Description

Honeybee Canyon is a surprising little hike just off the side of Rancho Vistoso Boulevard in Oro Valley.

It's easy to drive right by without ever stopping to check it out, but you owe it to yourself to investigate this cool little hike! The route mapped here is only 1.6 miles long, but it offers up some incredible views and intriguing history in that length! After walking down from the parking lot, you'll soon drop down into the canyon and be confronted by the historic rock dam.

This dam was originally used by the early settlers to stop the flow of water through the creek bottom.

The settlers used a natural canyon as the bottleneck point, and as you duck through a hole in the dam, you'll enjoy the natural beauty of the towering rock walls of the canyon. The hike continues down the sandy wash and then loops up and around a small hillside above the canyon to return to the parking lot.

The hiking is easy throughout, and everyone from kids to grandparents will enjoy this hike.

The only potential challenges include ducking through the dam and the short climb up the hill above the canyon.

Some hikers may consider those sections to be more difficult than merely "Easy," but even so this is still a true family-friendly outing that everyone will enjoy. Sources: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/arizona/honey-bee-canyon-park-az/ https://www.orovalleyaz.gov/Government/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks/Honey-Bee-Canyon-Park