Description:​

The Sweetwater Wetlands is a constructed oasis of ponds and streams using reclaimed water provided by the Tucson Water Treatment Plant.  It is a 60-acre park with more than 2.5 miles of shady pathways accessible to visitors.  Hiking opportunities include a 0.25-mile paved loop, a more extensive set of trails constructed with packed granite, and a few short natural surfaces through more secluded riparian habitat.  

It is an short drive from central Tucson to the accessible parking and restrooms at the easy-to-access trailhead.  A large kiosk provides informative posters about the history of the facility, the wildlife you might encounter, and the amenities of the park.  Nearby are a drinking fountain, a water bottle filling station, and a handwash station.  Dogs, horses and bicycles are all prohibited in the wetlands.

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Sweetwater Wetlands is the best wetland birding site in Tucson.  Multiple jetties and ramadas are available for viewing waterfowl, warblers and associated wildlife.  Frequent interpretive signs located along the trails explain wetland botany, hydrology and ornithology.  Hikers can even access self-guided tours using QR codes on any smart device.  Further, on Wednesday mornings in the cool season, the Tucson Audubon Society hosts a field trip to tour the wetlands with a personal guide.

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At the west end of the park, Sweetwater Wetland intersects the paved Huckleberry bike path.  From this intersection, it is a short walk north along the paved path to a lakeside hike in Agua Nueva Park.  The hike in Agua Nueva Park is a flat packed earth trail circumnavigating a small, constructed lake with abundant waterfowl.  The bike path continues north from there along the channelized Santa Cruz River.  Hiking the bike path is a sunny hot trek, busy with passing cyclists, but may be worth the effort to see the riparian zone created by more reclaimed water pouring into the Santa Cruz River.  Dogs are allowed on leash in Agua Nueva Park and along the bike path.

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This is a hiking experience that changes dramatically with the seasons, and can be customized to hikers’ abilities, making it a destination that deserves multiple revisits.