Description:​

The University of Arizona loop is an easy urban hike through the best parts of the campus.  Half of the loop is a ride on the Tucson streetcar, and the other half is along the sidewalks through the iconic grassy campus mall.  The highlights will be seven museums, uncountable gardens and sculptures, and many opportunities for a cold drink in an outdoor café.  Dogs are allowed on the campus mall and in some cafes, but not on the streetcar.  

The loop starts with accessible parking on the top level of the University Medical Center parking structure, for a fee of $2/hour.  From there, it is short walk through a pedestrian greenway to the streetcar stop, where you can either continue hiking or hop on the streetcar.  [Navigating the route from the parking lot to the greenway can be confusing, but a trick is to follow the signs to “CATS” and you will arrive in the greenway.]

On the 1-mile walk down the sidewalks along the campus mall, you can visit the Flandrau Planetarium, a cactus garden, the student union, the African American Museum of Southern Arizona, the campus arboretum, and/or the Arizona State Museum.  You will complete that east-to-west route through campus at the outdoor cafes and local boutiques along University Blvd.

The return loop, now going from west to east, begins at the streetcar station on University Blvd.  Along that streetcar route, you can disembark at the Arizona History Museum, the University Art Museum, the Center for Creative Photography, or just enjoy the scenic ride as you pass multiple outdoor sculptures and plazas.  

The 3-mile loop is completed at the last streetcar station, which drops you off back at the University Medical Center for the return walk to the parking lot.  It is a short detour from the loop to the campus Poetry Center where you can plan to attend a reading or two.

This University of Arizona loop is an easy and flexible trek for people of all abilities because the campus has been designed for accessibility.  Restrooms, benches, shade, and serenity are provided in abundance throughout.