The Rillito River Park Trail runs for 12 miles along the course of its namesake river, from Craycroft Road to under I-10 and linking with the
Santa Cruz River Park Trail. The trail is gravel between Dodge Boulevard and Campbell Avenue but the rest is paved in asphalt. The trail is open from dawn to dusk.
Cyclists take note: Although two trails follow the banks of the Rillito River, bicycles are restricted to the south trail east of La Cholla Avenue. West of La Cholla Avenue, bicycles must stay on the north side of the river. Under I-10 the trail is sandy and sometimes difficult going on wheels for a few hundred yards. But the asphalt resumes as soon as you come out of the river bottom and continues, connecting with the Santa Cruz River Park Trail.
You'll find plenty of restrooms and drinking fountains, as well as exercise stations along the trail (between Oracle Road and La Cañada Drive).
You can park near the trail in several places along its route. There is a small parking lot on the eastern terminus just west of Craycroft Road. Other parking areas are found just west of Swan Road, at Brandi Fenton Park (off Alvernon Way), off Campbell just south of the river, by Children's Memorial Park just south of Edgewater Drive, at the end of River Fringe Drive, at the end of Shannon Road (south of the river) and off Camino del la Terra just south of River Road.