Sonora Desert Museum

Address	2021 North Kinney Road
Admission	$9 Adults May - Oct, $12 Adults Nov - Apr
Hours	8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Phone	(520) 883-1380
Website	www.desertmuseum.org

Reached by a narrow road that winds out of the city toward Saguaro National Park, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has long been the favorite destination for visitors interested in the desert world of the southwest. All the notable plant and animal life of the Sonora Desert are present in this well-maintained zoo and botanical garden. (“Museum” is rather a misnomer.) Here are all the cacti, shrub-life, and trees with information about their distinct adaptations to a waterless land. More exciting is the chance to see a javelinas (a variant of a wild pig), mountain lions, gila monsters, and rattlesnakes. In spring the wildflowers bloom gorgeously and in one walk-in apiary the air will buzz from the flight of dozens of hummingbirds.

There is more to find in the desert beyond the confines of this zoo, if you’ve got the time and energy. Drive and park in a dirt lot directly across the street from the museum entrance. Walk down the dry wash, keeping eyes open for birds and reptiles, and after about a quarter-mile you will find a ledge covered with ancient petroglyphs. Finally, if you want an even less supervised desert experience, drive on to the National Park (here it is free) and chose any of the dozens of hiking trails. And though it should be the rule with everything you do in Tucson, it is absolutely essential that you bring water and keep well-hydrated throughout your time in the desert. You can’t over-prepare for the heat that you’ll find.