Day Trips from Tucson, Arizona

Located in the Mule Mountains, Bisbee was once the site of a gold and copper “rush” when rich mineral deposits were discovered around 1877. Soon the town of Bisbee became known as the “Queen of the Copper Camps” and for many years large quantities of gold, copper and silver were extracted. When you visit Bisbee today you can go on the popular Copper Queen Mine Tour, deep into the heart of the old mine. Other historic attractions include the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum, the Bisbee Restoration Museum and Mulheim Museum Heritage House. There are several guided tours on offer including the spirited Old Bisbee Ghost Tour. The tour also offers interesting shops, galleries and dining.

You will find Biosphere 2 located at the base of the Catalina Mountains, where it is situated on an elevated ridge surrounded by natural desert landscape. Owned and operated by the University of Arizona, B2 is a unique research facility which offers a remarkable insight into the future of planet Earth. The amazing Under the Glass Tour is offered several times daily between 10am and 4pm. Other specialty tours include the Family Tour, History Tour and the Ocean and Beach Tour, all of which are on offer every weekend.

University of Arizona Biosphere 2, 32540 S. Biosphere Rd, Oracles, AZ 85623, Phone: 520-621-4800

For an Arizona day trip with a distinct Western vibe, Cave Creek perfectly fits the bill. Located in the north-eastern part of the Greater Phoenix Area, Cave Creek is both quirky and cool. Here you can find motorcyclists and cowboys sharing the main road, which is lined with animal-feed stores alongside up-market interior shops, boutiques and saloons. You can learn about the early days of Cave Creek at the Cave Creek Museum or enjoy the lively bull-riding and two-stepping at one of the town’s saloons. If you fancy some outdoor recreations you can go hiking at Spur Cross or go horseback riding at one of several riding stables.

Day trippers who are willing to drive the extra mile (37 miles off State Highway 186, to be exact) will be rewarded by an unexpectedly good day out in Chiricahua National Monument. Here, surrounded by an other-worldly landscape of towering stone pinnacles and balancing rocks, you can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including wildlife watching, walking, hiking, horse-back riding and camping. If you prefer to take it all in from the comfort of your car or RV you can take a scenic drive through the monument. There are hiking trails to suit all levels of fitness, and a complimentary shuttle runs from the Visitor’s Center (September to May) to the two major trailheads. Ranger-guided tours are available.

Chiricahua National Monument, E Bonita Canyon Rd, Willcox, AZ 85643, Phone: 520-824-3560

The Colossal Cave Mountain Park is conveniently located around 40 minutes from Tucson, where it provides an ideal day-trip or overnight adventure for all ages. Although the Colossal Cave is the main draw-card, the park also offers well-maintained trails for hiking, mountain biking and horse-back riding as well as guided trail rides and a petting zoo at the La Posta Quemada Ranch. There is a choice of guided cave tours available; the Classic Cave Tour takes around 50 – 60 minutes and is suitable for most visitors who can manage some steps. The Ladder Cave Tour is for more adventurous cave explorers and the Wild Cave Tour is strictly for dare-devils. There is also a Toddler Time Tour for families with young children.

Colossal Cave Mountain Park, 1672 E Old Spanish Trail, Vail, AZ 85641, Phone: 520-647-7275

The sleepy little town of Dragoon is located off Interstate 10, roughly 17 miles northeast of Benson. Although this is a very small town it has the distinction of occupying the dramatic landscape of the Texas Canyon, where rocky crags and buttes hide ancient petrogylphs and pictographs. The area offers hikers a network of interesting and very scenic trails including the Cochise Indian Trail, which also offers exceptional bird watching. No visit to Dragoon could be considered complete without spending some time in the unique Amerind Museum which showcases an impressive collection of American Indian art and artifacts. Before you leave Dragoon you can visit the Golden Rule Vineyards for a tour and tasting.

Dragoon, AZ 85609

Fort Bowie National Historic Site is located 113 miles east of Tucson, where it marks the spot where 25 years of conflict occurred between the Chiricahua Apache and the US Army in the late 1800’s. To view the remains of the fort and the Visitor’s Center you will need to complete a three-mile out-and-back hike from the parking area at the trailhead on Apache Pass Road. En-route to the Visitor’s Center you will pass the original Apache Spring, the remains of a stage coach station and the Fort Bowie Cemetery. Once you reach the Visitor’s Center you can view the small museum and the ruins of the original old fort. There are picnic sites at the Visitor’s Center and the trailhead. The Visitor’s Center offers various seasonal ranger programs.

Fort Bowie National Historic Site, 3500 South Apache Pass Road, Bowie, AZ 85605, Phone: 521-847-2500

The city of Globe is located 103 miles north of Tucson in Gila County, where it offers day trippers an interesting and picturesque destination. The town was established as a mining community in the 1870’s and much of the historic downtown still offers the old mining-town atmosphere - you can join an historic tour or explore at your own pace. Be sure to visit the Gila Country Historical Museum and the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts. To get a broad overview of the landscape you can take a scenic drive through the Salt River Canyon and admire the views from the viewpoint. At the Old Dominion Historic Mine Park you can see some old mining equipment, while Round Mountain Park offers scenic hiking trails.

For an exhilarating day out you just need to head south east along Interstate 10 for about 50 minutes to reach the remarkable Kartchner Caverns State Park. This day trip is an exciting adventure for just about anyone and even visitors with wheelchairs can enjoy access to most of the stunning caverns. The Rotunda and Throne Room tour is the most popular – be sure to book ahead to avoid long queues. Other available tours include the Big Room Tour, the Headlamp Tour (these two are not suitable for children less than seven years old), the Saturday Sign-Language Tour and the exclusive Photo Tour. After you have toured the caverns you can enjoy hiking, walking and wildlife viewing in the park.

Kartchner Caverns State Park, 2980 AZ-90, Benson, AZ 85602, Phone: 502-586-4100