If you’re up for a hill challenge within walking distance from downtown, two adjacent peaks, with roads to leading to their summits, make for a fun challenge: Sentinel Peak & Tumamoc Hill. Do either or both!
Sentinel Peak. Also known as “A Mountain” because it is painted annually by university students, this is on most runners’ to-do lists in Tucson! The climb is 500 feet over 1.5 miles, up to 6% grade. There is no sidewalk but there is a reasonable shoulder most of the way along Sentinel Peak Rd., and not too much traffic. There is a gazebo on top of the mountain. Start from the corner of Congress St. and Sentinel Peak Rd. One can also start closer to downtown (1 mile to the west) or the University (1.5 miles west). There’s a parking lot off Sentinel Rd. 0.5 miles south of Congress St.
Tumamoc Hill: Google Street Vie
Tumamoc Hill. Part of the same area. This route starts off Silverbell Rd. It’s even more of a hill challenge, rising 730 feet over 1.6 miles to an Observatory at the summit. The narrow road does feature a pedestrian shoulder.
You can combine these two routes for a challenging double! The Tumamoc Hill trail is 0.7 miles west of the start of the Sentinel Peak trail, using Silverbell Rd.
If you’re up for a hill challenge within walking distance from downtown, two adjacent peaks, with roads to leading to their summits, make for a fun challenge: Sentinel Peak & Tumamoc Hill. Do either or both!
Sentinel Peak. Also known as “A Mountain” because it is painted annually by university students, this is on most runners’ to-do lists in Tucson! The climb is 500 feet over 1.5 miles, up to 6% grade. There is no sidewalk but there is a reasonable shoulder most of the way along Sentinel Peak Rd., and not too much traffic. There is a gazebo on top of the mountain. Start from the corner of Congress St. and Sentinel Peak Rd. One can also start closer to downtown (1 mile to the west) or the University (1.5 miles west). There’s a parking lot off Sentinel Rd. 0.5 miles south of Congress St.
Tumamoc Hill: Google Street Vie
Tumamoc Hill. Part of the same area. This route starts off Silverbell Rd. It’s even more of a hill challenge, rising 730 feet over 1.6 miles to an Observatory at the summit. The narrow road does feature a pedestrian shoulder.
You can combine these two routes for a challenging double! The Tumamoc Hill trail is 0.7 miles west of the start of the Sentinel Peak trail, using Silverbell Rd.
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Essentials
Sentinel Peak: 3.2 miles (5.1 km) out & back. Tumamoc Hill: 3.2 miles (5.1 km) out & back. It's 0.7 miles along Silverbell Rd. between the two trailheads
Sentinel Peak 500 feet. Tumamoc Hill: 730 feet
Senintel Peak: Congress St.& Sentinel Peak Rd (Downtown is 1 mile to the west). Tumamoc Hill trailhead is off Silverbell Rd/
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Essentials
Sentinel Peak: 3.2 miles (5.1 km) out & back. Tumamoc Hill: 3.2 miles (5.1 km) out & back. It's 0.7 miles along Silverbell Rd. between the two trailheads
Sentinel Peak 500 feet. Tumamoc Hill: 730 feet
Senintel Peak: Congress St.& Sentinel Peak Rd (Downtown is 1 mile to the west). Tumamoc Hill trailhead is off Silverbell Rd/
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