Slightly north of Tucson, you’ll find Catalina State Park, a beautiful desert park featuring camping sites, hiking trails, bathrooms, and picnic areas. It isn’t your typical dry desert, either: you’ll cross a river, pass some streams, and see the Romero Pools with their waterfalls (if you can make the over-five-mile round trip up the steep and rocky trail — difficult for young children). Water flow changes based on season and rainfall, so sometimes the river and pools are barely a trickle. Keep an eye out for lizards, birds, and cool desert plants while you hike.
Catalina State Park
11570 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ
