Saguaro Vista, Black Rock, and Oxbow Loop
View Photos
Saguaro Vista, Black Rock, and Oxbow Loop
Difficulty Rating:
The Saguaro Vista, Black Rock, and Oxbow Loop shows off the lovely scenery in Tucson’s Sweetwater Preserve, one of our favorite spots in the city for a hike. With tall saguaros next to you and the mountains in the distance, it’s a charmer of a trail. There are some sections of the route that have loose rocks, but otherwise, it’s a fairly straightforward adventure that we’d recommend for anyone.
Getting there
The trailhead for the Saguaro Vista, Black Rock, and Oxbow Loop is past the end of N Tortolita Road.
About
| Backcountry Campground | No |
| When to do | October-May |
| Pets allowed | Yes - On Leash |
| Family friendly | Yes |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | Moderate |
| Route Type | Loop |
Saguaro Vista, Black Rock, and Oxbow Loop
Elevation Graph
Weather
Saguaro Vista, Black Rock, and Oxbow Loop Description
The Saguaro Vista, Black Rock, and Oxbow Loop is a pleasant hiking and mountain biking route in Tucson’s always charming Sweetwater Preserve. With huge saguaros, some wildlife to spot, and mountain views in the distance, this is a great adventure. We especially enjoy it at dusk.
Bring lots of water and try to time your hike outside of the heat of the day. Should you want to keep adventuring after this hike, there are lots of connecting trails you can choose to explore. Bring a trail map if you plan to wander. This route is shared by hikers and mountain bikers, so keep an eye out for each other.
From the trailhead, take Saguaro Vista Trail on your right. Stay right at the first two junctions and enjoy the namesake of the trail, the saguaros that cover this part of the desert. Where the loop splits, go left onto the Sun Circle Loop, then hop back onto Saguaro Vista. At the next split, go left again onto the Black Rock Loop. This will take you up and around the panhandle of the park. Return to the original trail and then go right to hike southwest through the large loop, crossing the Sweetwater Wash on Homestead Trail. Take a left onto Oxbow Trail and follow this back to the trailhead.
Similar hikes to the Saguaro Vista, Black Rock, and Oxbow Loop hike
Shantz, Cholla, and Cactus Forest Loop
The Shantz, Cholla, and Cactus Forest Loop is an easy trail in Tucson’s Saguaro National Park East. The star of…
Cactus Forest, Squeeze Pen, and Pink Hill Loop
The Cactus Forest, Squeeze Pen, and Pink Hill Loop is an easy trail in Tucson’s Saguaro National Park East. This…
Hugh Norris, Sendero Esperanza, and Dobbie Wash Loop
The Hugh Norris, Sendero Esperanza, and Dobbie Wash Loop is a bit of a mouthful, but it’s a great hike…
Comments