Catalina park's outdoors beckons

Wayne and Dianne Allen of Austin, Texas, retired for six months, sit under a tree in their camping spot at Catalina State Park. The couple are on an extended vacation, heading to Utah and Denver to see their kids. They were preparing a vegetable dish in a gas oven, foreground, they just boug…

Catalina park's outdoors beckons

John and Kathy Mulligan of Tucson sit with their dogs Max, left, and Wiley in the Canyon del Oro Wash at Catalina State Park. They were having lunch before taking a hike on the Canyon Loop Trail.

Catalina park's outdoors beckons

A male cardinal is just one of the many varieties of wildlife - avian, reptilian and mammal - that call Catalina State Park home.

Catalina park's outdoors beckons

Molly the gopher snake lives at the gift shop at Catalina State Park. She belongs to park ranger Steve Haas, who says he enjoys giving the kids who come to the park a chance to hold her

Catalina park's outdoors beckons

There's evidence of earlier human habitation at the park, too. These ruins are from a ranch house on what was Francisco Romero's ranch in the 1850s and can be found on the Romero Ruin Trail.

Catalina park's outdoors beckons

A late afternoon sun peeks through the leaves of a tree with iconic saguaro cacti in the background.

Catalina park's outdoors beckons

If you're itching to go on a fun day or overnight trip, consider heading to Catalina State Park.

Catalina State Park marks 30th birthday Saturday

Tucsonans John and Kathy Mulligan relax with their dogs, Max, left, and Wiley, in the Cañada del Oro Wash where it passes through Catalina State Park. The couple were having lunch Wednesday before taking a hike.

Catalina State Park marks 30th birthday Saturday

This piece of pristine desert was slated for expansive residential development in the 1970s, but a citizens coalition saved it.

Catalina State Park marks 30th birthday Saturday

Catalina State Park - a preserve of grand desert landscapes and curvaceous canyons set against a backdrop of the craggy Catalina Mountains - turns 30 years old this month.

Northwest briefs

Oracle studio tour this weekend

Catalina St. Park celebrates 30th anniversary

Catalina State Park — a preserve of grand desert landscapes and curvaceous canyons set against a backdrop of the craggy Catalina Mountains — turns 30 years old this month.

Stretching his limits helps, climber with Parkinson's discovers

Tim Bowden made it - with a bit of energy to spare and a lot of inspiration to share.

The tougher, the better for Tucson hiker who's battling Parkinson's for Tucson hiker with Parkinson's

Hikers set off on extreme treks for all kinds of reasons - everything from building endurance to seeking solitude or reaching remote sites in the wild.