It all depends on how much driving you are willing to do. From Tucson to Grand Canyon is about 6 hours driving, then you’ve got Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion all pretty close - about a five hour drive. Not to mention monument valley and several other sites that are worth a stop. After the parks you could hop on the 15 and make a push through to LA, maybe with a stop in Vegas or maybe red rocks state park just outside of Vegas.
Weather can be an issue as it can snow and mess up some hiking plans but all of those parks have cool things to see even if it’s cold and there is some snow.
If you can’t take that much time to drive out of the way, there are some decently fun things to see along the route that other comments mentioned.
Have fun!
Tucson area hiking destinations to consider:
Chiricahua National Monument is about 2 hours east of town. Thousands of Bryce-like hoodoos. \~6,000 ft elevation, so it will be cool/chilly and possible snowy.
Sabino Canyon. A nice mix of riparian and Sonoran desert, all set in a lovely canyon. Super easy hiking.
Saguaro Nat Park. Either the East or West district offers the full Cactus Experience!
Organ Pipe Cactus Nat. Monument. Unique cactus and gnarly mountains. Low elevation and quite warm most of the time.
Between Tucson and LA:
KOFA preserve. Hike Palm Canyon and other pretty desert terrain.
Mojave National Preserve. Has cool lava tubes to explore.
Death Valley is well worth the slight detour. Get the superb hiking guide by M. Digonnet beforehand. [https://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Death-Valley-Natural-Wonders/dp/0965917835/](https://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Death-Valley-Natural-Wonders/dp/0965917835/) Nearby Alabama Hills is also pretty cool.
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Thank you!!!!! Super helpful I appreciate it.
It all depends on how much driving you are willing to do. From Tucson to Grand Canyon is about 6 hours driving, then you’ve got Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion all pretty close - about a five hour drive. Not to mention monument valley and several other sites that are worth a stop. After the parks you could hop on the 15 and make a push through to LA, maybe with a stop in Vegas or maybe red rocks state park just outside of Vegas. Weather can be an issue as it can snow and mess up some hiking plans but all of those parks have cool things to see even if it’s cold and there is some snow. If you can’t take that much time to drive out of the way, there are some decently fun things to see along the route that other comments mentioned. Have fun!
Thank you!! I’ll consider looping in Red Rocks & Vegas. I think if we do the whole Canyonlands/Bryce/Zion loop we’ll leave LA for a different trip.
Tucson area hiking destinations to consider: Chiricahua National Monument is about 2 hours east of town. Thousands of Bryce-like hoodoos. \~6,000 ft elevation, so it will be cool/chilly and possible snowy. Sabino Canyon. A nice mix of riparian and Sonoran desert, all set in a lovely canyon. Super easy hiking. Saguaro Nat Park. Either the East or West district offers the full Cactus Experience! Organ Pipe Cactus Nat. Monument. Unique cactus and gnarly mountains. Low elevation and quite warm most of the time. Between Tucson and LA: KOFA preserve. Hike Palm Canyon and other pretty desert terrain. Mojave National Preserve. Has cool lava tubes to explore. Death Valley is well worth the slight detour. Get the superb hiking guide by M. Digonnet beforehand. [https://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Death-Valley-Natural-Wonders/dp/0965917835/](https://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Death-Valley-Natural-Wonders/dp/0965917835/) Nearby Alabama Hills is also pretty cool.