Two projects that shaped the drive to Sabino Canyon this year are now finished. Pima County has wrapped up the culvert work on Sunrise Drive at Esperero Wash, and the Bear Canyon shuttle to the Seven Falls trailhead now runs on new electric vehicles. That leaves one fixed point for a Las Palomitas resident planning a cool-season hike. The last ride down from the trailhead leaves at 4:25 p.m., and a good Seven Falls day is planned backward from that time.
The drive east on Sunrise is back to normal
For much of 2026, getting from La Paloma to Sabino Canyon meant working around a construction zone. KGUN reported in April that construction along East Sunrise Drive began in January, on the stretch drivers use every day to reach Sabino Canyon. Nearby residents told the station they were sending trips through Kolb instead. A county spokesperson told KGUN that "pavement will be repaired between Kolb and Sabino Canyon Road," timed with finishing the box culvert, laying the final asphalt and reopening Sunrise Drive.
The county's September 25 bulletin reported the job complete. Six concrete box culverts replaced the old metal culverts that carried the wash under Sunrise Drive. KGUN tied the work to the 2020 Bighorn Fire, which burned nearly 120,000 acres and affected the land and infrastructure along the canyon. From the Sunrise corridor, the straight shot east to Sabino Canyon Road and the recreation area at 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road is open again for the hiking season.
What changed in Bear Canyon, and what stayed the same
A shuttle up Bear Canyon Road is nothing new. What changed is the vehicle. Since May 1, 2026, four 23-passenger electric shuttles have run the 1.9-mile Bear Canyon route to Bear Canyon Overlook and the Seven Falls trailhead, according to Tucson Electric Power. They are MotoEV Electro Transit Buddy models with American-made components and regenerative braking. TEP donated $2.5 million toward the shuttle system and says the money came from company resources that won't be recovered through customer rates.
The older buses are gone. In the Pima Association of Governments announcement, Santa Catalina District Ranger Donato DelMastro put it plainly: "Who can't get excited about replacing old, smelly, loud diesel buses with quiet and efficient electric shuttles?" Crawler general manager Chris Garcia told PAG that one charge runs a shuttle all day in Bear Canyon. The smaller vehicles also take over the main Sabino Canyon route in low-volume months, so a winter rider on the narrated Sabino tour may board a 23-seater instead of the 62-passenger Crawler.
The trail itself hasn't changed. The shuttle saves you the road walk, but the climb to the falls is the same as before.
Three ways to do Seven Falls
The Forest Service puts the full hike from the Visitor Center at about 8.5 miles round trip and says the Bear Canyon shuttle cuts about four miles off it. The agency's trail map lists 8.4 miles from the Visitor Center and describes a 2.5-mile climb from the Bear Canyon trail access to the falls, with seven stream crossings marked. The Sabino Canyon Crawler FAQ gives 2.7 miles one way from the shuttle drop-off, which includes the quarter mile from Stop 3 to the trailhead.
| Approach | Approximate distance | Shuttle fare per adult |
|---|---|---|
| Walk the whole route from the Visitor Center | 8.4 to 8.5 miles round trip | None |
| Shuttle up, walk back down the road | About two miles less than walking the whole way | $8 |
| Shuttle both ways | Roughly 5 to 5.5 miles round trip on the trail | $8 |
The Bear Canyon fare is $8 for adults 13 and up and $5 for children 3 to 12. Children under 3 ride free when seated with a guardian. The shuttle-both-ways figure is the one the 4:25 p.m. return time controls.
Planning backward from 4:25
The Crawler FAQ sets the schedule. At minimum, Bear Canyon shuttles leave hourly from 9:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Return pickups at Stop 3 come at 25 minutes past the hour, and at :25 and :55 when service runs every half hour. "4:25 PM is the final return of the day from Bear Canyon." If you miss it, you walk roughly two miles of road back to the Visitor Center, at the end of a day that already included seven creek crossings each way.
A practical sequence for a winter outing:
- Book ahead for weekends and holidays. The operator recommends advance reservations during peak season, weekends and holidays, says popular departures often sell out early, and says same-day seats are not guaranteed.
- Arrive with time to park. The Forest Service says the Visitor Center lot can be crowded in fall, winter and spring, and a gravel overflow lot sits beyond the main entrance. The Crawler advises overflow parkers to arrive at least 20 minutes before departure, since the walk to the road trail takes 10 to 15 minutes.
- Take an early shuttle. During peak season, Bear Canyon departures generally go every 30 minutes between 9:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., then drop back to hourly. An early start leaves room for time at the pools.
- Count the walk out against the clock. From the falls it is the same 2.7 miles and seven crossings back to Stop 3. Plan to aim for a :25 pickup well before the last one.
- Plan for the Visitor Center's hours. The Forest Service lists Visitor Center, bookstore and shuttle hours as 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. The Visitor Center restrooms close from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., though the outdoor drinking fountains stay available.
The operator doesn't define peak season by month. The Forest Service describes the Bear Canyon shuttle as running daily in winter. Check the Crawler site for the day you plan to go.
Water, wet feet and what to leave in the car
The pools are the reason to make the hike. The Crawler describes Seven Falls as a series of cascades through a narrow canyon, with carved rock basins at the base of each fall. Water levels change with the season and recent rain. The Forest Service calls the route a moderate hike over rugged terrain and warns that hikers' feet get wet when water is running. In July, KOLD reported that a weekend storm damaged parts of the recreation area and left trails and roads needing cleanup. Check the Coronado National Forest alerts before heading out.
One of those alerts is a standing rule. Forest Service Closure Order 03-05-03-25-002 runs through January 21, 2028. It covers the area from Bear Canyon Trail and the Wilderness boundary to the junction with Sabino Canyon Road. Within that area it prohibits camping, alcoholic beverages, glass containers, taking plants or animals, and bicycles, scooters and motor vehicles. It does not close the trail.
The cost of a morning, and when a pass pays off
Shuttle tickets don't include the Forest Service vehicle fee of $8 a day or $10 a week. Two adults riding the Bear Canyon shuttle in one car spend $24 for the day: $16 in fares plus the $8 vehicle fee. The Coronado National Forest annual pass costs $40, and Interagency passes are also accepted at Sabino. At $8 a visit, the Coronado pass breaks even on the fifth trip and saves money from the sixth. A household with guests coming between Thanksgiving and spring may reach that count early in the season.
If your guests would rather ride than hike, the narrated Sabino Canyon tour costs $15 for adults and $8 for children. It covers the 3.7-mile road in about an hour round trip and stops for five minutes at the top. The system carried more than 95,000 passengers last year.
A guided option on Friday, October 30
The Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists have a free guided Friday trail hike on October 30 at 8 a.m., open to the public. They note that weather or road closures can cancel it at the last minute. Their calendar also lists an Ancient Cultures table that day. It's a low-commitment way to see the trail conditions for yourself before booking a weekend shuttle.
The foothills are easier to enjoy when the local details are clear, and the same goes for the market around them. If you'd like a candid read on how your part of La Paloma is moving this season, La Paloma Lifestyle is glad to talk it through. Schedule a private consultation.
