Description:​

The Chuck Huckleberry Loop is a system of shared-use paths along river parks and greenways for a complete 137-mile circuit of Tucson.  The Loop connects trailheads, city parks, bus and bike routes, restaurants, shopping areas, and entertainment venues.  We chose a 4-mile loop-within-The-Loop hike along the Rillito River Park that includes all of those and more, without fighting any street traffic or struggling with parking.

The Rillito River Park follows the channeled river that is normally dry but can flow bank-to-bank after a monsoon rain.  It is an ecological corridor for desert wildlife, and you will likely share the path with a roadrunner.  In the evenings, it is common to see swallows, swifts and bats snapping up insects under streetlamps.

This 4-mile loop hike starts at one of two designated parking lots – Rillito Racetrack on the north side or Rio Vista Park on the south side.  Restrooms and water fountains are available at both.  A fully paved route connects the parking lot to the trail.  

The hiking loop alternates repeatedly between a paved path shared with cyclists and a wide packed-earth path for pedestrians.  Dogs are allowed on both.

The hike is generally flat except for pedestrian underpasses (beneath busy streets) that have descending and ascending inclines of 3-5° that can extend for 150’.  Pedestrian bridges at the east and west ends of the hike safely connect the hikes along the north and south sides of the river park.  Numerous benches, some shade trees, water fountains, mountain views and picnic tables are available at regular intervals along the hike.  

The artwork along this path includes Tucson’s famous 4000-square-foot Tracks and Trails mural, the Javalina on a Tandem sculpture at the Mountain Street bridge, the metal sculpture of The Batty Biker flying overhead at Campbell Avenue, the Red Stallion at Rio Vista Park, and dozens of tiled bridges crossing small washes along the hike.  

This hike can be parsed into shorter walks customized to your time, and even to your mood.  For an upbeat experience, plan to visit the outdoor farmers’ markets at Rillito Racetrack and at St. Phillip’s Plaza where musicians and street vendors gather on weekends.  In contrast, a stroll through Rio Vista Park offers a grassy, shady respite for a picnic or a stop at the playground, and a compassion garden with unobstructed mountain views.  Or, this loop can be tailored to an urban experience by viewing outdoor art and sampling cuisine at cafés on the north or south sides of the river.  This city stroll might just have something for everyone.