Many people are surprised by the unexpected lushness of the desert canyons in southern Arizona. Cottonwoods and sycamores grow alongside the saguaros, and on Tucson's NE edge, reflective pools in Sabino Canyon offer a refuge from the urban and suburban sprawl. I often come in the early morning, or after work in the cooler months...

A road, along with a dam and stone bridges, was built in the 1930's as a way to provide work and public improvements during the Great Depression. Today it's closed to traffic (except for a park tram during limited hours), and it's an oasis for hikers, runners, and wildlife.

(For directions on how to get here: http://www.sabinocanyon.org/sabino.htm)