Seven Falls Hike In Tucson Arizona

Are you wanting to learn about hiking to Seven Falls in Tucson, Arizona located in Sabino Canyon? If so, then watch the video below and then continue reading to learn more about Seven Falls.

Seven Falls hike is a technical, scenic, 8.4-mile hike, with 964 ft of elevation gain from the Sabino Canyon parking lot. The hike is well worth the trek and is one of the top hikes in Tucson, Arizona.

Where Do You Park For 7 Falls in Tucson?

If you are doing research and planning a hike to Seven Falls there are two different places you can park.

One option, Sabino Canyon, is paid parking. The other option, Bear Canyon Trailhead, is FREE parking.

Furthermore, hiking Seven Falls from the Sabino Canyon parking lot adds about 2 miles compared to starting your hike from the Bear Canyon Trailhead parking lot.

Sabino Canyon Parking Lot

Pictured to the left are the recreation pass prices as of this article. Prices are subject to change. But you can go to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area website to verify the pass fees.

The Sabino Canyon parking lot, pictured above, is where most people start their hike to Seven Falls.

There is a fee to park in the Sabino Canyon parking lot. The daily fee is $8 or you can buy an annual pass if you plan on going to Sabino Canyon often or other state or national parks.

We have an annual pass to Sabino Canyon which also gets us into all the state and national parks that saves us tons of money on an annual basis.

Getting an annual pass is money well spent!

Map Of Sabino Canyon

Bear Canyon Trailhead Parking Lot

The Bear Canyon Trailhead parking lot, pictured above, is another option to start your hiking trek to Seven Falls.

One of the advantages of parking at this trailhead is that the parking is FREE!

Plus it shortens the hike by about 2 miles making the total hiking milages from the Bear Canyon Trailhead to Seven Falls and back a little over 6 miles long.

Map of Bear Canyon Trailhead

8 Things To Consider When Hiking Seven Falls in Tucson?

Watch Out For Rattlesnakes

When the temps start to warm up in Tucson towards the end of March to when the temps cool off in November and we get our 1st freeze you need to be careful of rattlesnakes.

They can be really hard to see and blend into the ground really well.

So be cautious when it comes to rattlesnakes.

The most frequent rattlesnake I see when hitting the Tucson trails is the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.

Drinking Water

As mentioned in the video, there is water at the Seven Falls Trailhead. So if you need to fill up your water bottles so you have plenty of water make sure you stop and refill.

In the summer months, June, July, August, and September the temps can hit well over 100 degrees.

Sometimes there is NO water in Bear Canyon creek to cool off when it is super hot.

It is crucial to make sure you have enough water for the trek to Seven Falls.

Pay Attention To The Weather

During the summer monsoon season in Tucson, which occurs from late June through September, you want to check the weather forecast to make sure there are NO monsoon rains that will be rolling in.

If you get stuck in the Canyon when a monsoon storm rolls in you a flash flood down the canyon could occur. Which is really dangerous. The last thing you want is to get swept away by a flash flood or stuck in the canyon because you cannot cross the river crossing.

Furthermore, Tucson is one of the lighting capitals in the world and when summer monsoons roll they are packed with thunder and lightning.

Avoiding The Sun

One of the benefits of hiking Seven Falls is being able to stay out of the direct sun.

Especially if you get an early start you can stay out of the sun for most of the hike.

If you start later make sure you put on sunscreen and wear sun protective gear to protect your skin from the sun.

Get An Early Start To Avoid The Crowd

On the weekends and in the Fall, Winter, and late Spring the trail can get crowded.

To avoid the crowd, get an early start and you will have the place to yourself.

I like to get an early start in the morning before the sun comes up. I just throw on my headlamp to get a headstart on the crowd.

Another benefit of getting an early start is getting a parking spot in Sabino Canyon as I mentioned in the video.

Parking Fee

As mentioned above, if you park in the Sabino Canyon parking lot there is a FEE.

So make sure you have money to pay the parking fee.

Or do not forget your annual pass. This happens to me from time to time… I forget to grab my annual pass.

Be Careful Of Your Footing

Seven Falls is a technical trail. You want to pay attention to the trail so you do not roll an ankle or slip on the river rock as you are crossing one of the 7 river crossings.

Get Ready For Awesome Scenery

Get ready for some awesome Tucson desert beauty!

Make sure as you start up the switch back at about mile 3.5 you look west to see the A Mountain and Downtown Tucson in the distance. It is a spectacular view.

Is Seven Falls An Easy Hike?

In the video above, I talk about the difficulty of hiking to Seven Falls.

It is one of the more technical trails. You need to be careful about NOT twisting an ankle. Plus if the water is flowing the 7 river crossings can present a challenge.

The river rock when crossing the river can be extremly slick. Make sure you watch your footing and not slip when crossing the river crossings.

I would recommend some poles to make you more sure-footed. My trekking pols of choice are Black Diamond Poles.

How Long Does It Take to Hike Seven Falls in Tucson

Depending on your fitness level and how much time you are going to stop and check out the scenery the hike can take between 2 hours to 4 hours.

Many people also run to Seven Falls and back which could be done in an hour and half to two hours.

Others make it an all-day event where they hang out at Seven Falls… swim and enjoy a picnic.

Can You Take Your Dog On The Hike To Seven Falls With You?

Unfortunately, there are NO dogs allowed in Sabino Canyon and on the various trails.

If you want a dog-friendly place to walk your dog, I would suggest checking out The Loop in Tucson. To learn more about The Loop visit this link.

Map of Seven Falls

Map From Sabino Canyon

Below is a Strava map of Seven Falls from the Sabino Canyon parking lot.

Click on “View on Strava” below to see the full map, distance, elevation profile, and more.

The total distance is 8.4 miles with about 964 ft in elevation gain.

Map From Bear Canyon Trailhead

Below is a Strava map of Seven Falls from the Bear Canyon Trailhead parking lot.