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Luckily, there are plenty of ways to spare yourself from the heat, and enjoy the desert after dark. To help you plan your next summer adventure, we’ve compiled a list of five activities that are better after the sun goes down.

Night hikes at Catalina State Park

If you’re looking to experience the plants, animals and beauty of the desert, consider joining one of the ranger-led night hikes at Catalina State Park, just north of the Tucson metro area at 11570 N. Oracle Road.

The hikes run on the first and third Fridays of each month, and the only price for attendance is admission to the park ($10 entrance fee for vehicles with one occupant and $20 for vehicles with 2-4 occupants).

The route begins and ends with a short, steep hill from the parking lot, but is largely accessible for many different ages, from young children to the more mature.

Park Ranger Isaiah Ortiz said the park started the bi-monthly night hikes a couple of years ago, in July 2023, as a way to connect people with the outdoors in a new way.

“The night hikes are a lot of fun,� Ortiz said. “Especially in the summer, it’s a great way to get outside and still get to enjoy the outdoors without the intensity of the heat.�

Beginning just after sunset, you’ll follow a one-mile loop through the towering saguaros and desert landscape, while learning from the ranger about the flora, fauna and geography of the park. Along the route, you’re likely to see desert dwellers up close, including scorpions, bats, night hawks, tarantulas and even javelinas.

“We wanted to add another opportunity for people to get out under the stars, and learn about wildlife,� Ortiz said. “Some people are nervous to go out at night because they’ve never been on a night hike before, or they’re afraid to see scorpions or see rattlesnakes, and often when folks do get to see the wildlife — even specific things they said they don’t want to see — they usually light up in a different way.�

Away from the light pollution of the city, Catalina State Park also provides breathtaking views of the night sky, and the perfect conditions for stargazing.

“We do a constellation tour with a laser pointer at the end of the program,� Ortiz said. “So people will get to learn about astronomy and some of the cultural significance of the stars, and that’s a lot of fun too.�

Whether you are new to ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ or a lifelong Tucsonan, the night hikes allow you to see the desert as you might not have seen it before, with the comfort of an experienced guide.

Debra Paine was among the group of late-night hikers on June 20. Paine, a long-time resident of Tucson, has been out to the desert countless times, but was attending her first Catalina State Park night hike.

She said it was the stargazing opportunity that brought her out for the hike.

“I was just enamored with it, and wanted to do it,� she said. “It was wonderful!�

Paine said she was already looking forward to returning on another hike in August.

Sabino Canyon Night Crawler

Another way to enjoy the scenery: The Sabino Canyon Crawler is offering tours on Saturday nights through Oct. 25, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the beauty of Sabino Canyon after dark.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children, and the crawler leaves from the visitor center at Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road, so you will also need a National Parks pass or a day pass for the area.

Chris Garcia, general manager of the Sabino Canyon Crawler, said they started night tours almost three years ago, and since then, they’ve become a well-known attraction for tourists and locals alike.

“It’s really popular. As we get later into the year, like August, September, we start selling out about a month in advance,� Garcia said. “We get people that return every year. One guy told me that it was his fifth time coming out because every time family comes into town, this is where they go.�

During the hour-and-a-half tour, passengers relax in the open-air tram and take in the dramatic canyon landscape at the base of the Catalina Mountains, while listening to the night-time guided audio tour of the geology, history and biological diversity of the canyon area.

You’ll enjoy stunning sunset views of the creek bed and towering hills on either side of the crawler as you make your way up the canyon, and along the route, you might see any number of desert creatures, including birds, reptiles and insects.

“It’s really pretty at night,� Garcia said. “We get certain nights where there’s a full moon, which is really pretty. You also see different animals like the skunks, the foxes, that come out at night.�

Day or night, Sabino Canyon is a special place.

Mary Clary was one of the passengers on the Crawler’s first night tour of the season last Saturday. As a lifelong Tucsonan, she said she had been to Sabino Canyon many times, but this was her first time to the canyon at night.

“It’s nice,� Clary said. “You know, there’s not a lot to do in Tucson that’s not in the hot sun.�

She was particularly taken with the view over Tucson.

“It’s beautiful up here with all the city lights,� Clary said.

Kartchner Caverns Bat Walks

Kartchner Caverns State Park is hosting three nighttime Bat Walks in the upcoming months, on July 19, Aug. 16, and Sept. 6.

As you walk through the beautiful desert landscape of the park, you’ll learn about some of the 13 different bat species that call the park home, and use bat detectors to see and hear the bats around you as they go about their nocturnal activities. The tour doesn’t go into the caverns themselves.

When: July 19: 7:15 — 8:45 p.m.

Aug. 16: 6:45 — 8:15 p.m.

Sept. 6: 6:15 — 7:45 p.m.

Where: Kartchner Caverns State Park Discovery Center, 2980 AZ-90, Benson.

Cost: Park entrance fee of $10.

Cool Summer Nights

Every Saturday through Aug. 31, you can enjoy the sights of the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥-Sonora Desert Museum in the cooler temperatures of nighttime. Bring a flashlight to walk around and possibly spot a nocturnal animal, plus touch a stingray and check out themed activities.

When: 6-10 p.m. Saturdays through Aug. 31.

Where: ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road.

Cost: $29.95 for adults, $19.95 for kids ages 3-12, $24.95 for ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ residents.

Chillin at the Chul

Check out music, spirits and bites at Tohono Chul botanical gardens’ summer series. Every Friday and Saturday, Tohono Chul has partnered with Children’s Museum Oro Valley to provide family-friendly nature-inspired play.

When: 6-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 30.

Where: Tohono Chul, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte.

Cost: Free to attend, bring money for food and drinks.

Visit the event page for more information.