Walk Tucson in the cool hours
Tucson is a desert city with old adobe barrios and a vast network of paths along its dry riverbeds. FOG starts the map hidden and clears only where you walk, so early mornings here turn into long lines across it.
Old Tucson in the middle
Downtown Tucson grew from the Spanish presidio, and the Presidio district keeps traces of it. Just south, Barrio Viejo has rows of brightly painted adobe houses built right to the sidewalk. Fourth Avenue, to the north east, is a strip of bars, shops and murals running toward the University of Arizona campus.
Sentinel Peak, known as A Mountain for the letter on its side, rises west of downtown with a view over the whole valley.
The Loop
The Chuck Huckelberry Loop is a network of paved paths along the Santa Cruz and Rillito rivers and other washes, well over 100 miles of them, circling much of the metro. You can walk it for a long way without crossing traffic.
A good first route: Barrio Viejo, the Presidio, downtown, up Fourth Avenue to the university, then back. For something longer, pick a stretch of The Loop along the Santa Cruz. Mission San Xavier del Bac is south of the city and best reached by car.
Heat is the rule
From May to September, midday is dangerous for walking. Go at dawn, carry plenty of water and keep to shade. Winter is superb, with cool mornings and warm afternoons.
Tucson spreads widely across the valley, so the percentage builds slowly, but The Loop lets you draw big, bold lines that few cities can match.
Share the shape you walked
After a proper walk FOG can offer a walk card: the shape of the route you just covered in Tucson, ready to post as a square, a story or the bare shape. The lifetime card shows the area you have unfogged, the distance travelled and how much of the city you have lit.
It all runs on your phone with no account and no cloud. Choose miles in Settings, pick a fog colour (Midnight, Abyss, Violet, Ember or Slate) and a density, and walk. Exploring is free, and one purchase of FOG Unlimited opens every rank, every path and Google Timeline and GPX import.
Questions people actually ask
What is The Loop in Tucson?
A network of paved paths along the region's rivers and washes, well over 100 miles in total.
When should I walk in Tucson?
Early in the morning in summer, and any time of day from November to March.
Does it work with the app closed?
Yes. With background exploring on, FOG keeps clearing fog while the app is closed and the screen is off.
Start with a dark map.
FOG is free to explore. No account, no subscription, and your map never leaves your phone.
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