University of Arizona, Tucson, is close ( thirty minute bike ride) to the wilderness areas of Saguaro National Park, as well as the Catalina Wilderness, just north of town, as well as several others throughout southern Arizona (a few of which are burning up right now).

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, is surrounded by very nice ponderosa pine forest, with designated wilderness areas at no great distance. The Grand Canyon is about an hour away and several smaller NPS areas are much closer.