Agua Caliente Park

Roy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Regional Park
12325 East Roger Road
Tucson, AZ 85749
email: AguaCalientePark@pima.gov
Open from 7:00 a.m. to Sunset every day of the year.
Ranch House Visitor Center and Art Gallery, Rose Cottage, and Bunkhouse are closed on all county holidays.

Detail Map

ADA accessible facilities

dogs permitted on leash

drinking water

environmental education programs

historical sites

nature shop

picnic tables with grill

restrooms

visitor center/art gallery

walking trails

wildlife viewing

Ranch House Visitor Center and Art Gallery

May 1 – October 31, Tuesday – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

November 1 – April 30, Wednesday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Closed all County holidays.

Ranch House Art Gallery Exhibit Schedule
September 18 – October 28: Michael Lundquist, Watercolor and oil
October 30 – December 9: Vonda Watson-Bostick, Ceramics and photography; Gwen Sossong, Collage
December 11 – January 21: Lynette Smith, Oil; Gary Holbrook, Charcoal and oil

Brochures

Users Guide

Resources and History

Birder's List

Please Don't Feed Wildlife

Please Don't Abandon Your Animals

A Special Use Permit is required for all functions with 25 guests (October 1 – April 30) and 25-50 guests (May 1 – September 30). Any commercial use of park such as photography, filming, and magazine shoots require a special use permit. Please call 520-749-3718 or email AguaCalientePark@pima.gov to request a permit.

Permits are required to use Agua Caliente Park on Easter Sunday. Permits can be acquired by calling (520) 749-3718 no earlier than 30 days prior to Easter Sunday.

About the park

Agua Caliente, literally meaning hot water, is a unique 101-acre park with a perennial warm spring. An artificial stream links together three ponds within the park. The ponds are fed by the spring water and support diverse wildlife and fish populations. The spring flow fluctuates during the year—at various times, due to drought, visitors may see the lower ponds dry. Human habitation has been found to date back about 5,500 years. The site makes for a perfect place for a picnic or day hike.

Agua Caliente Park is located on the far east side of Tucson. Agua Caliente Park has a long and interesting history behind it. In 1873, a ranch and health resort was developed to promote the curative properties of the warm springs. The ranch bunkhouse, which dates back to the 1920s, was used by ranch hands.

Improvements have added the modern conveniences without eliminating the historical aspects of the park, including a paved entry drive, parking lot and sand topped paved trails designed to blend with the surrounding ground surface.

Interpretive signs explaining the geology and history of the warm spring and the natural and human history of the site are installed throughout the park. The entry gates and interpretive sign supports were produced as part of the public art component of the park development. The ranch house, caretaker cottage, now known as Rose Cottage, and the bunk house have been restored. The ranch house depicts the home as it may have appeared in the 1920s. In addition, there are historic photos of the ranch and an art gallery that exhibits art by local artists on a rotating basis.

Agua Caliente Park has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.