Catalina State Park

10/19/2026

Tucson Community! Celebrate Pima County's first ever Children and Nature Week through Sunday, October 25, 2026! Events are happening all around Tucson this week and next weekend. This is a great opportunity to connect your family with the enviroment and make a difference for nature. Learn more at: https://www.pima.gov/?contentId=bc754c1f-072b-499f-9808-bf0195d7d218&fbclid=IwY2xjawVDNIxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMVpYQXZtSTJ4OUZMM2N4WFpzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe5hBwWe45zXi0N7SbgO8OGL8dU3jk1Nlm9DjeE95XhAgkUsBBjEAI5-tIdbY_aem_x9IiBSE5s7kVLbBRJG5ncQ

Spending time outdoors is an essential part of childhood, and Pima County is working to make it easier for more children to have that experience. In honor of Children and Nature Week in Pima County, Oct. 17-25, Pima County is hosting events all week long to help children and their families connect with nature and have fun! More info in the comments. 🌳 ☀️

10/16/2026

🚧 It’s the construction announcement you’ve all been waiting for: we are thrilled that construction on a wash crossing for the main park road will begin the week of October 19, 2026! 🚧 Once complete, this highly anticipated wash crossing will keep park access open during heavy rain events that can cause flash flooding.

All park activities, including day use and camping, will continue without interruption during this construction project. However, you can expect some extra noise and traffic, as well as some construction vehicles, workers, and posted detours along the main park road where the Cañada del Oro (CDO) wash crosses. Construction is expected to continue until May 2027.

Thank you for your patience during this vital improvement project! We’ll all be glad the new crossing is in place during future monsoon seasons. Due to vegetation loss from the 2020 Bighorn Fire, heavy rain can cause swift runoff and debris flows across the entrance road, occasionally forcing temporary closures or requiring campers to extend their stay until floodwaters recede. This new wash crossing will ensure reliable access year-round.

We’ll post updates as work progresses! If you have any questions, contact us during Visitor Center hours at 520-628-5798.

10/08/2026

Sometime in the past few weeks, a massive saguaro with more than 30 arms toppled from its familiar perch on a hillside overlooking a popular trail in the park. ⤵️ Find a link to the story in the comments.

10/07/2026

Our Grand Prize winner this year was selected form almost 10,000 unique submissions and I hope you can see why. The photo was titled Misty Hike to Dripping Springs and was taken by Dianne Slotten at Catalina State Park. Arizona State Parks Congratulations to all who entered!

10/06/2026

October has arrived along with many new and returning educational programs at Catalina State Park! Our new programs include Nature Journaling, an opportunity to slow down and absorb all nature has to offer through personal reflection. All programs are free with park admission and we invite you to come out and make memories with us!

09/30/2026

Amazing picture! Congrats.

Our Grand Prize winner this year was selected form almost 10,000 unique submissions and I hope you can see why. The photo was titled Misty Hike to Dripping Springs and was taken by Dianne Slotten at Catalina State Park. Arizona State Parks Congratulations to all who entered!

09/24/2026

Everyone Runs 50-Year Trail Race & 5K coming up Sunday, October 4th!

09/13/2026

Annnnd we’re open again as of 9/12/2026 at 7 PM! Thanks to our Park Rangers putting in some work on the tractor and Mother Nature giving us a break from the rain, the park road is safe again. The main park road is very susceptible to flooding so please mind the weather for future visits and remember, turn around don’t drown!

09/12/2026

Bad news everyone, due to road flooding, Catalina State Park is closed until further notice as of 9/12/2026 at 3:30 PM. For everyone’s safety, please do not attempt to drive into the park or cross the flooded road. A stuck vehicle can turn into a death trap if flood waters rise. A stuck vehicle can also delay our efforts to clear our road and allow visitors back in the park. Check our website, this social media page, or call the ranger station between 7 AM and 5 PM at 520-628-5798 for updates. Thank you and we’ll be working to clear the road as soon as possible!

09/11/2026

Hungry? Come join us for the Solar Potluck this Saturday 9/12!
We all know the sun is HOT (try an average temp. of 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit!). Some intrepid chefs have put together unique ovens that harness the power of sunlight to cook food! You can try it for yourselves this Saturday 9/12 anytime between 10 AM and 5 PM at the Gila Monster or Ringtail Group Areas.