Catalina State Park

30th Anniversary Celebration: Photo Wrap-Up Gallery

Thank you to all of our event participants and the public for making our 30th Anniversary Celebration a success! Check out the photo wrap-up gallery from this event!

Catalina Now Offers 24/7 Online Campground Reservations!

Reserve a campground RV or tent site from the comfort of your home, anytime of day. Make online reservations Site reservations for this park are also available by calling the Reservation Center at (520) 586-2283. You can call 7 days a week, from 8 am to 5 pm MST. There is a $5 non-refundable reservation fee per site.

Effective immediately, from January 1 until March 31 camping fees are:
Campground A (non-electric) = $20/night
Campground A (electric) = $25/night
Campground B = $30/night
Ringtail Campground (overflow) = $15/night
Equestrian camping = $20/night.

Catalina Volunteer Receives “Volunteer of the Year Award!”

Rosemary, who has logged more than 3,500 hours as an Arizona State Parks, was presented the Volunteer of the Year Award at the recent Site Steward and Volunteer Conference. Read More.

Introductory Park Video

After you start the video, change resolution to 480 for High Quality.

Giant Saguaro Cacti along the Canyon Loop Trail

Spring 2013 has brought wildflowers to the park. Enjoy a hike or activity during this beautiful time of year. Photo courtesy volunteer Margie Caswell.

Catalina State Park sits at the base of the majestic Santa Catalina Mountains. The park is a haven for desert plants and wildlife and nearly 5,000 saguaros. The 5,500 acres of foothills, canyons and streams invites camping, picnicking and bird watching — more than 150 species of birds call the park home. The park provides miles of equestrian, birding, hiking, and biking trails which wind through the park and into the Coronado National Forest at elevations near 3,000 feet. The park is located within minutes of the Tucson metropolitan area.

Park facilities include a campground, picnic tables, grills, trails, an equestrian center, a group use area for day or overnight use (available by reservation), restrooms, showers, and a gift shop. All restroom and shower facilities are accessible. The park also offers an equestrian center which provides a staging area for trail riders with ample trailer parking.

Don't have a horse? Pusch Ridge Stables is an equestrian concessionaire near the park that offers horse rides on designated trails on the north end of the park. Visit puschridgestables.com for more information.

This scenic desert park also offers equestrian trails and an equestrian center provides a staging area for trail riders with plenty of trailer parking. Bring along your curiosity and your sense of adventure as you take in the beautiful mountain backdrop, desert wildflowers, cacti and wildlife that call this area home.

Catalina State Park is located within Coronado National Forest, and is managed by Arizona State Parks in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service.

New Friends of Catalina SP Group Formed!

Friends Group The mission of this group is “To solicit funds and mobilize public support for projects and activities at Catalina State Park in Tucson, Arizona." If you hike, cycle, or ride the park trails … If you enjoy the nature programs with the live snakes, gila monsters and other wild animals … If you enjoy the park’s boulder terrain and mountain vistas … If you want to continue the education programs that hundreds of elementary school children enjoy … Please join us in supporting our park! Learn more at http://www.friendscsp.org

Tree Dedication Program

Plant a tree to commemorate a lost loved one, the birth of a child, or to celebrate a special occasion such as a wedding or anniversary! Choose the native tree and planting location from among designated areas in the park. A 3 x 5” commemorative plaque located in the entrance station is included. Park Rangers will plant and maintain the tree. The cost to dedicate a tree is $350-$400 (depending on tree species). To dedicate a tree or for more information contact the park office at (520) 628-5798. Or by email shaas(at)azstateparks.gov

Catalina Adventure Program!

An Environmental Education Program for Grades 1–3

The Catalina Adventure Program! is a 2-hour environmental awareness program designed for sensory learning for grades 1–3. This participatory and interactive field trip, led by trained naturalists, focuses on developing an awareness of nature through the senses. Appreciation of the natural world and our relationship to it is emphasized during a series of hands-on activities along a trail in the 5,500 acre park.

Students get to explore and learn to use all of their senses. The trail walk and activities apply the concepts of using the five senses learned in the classroom to improve the students’ understanding of the natural world. Teachers receive a packet with pre- and post-visit classroom activities to enhance the on-site experience. The materials contain specific key concepts, teacher background information, and student activity sheets. The Catalina Adventure Program begins in October 2010. There is currently a fee of $2 per student.

For more information or to schedule a trip, please contact the park office at (520) 628-5798 for details. Download Adventure Program Info ( 807 KB PDF)

Day Use Ramada Now Reservable!

Two 20 x 40" Ramadas are now reservable. The picnic area Ramada and the Romero Ruins Ramada have two grills and 10 picnic tables. It is only for day use (5 am – 10 pm); no camping or wood fires are allowed (wood fires are allowed in the group area). The reservation fee is $35 plus the day use entrance fee $7/vehicle. Call park directly at (520) 628-5798 to reserve. Three of the group areas (large, small, and third) now have a solar powered 20 Watt LED flood light for the 20' x 40' Ramadas. Materials and labor donated by Citizens for Solar and the Solar Guild of Tucson, Arizona.

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