring waterfall in Tucson that I know of. On the northwest side I would hit Charloute Gap in Catalina. Those are my suggestions

 

[illzoni]

I'm in northwest Tucson (Marana I think) near Foothills Mall.

Reddington is about an hour just to get to the dirt road (crossing Tucson is a PITA).

I'm thinking about making a day of it and going up the backside of Mount Lemmon. I've done this before and could do so without 4x4, but the views are good and we could have lunch at Summerhaven. That's if I want to make a long deal of it.

I would still like to identify something closer to the northwest side that could get some quick giggles out of the kids (13 and nearly 11).

Thx,
Jon

 

[Trevloc]

i live near the foothills mall too. its a fine line between marana and oro valley and tucson. were on border streets haha.

i recommend peppersauce canyon. its about an hour drive. you go through the town of oracle. not rough really. i do it in my 2wd all the time. but the end camping spot is wonderful. and theres a cave to crawl through. its dirty and dark. but alot of fun.