Sweetwater Preserve

I have been to this park at least three times before, hiking short loops in the afternoon. Yesterday I visited the park again to hike a larger loop and to finish at dusk. It was Sunday, 19 January, at 3pm.The large parking lot was full and people were still getting started, cycling or hiking with small children and/or dogs. There was quite a bit of dog poop in the parking lot. I bagged my dog's poop and a few other dogs' poop before starting.None of the trails are difficult or long. I used six trails to create an 8- mile loop that took us three hours. I was interested in the Black rock loop. The namesake rock should be called called Butt crack rock.This park is free to use from dawn to dusk and is dog friendly. There are two porta pots but no water station. And no matter how far away from the trailhead you go, you will always see homes in the area. A sign in the parking lot warns users to lock vehicles and to secure valuables

Fantastic spot for hiking or mountain biking. Most people are courteous to each other, which adds to the experience. I hope folks continue to be courteous and kind to others here.

Can't believe I've never been to this trail. It was a perfect day to be outside so we took advantage. The highlight of our walk was seeing a desert tortoise and rattlesnake. Very cool! Easy trails for walking or mountain biking. We will be back soon!

This is a wonderful place to take a hike. Bicycles and horses are also welcome. We hiked 3 miles here today, it's well marked and not heavily used. Note the damage to the saguaro cactus, it appears as though a fire ravaged this area maybe 50 years ago based on the only young saguaros being 4 feet tall or so.

Sweetwater sweet trail system for hike or mountain bike. I am sweating spinning solo so sweetly! Hardpack sand & decomposed granite. All 13.7 miles singletracks per my GPS are fast rolling, up-down, curvaceous, and total elevation gain 700 feet. Have a blast spinning over rock hoppers, bunny bouncing and suspension popping pop-pop-pop along the way. Some sections are "quasi" technical. Desert flora and fauna so sweet and lush with Palo Verde, Ocotillo, Prickly Pear cactus, Creosote, lots and lots of giant Saguaro cactii, jojoba and Mesquite. Watch out, a jumping Cholla may hitch a ride on your fanny, arm or leg---ouch, those spines so hard to pull out. In and out of washes surrounded by the presence of mountains, blue skies, warm sunshine and fresh air---I bet you wish you were here with me. It is an Intermediate level ride at best but so sweet surely---Sweewater preserve! All you need is water and/or fat tires or trail shoes. Horses and dogs ok. I even saw hikers with 2 huge goats. Well designed park with lots of intersecting loops of varying distances throughout. Big parking lot.

What can I say Sweetwater Preserve? It's truly my fault that I didn't find you earlier. Getting that off my chest and in the open, I can sincerely say that if you love being outdoors and are active, Sweetwater Preserve is the place for you. Hiking? Walking? Mountain biking? There is something that can be had for everyone and millions of memories that can be made. Before we made the trip, we looked up best trails in Tucson to walk our dog. We learned that the trail is pet friendly (don't forget the doggie bags for waste as there isn't any supplied and something to carry it in- there aren't trash cans) and people friendly too. There are plenty of trails that you can choose to walk which are all connected with a series of networking. Another great perk of Sweetwater? There are signs posted throughout so you won't worry about getting lost, even if it is your first or one hundredth time. People on the path are friendly and considerate too. We encountered many people walking their dogs and on mountain bikes. When we heard the bike coming we moved to the side and allowed them to pass. Not one person passed and didn't say hi or thank you- the people are just as wonderful as the views. We try as a family to make memories and this was a trail that my 11 and 8 year old could join us on and they loved it. Plenty of places to stop for shade and the most amazing views.

Great hiking moderate trail. There are a variety of paths for those that want to challenge themselves or those that want to take an easier path. Beautiful scenery everywhere you hike. Bicycles and even pups are welcome. There were barely any bugs either. Just a lovely time! But go early to avoid the HEAT!!! The earlier the better.

For those looking to try out solo hiking or mountain biking this would be a great trail system to start on. The trails are clearly defined, there are a few points with maps, and signage to let you know what trail loop you're on. I haven't explored all the trails in this system, but I have gone out and not paid a ton of attention to which loop I'm on and I have to say it was very easy to find my way back. There is a large parking lot here, and even though you can walk out just a little ways and feel like you're alone in the desert the parking lot becomes visible from different trail points, so I would say it's difficult to get lost out here.That being said: the trails out here don't gain much in elevation. They are rocky and uneven but this is a great place to bring out of town guests for gorgeous mountain views and stunning saguaro pictures. Definitely a must-hike for both inexperienced and experienced hikers.

Ah, what a gem in Tucson. It's easily one of those places I wish I knew about/tried earlier so I could add it to my rotation of hiking spots. The location of Sweetwater is between Saguaro National Park & Tucson Mountain Park, and all the trails are very clearly marked. One of the greatest things about this place is that you could seemingly try different combinations of loops & trails, so there's always a new combo. Sometimes when I go hiking, I like going for long hikes that aren't too rough on elevation so I can really thought process while walking. Sweetwater is perfect for that. I'll be back!

I really enjoy going to the Sweetwater trail! It is a good place for either trail running or mountain biking. There is a nice big parking lot when you arrive there, and the maps are easy to read. Most of the trails are a loop so it's a nice big circle and then you return back to the parking lot. The rolling hills are never boring and you'd be in awe of all the cactuses around you. You can even instagram the whole adventure while you're on the trails! It's a truly one of Tucson's best rare finds.