Vacation rentals in Red Rock

The residential desert community of Red Rock serves as the gateway to Picacho Peak State Park for travelers making the half-hour drive up from Tucson. The unincorporated town sits squarely within Arizona’s sprawling Sonoran Desert, where tall saguaro cacti reach for the clouds and small, scrubby ironwood trees come to life with purple spring blooms. You can find patches of yellow-green bear grass and different species of succulents, red-dirt, and even a few ghost towns left over from the gold rush days.

Hiking and climbing are some of the most popular activities in Red Rock, and the local parks offer the best of both worlds. In addition to its more difficult trails, Picacho Peak State Park offers a couple of short, easy paths with interpretive signs and the easy-to-moderate Calloway Trail leads to a scenic overlook. The nearby Oro Valley is the best place to go for shopping and souvenirs, coffee shops and restaurants, and an array of art galleries.

Like much of Arizona, Red Rock has a desert climate, which means bright sun, hot days, cool nights, and very little rain or humidity. Sun protection will be necessary all year long, and the summer sun can bring scorching temperatures during the day, so make sure you stay hydrated and limit your time outside. Summer is the rainy season, with abrupt thunderstorms — take precautions at the first sign of lightning if you’re out in a desert park. As the sun goes down, temperatures drop dramatically, and you’ll want a warm layer to put on, especially in autumn and winter. The Marana Pumpkin Patch opens up during the fall with carnival rides, corn mazes, tractor rides, and tons of fresh pumpkins.

Picacho Peak State Park

This desert gem offers the chance to see some of the quintessential landscapes of the American Southwest, including fields of saguaro cacti and a 1,500-foot red peak that’s the park’s namesake. The hike to the top of the ridge is only two miles, but it can be intense for novice hikers, so make sure you come prepared with sturdy boots for steep trails and gloves to help you scramble over areas of bare rock. If you come near the end of the day, you may be able to catch a painterly pink and orange sunset.

Saguaro National Park

Divided into two halves — Saguaro West in the Tucson Mountains and Saguaro East in the Rincon Mountains — this national park is famous for its dense growth of saguaro, an enduring and iconic symbol of the Southwest. Hiking trails for beginners and seasoned enthusiasts wind through the cactus forest, between canyon walls, and up the mountains. You’re likely to see desert tortoises, cactus wrens, woodpeckers, jackrabbits, and other wildlife. Amenities include a visitors center, scenic drives trails, wheelchair-accessible trails, and picnic areas.

Ironwood Forest National Monument

A little over 30 minutes from Red Rock via car, you’ll find Ironwood Forest National Monument and its 129,000-acres of protected desert. There are three distinct areas to explore: Cocoraque Butte Archeological District, Mission of Santa Ana del Chiquiburitac, and Los Robles Archeological District. Hiking and cycling trails, climbing routes, and horseback riding are all available, and you can also see fossils and petroglyphs.