Agua Caliente Regional Park

Lovely little oasis in the desert. We stopped here for a quick look around. It would have been nice to stay a little longer to have a picnic.

Looking for a place to meditate? Or to have a picnic? Or a BBQ?
This is a wonderful little park. I didn’t actually arrive for a meditation, but it was so lovely and serene that I found myself drifting as I walked around. Glorious place for bring quiet to the mind!
So, apparently, the park is on the National Register and its history dates back to the 1870s. It began as a resort and ranch. So interesting. In fact, the grounds have the feel of being an old timey resort. It’s very calming (as mentioned earlier) and there are plenty of little enclaves where you can sit an enjoy the scene. There is even a walking trail. Pretty sweet.
You will find a decent number of spots perfect for grilling. There are numerous charcoal grills on site. Ducks are über friendly. I imagine they must get a lot of visitors who arrive with bags of bread. Also, restrooms are pretty tidy.
And dogs are welcome. Interesting, this is one of the reasons why I never came here — I was under the incorrect assumption that dogs are not allowed. If I am in this area of Tucson (always on my way up the mountain), my pup is with me 90 percent of the time. Pets are allowed, but must be leashed at all times.
Another bonus: You will find interpretive signs all over the place, discussing the history and geology. Also, the park is wheelchair and walker accessible.
FYI: The park has different educational programming and tours throughout the year. And there is a nature shop and also an art gallery on site.

Tranquil… verdant…serene…that’s Agua Caliente Park, at least until the kids and I showed up. Lush grass dotted with picnic tables, benches and palm trees greeted us as we headed toward the pond. «Mama, it smells like poop… it smells like the zoo,» a little girl’s voice intoned, crushing my zen. While that is somewhat true, the funk wasn’t overpowering by any means.
As far as I could tell, there is a shaded, paved path that runs along the edge of the pond. It may go on for miles and miles. Young walkers should be able to navigate it easily — except for mine, apparently. My son began howling «up!!» after a couple of hundred feet, so it was back to the picnic area for us.
Five stars for the public restrooms! These could easily have been in a café, except that the concrete floor was a giveaway. Each of the three gleaming stalls contained a ceramic, flushing toilet and was well stocked with toilet paper. They did not «smell like poop» (or anything else).
My kids would probably give the park two or three stars. It doesn’t have playground equipment or a dog park, and bikes aren’t allowed. We were the only family there on a late Saturday morning. It’s just not that kind of park.
Full disclosure: I forgot to feed my son ahead of time, but I am not going to let his blaring mar my enthusiasm for this desert oasis. I’ll definitely head back… but think about leaving the kids at home!

Yesterday was one of those days where I just felt the need to spend sometime outdoors. Opening the garage door revealed a delicious morning temperature, a little cooler than what we have been experiencing.
I didn’t want to walk a long distance as I knew it would quickly get hotter. I decided to stop by Agua Caliente Park. It has been a few years since my last visit. This turned out to be a perfect plan for the morning.
The park is easy to find from Tanque Verde and Houghton, that is if you have been there before. If it is your first time going to the park quickly study a map before heading out.
This park will show you the power of even a little bit of water in the desert. This park is a great place to enjoy the natural wonder of a desert pond. Agua Caliente is a favorite place for bird watchers and a great place to get children up-​close to nature. The park even offers nature programs for children and adults.
There are short trails and nice benches and tables throughout the park. There are wide areas of sweet smelling green grass. This is a place where you can see big old palm trees in their natural state. There is also a 300-​year-​old velvet mesquite tree, it is fascinating.
The old ranch house has been restored. You can visit the inside of the house, it is beautiful. Checkout the large white kitchen. They have nice reference books and photo albums in the living room. The wonderful wildlife snapshots were taken at the park.
The ranch house now houses an art gallery. The art work is frequently rotated. Today they had some nice oil paintings. The park was the subject of some of the paintings. I could just imagine how wonderful it would be to setup an easel in the shade and paint the water.
Today I saw 7 – 14 turtles, wild ducks, various birds, and quite a few dragonflies and butterflies. I understand owls seasonally nest in the park and there are many larger mammals attracted to the water. This is a wonderful place to observe nature.
If you want to enjoy the birds I would recommend coming to visit on a weekday. The last time I was at this park it was a weekend and the park was full with many picnicking families. As you can imagine, it was a different level of activity.
As an interesting but sad note: the surface spring that created the perfect environment for all of this life is no longer flowing. I learned this from a kind park volunteer. She told me the county now pumps non potable water into the main pond. There may be a subterranean spring still running, but it isn’t enough. The current environment can not sustain itself.
This is a small but unique park, a wonderful place to relax and study nature. I am so glad it has been preserved for everyone to enjoy.

Tucson’s oasis — a hidden gem! Ducks, turtles, water with the background of the mountain range. Walk further to see an dried up pond. If I lived closer, I’d be there reading my book by the water almost everyday!

This place is truly an oasis in the desert. Looking for a destination for your bike ride across town? Looking for a great grilling/​picnic spot? Looking for wholesome fun? Agua Caliente is a lovely spot!
A lovely lagoon in the center of the park has turtles and ducks and occasionally water birds, and the park is surrounded by lovely grassy areas to play football, or enjoy a picnic! I bike ride out here, and it’s a wonderful destination for an afternoon! Families are always there having birthdays, riding scooters, taking pictures and having good olé fashioned fun.
It also feels hidden and is never overly crowded, which just adds to its charm!