Maeveen Behan Desert Sanctuary Trailhead image

Maeveen Behan Desert Sanctuary Trailhead

Tourist attraction Nature preserve

👍👍 Great place to go for an easy little hike and get lost for a bit. Butts up against the golf course so you're able to peek over at the water while still being in the desert. Came across 1 javelina, 1 bike and 2 one wheel scooters. Everyone we came across was friendly and said hi. Trails seemed pretty... People often mention trail, walk, easy, trails, hike, desert, Great, great, walking, Nice,


Address

9101 N Thornydale Rd, Tucson, AZ 85742, United States

Website

webcms.pima.gov

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (127 reviews)

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Working Hours

  • Sunday: 6:30 am to 6 pm
  • Monday: 6:30 am to 6 pm
  • Tuesday: 6:30 am to 6 pm
  • Wednesday: 6:30 am to 6 pm
  • Thursday: 6:30 am to 6 pm
  • Friday: 6:30 am to 6 pm
  • Saturday: 6:30 am to 6 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: trail (17) walk (14) easy (12) trails (11) hike (10) desert (10) Great (7) great (7) walking (6) Nice (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 T B. 1 year ago on Google
    Great place to go for an easy little hike and get lost for a bit. Butts up against the golf course so you're able to peek over at the water while still being in the desert. Came across 1 javelina, 1 bike and 2 one wheel scooters. Everyone we came across was friendly and said hi. Trails seemed pretty wide open and clear when we went. Will definitely come back again.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Foodtruck T. 3 years ago on Google
    Fun short hike. Flat and very easy to walk. Really great assortment of cacti. A whole ton of bats came out at sunset and I saw one coyote dart in front of me into the bushes
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Greg L. 3 years ago on Google
    Wonderful sandy trails with lots of unique desert plants and critters. Easy to traverse the trails yet easy to get disoriented as to directions to head at the sign crossings. Take your patience and extra water if you are a retired geezer like me.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Anthony M. 1 year ago on Google
    Hot and next to a golf course. High chance of snakes if you're hiking in the summer due to overgrown trails. Be careful!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Will L. 5 years ago on Google
    Here from Tennessee, this was within walking distance. Really great views, the XC trail was my favorite views of the mountains, some of the time the other trails are too close to roads to really feel like you’re in nature (but it’s still great). The trails are very well marked and navigating is really easy. Well worth walking a couple of miles to get to it.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Carol E. 4 years ago on Google
    Accessible from multiple points, allows dogs on leashes, easy trail walking, free parking. The west half of the trail system is nicely free of traffic noise. The east half is close to busy streets.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 M G. 1 year ago on Google
    Best trails for walking or beginner off road biking. Beautiful place!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Marty D. 5 years ago on Google
    urban park bordered by schools, roads, playing & a gokf course. mostly flat sandy loop interrupted by shallow washes

  • 4/5 Bill A. 5 years ago on Google
    Great place to walk your dogs and enjoy nature.

  • 5/5 Donna P. 5 years ago on Google
    I love parks

  • 5/5 sparkzStyx 5 years ago on Google
    I love the grass

  • 4/5 Mike T. 5 years ago on Google
    Beautiful

  • 3/5 Shelly T. 5 years ago on Google
    This used to be a quiet little place close to our home to trail run or just take a nature walk. Now it's super crowded, many seem to use it for their pets and don't pick up after them, and the trail that was kind of narrow and provided a unique real desert perspective is now widened and well used. So three stars that people are using it and free stars cuz it's not the sanctuary it used to be.

  • 5/5 Troy E. 5 years ago on Google
    Nice ... clean

  • 5/5 Frank M. 5 years ago on Google
    Beautiful dessert setting.

  • 5/5 Shel R. 5 years ago on Google
    Very well marked trail with lots to see. Love this trail and travel it often.

  • 5/5 Jim F. 5 years ago on Google
    Beautiful! Please respect it.

  • 4/5 Lynn H. 5 years ago on Google
    Nice level biking or walking path through the desert.

  • 4/5 Joy T. 5 years ago on Google
    I have been going to Maeveen Sanctuary for a while now. I really enjoy it. My only complaints are, people walk thier dogs there and do not clean up after them. Another issue I have seen is people ride motorcycles and quads on the trail sometimes.

  • 5/5 david c. 5 years ago on Google
    Great place to hike

  • 4/5 Rebecca L. 5 years ago on Google
    Nice place really pretty

  • 5/5 June C. 5 years ago on Google
    Great spot for pictures

  • 4/5 Mike T. 5 years ago on Google
    Nice place to take a desert walk, especially near sunset.

  • 5/5 Sarah A. 2 years ago on Google
    Sunset hike. What skies! Lots of wildlife. XC trail & westward took us away from road sounds.

  • 5/5 A M. 1 year ago on Google
    It’s an easy hike. You’re able to take you’re dog and wander off.

  • 3/5 Alexander M. 10 months ago on Google
    The trail is not well maintained. I have the feeling that it's just an area that's about to be developed, but until then, let's call it a desert sanctuary.

  • 5/5 Mark P. 4 years ago on Google
    Great walk with our dogs.

  • 5/5 Emily A. 4 years ago on Google
    Nature was bueatiful and stories on signs are very interesting.

  • 4/5 Paul R. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice place for an easy hike, plenty of scenery and good parking.

  • 5/5 Lucas M. 4 years ago on Google
    Great Trail for a bike ride if you want a change from just riding on roads

  • 4/5 Henry G. 5 years ago on Google
    A gorgeous desert hike hidden in the middle of town, who would have known? There are multiple trails here providing the opportunity to customize your hike distance to your liking. The most traveled loop is the Maeveen Behan which is about 2.5 miles long. If you have the right footwear and are reasonably fit, it could be completed in about an hour. The trail itself is flat with some sandy wash crossings, but otherwise mostly hard rocky terrain. Much of the trail is wide enough for two-way hiking. A nice easy hike to get your blood flowing and head clear.

  • 4/5 Michael H. 3 years ago on Google
    Short, but a nice little walk.

  • 5/5 VL S. 5 years ago on Google
    What a nice park with great trails. We just relocated here and this park is near us. There is a variety of trails. So far we have found them to be easy walks. It can get warm so take water. There are pet waste bags available also. We plan on exploring this park more.

  • 5/5 Joshua A. 6 years ago on Google
    Great trail system with lots of wildlife that is rarely busy.

  • 5/5 Charlie A. 6 years ago on Google
    I love this underused trail so much that I'm reluctant to share this review being tempted to keep it to myself. If you need some peace and solitude in a beautiful setting this is it. American Coyotes, American Kestrels, Purple Martins, and many of the usual suspects of birds can be seen here.

  • 4/5 Ed R. 4 years ago on Google
    Crooked Tree golf course is one of my favorite places to play!

  • 4/5 Larry R. 3 years ago on Google
    An easy walk thru the Sanctuary, lots of desert plants to enjoy with great Arizona scenic Views.

  • 5/5 Kathlyn E. 4 years ago on Google
    A great place to walk the dog, the trail is nice and the views are pretty. Overall a nice experience for an outdoor walk.

  • 5/5 Shane G. 4 years ago on Google
    So vast and open. You can spend a lot of time here. Good trails and signage so you don't get lost.

  • 5/5 TheSedonaHouse 4 years ago on Google
    This is a sweet series of trails in the city! Easy to walk. Can do a quick hike or several miles. Catalina Mountain views & natural desert botanicals are gorgeous. Coyotes come out & start tipping just before dusk. I loved it.

  • 4/5 Zack E. 4 years ago on Google
    There was a lot of scenery, and good views but trash and litter near the entrance. Gorgeous view of the mountains and a nice easy walk.

  • 5/5 Daimian L. 4 years ago on Google
    A great place to walk and enjoy nature. when you are walking through this trail it almost feels like you are in the middle of nowhere which makes you feel relaxed and at peace.

  • 5/5 P H. 4 years ago on Google
    This is a lovely hidden gem.

  • 5/5 Anne K. 4 years ago on Google
    Lovely scenery

  • 4/5 Soko K. 4 years ago on Google
    Realy beautiful

  • 5/5 Ron A. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice trail to mountain bike

  • 3/5 Miriam R. 4 years ago on Google
    No bathrooms available

  • 5/5 Kateri W. 5 years ago on Google
    So pretty ❤️

  • 4/5 Mark L. 5 years ago on Google
    Love the desert

  • 5/5 April V. 5 years ago on Google
    Very easy walk. Enjoyable. Walk it a lot.


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Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Activities
    • ✓️ Hiking

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