While working in Arizona on a job assignment we tried finding hikes without all the crowds and one day stumbled upon Campbell Trailhead in Tucson. We were on our way to a more popular hike when we made a split-second decision to turn around and come up with a last-second change of plans.

Our original hike was busier than we expected and sometimes crowds take away from the relaxation of being lost in nature. So we turned around to head home but decided to try and find something...really anything on the way back.

At first, we struck out finding another option. One place was still too busy and another place was for "residential use only". Finally, we found a winner with Campbell trailhead on the northern side of the city.

Campbell Trail

We're going to be straight up with you guys and tell you a secret about Campbell trail...it's not really a hiking trail. Don't get us wrong we loved exploring but it's more of a lookout point.

The Campbell trailhead does have a path but a short one. We're talking a few hundred feet and that's about it.

Now if you're one to go off-trail and just wander through some cacti this might be a good stop for you. The area is by Coronado National Forest but you only get a small taste of it.

Our initial plan was to log a few miles but even with us wandering through the canyon our trek topped out around one mile. And that one mile involved a lot of back and forth meandering.

Tucson Graffiti Car

So now that we basically told you that this trailhead doesn't even lead to an actual trail you might be thinking "what's the point". Even though there isn't some grand hike, there is a really cool lookout point.

Almost immediately you come to a broken-down car covered in graffiti and it's pretty cool. Then in the background, you have the view of the canyon, the Tucson desert, and off in the distance, the City of Tucson.

It's the perfect spot for lounging while enjoying the scenery. Then you can finish off with some quick exploring and you're good to go.

Spending the Morning at Campbell Trailhead

We've heard some people refer to this area as a "super-secret hidden canyon trail" in Tucson but that makes it sound more than what it really is. It's more of a super cool lookout point.

If you want a super easy day hike in Tucson that has only a few feet of an actual trail then this place is for you. If this doesn't sound ideal, our suggestion is to pack some coffee and just relax.

Even without a big workout, you can still enjoy the scenery. Should we officially petition for the renaming of Campbell trailhead to Campbell lookout?