Catalina State Park provides desert camping experiences at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, situated at 2,650 feet elevation about 12 miles north of Tucson. The park encompasses over 5,500 acres of Sonoran Desert landscape with year-round camping available in multiple designated areas. Winter temperatures typically range from 35-65°F, while summer months can reach over 100°F during daylight hours.
What to do
Hiking with mountain views: Catalina State Park offers varied trail experiences beyond the equestrian paths. "The trail system at Catalina State Park connects to the extensive network within the Coronado National Forest, offering varied terrain and spectacular mountain views," notes one visitor at Catalina State Park Campground.
Desert wildlife watching: Early morning or evening hikes yield the best wildlife viewing opportunities. "We saw a pair of owls keeping their nest safe," reports Jennifer H. And another camper mentions, "We saw (and heard) coyote, prairie dogs, and a rattlesnake eating a prairie dog along a trail right behind our campground loop!" at Colossal Cave Mountain Park.
Cave exploration: Take a guided tour of the limestone caverns at Colossal Cave Mountain Park. "We did the Regular Cave Tour and it was really neat. Dane was our tour guide and he was fun to listen to and very informative. It really was 70 in the cave," shares one visitor.
What campers like
Desert camping accessibility: Reddington Pass Dispersed camping areas provide free alternatives to established campgrounds. "Easy to find, follow Tanque Verde Rd all the way East until it turns into Redington Road, this then leads to a dirt road with TONS of dispersed camping pull offs with established fire rings," explains Cass G.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention facility maintenance. "Extremely clean facilities," writes jeremy B. about his stay. Another visitor adds, "Bathrooms were spotless with giant free showers, which was awesome."
Privacy between sites: Outside loop sites tend to offer more privacy. "The back-in sites around the outside of the loops are more private, particularly in Loop B," notes G.F. Sites at different campgrounds vary in spacing, with some providing significant distance between neighbors.
What you should know
Weather considerations: Summer heat impacts camping comfort in the Catalina area. "Camping with horses is most comfortable during spring and fall months when temperatures are moderate," according to equestrian campers. The higher elevation at Pima County Fairgrounds RV Park provides some relief, with one camper noting it's "a great place to stay for visiting Tucson and surrounding area."
Reservation requirements: Many established campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak winter and spring seasons. "Reservations during January for a short-term (2 night) stay were surprisingly easy to obtain via their online booking tool. Longer stays should book far ahead of time, max stay is 14 days."
Gate closure times: Some parks restrict nighttime access. "They do lock the gate at 4:00, so once in, you are there for the night," shares Robbie B. about Colossal Cave Mountain Park. Similarly, other parks note: "They are very strict on campground policies."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly trails: Choose shorter loop trails for families with young children. "The campground was totally packed, lots of kids but a good environment. There are camp supervisors that keep the camp in line. But my favorite part was all the trails!" notes Maddi G.
Educational opportunities: Colossal Cave Mountain Park offers learning experiences beyond equestrian activities. "There are a few trails in the park (Path of Ancestors, Bundrick, and the Arizona Trail)... Path of Ancestors was my favorite. It has information boards along the way talking about the Hohokam tribe."
Wildlife education: Turn wildlife sightings into teaching moments. "We saw (and heard) coyotes and round-tailed ground squirrel burrows that are in abundance throughout the campground," one visitor mentions. These encounters provide opportunities to teach children about desert ecology.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: For RVers seeking full amenities near equestrian camping in Catalina, consider options carefully. "Campsites are typical desert sand, with mesquite and palo verde trees. The site had water, an electric hook up, a nice sized thermoplastic polyethylene coated metal picnic table (easy to clean), a raised BBQ grill and a beautiful view of the Santa Catalina Mountains," reports Janet H. at Catalina State Park Campground.
Site selection: Choose sites based on your shade needs and rig size. "We were in site B48 - this site was at the edge of the loop so it was nice and fairly private - but there was very little shade. I probably wouldn't pick that site again in the warmer months! There were a lot of other sites that had some trees around them and seemed much shadier."
Dump station timing: Plan your departure around dump station availability. "No sewer hookups and the dump stations were crowded when we left at 11:45am on checkout day," notes one RVer, suggesting earlier or later departures might avoid congestion.
