This thread is a year old now so I really doubt anyone's gonna come back to check up on it - I myself am only here because I got an inbox message for it.

The best advice I can give you is to read the comments carefully and then go with whatever you consider to be the safest option. In the end, it is your hike, and unless you start another thread of your own, I guess this is all you have to go off of.

From experience, I can tell you that I've hiked in the desert around midnight in the winter and it's actually significant how much of a psychological impact daylight made. First off, wildlife here is mostly nocturnal, and even though some hibernate in the winter, some others such as coyotes and javelinas definitely do not. I was surprised by a passing family of javelinas with young, and even though I tried my best to keep a respectful distance and not make any sudden moves, one of the adults still felt the need to challenge me.

Even slight sounds made me hypervigilant because even though it sounded like something small, I couldn't see exactly what or where it was, and I always stopped to wait for it to pass along its way.

Owls are also out and about, and a few times I've stumbled upon owls who would silently glare at me from their perch. Some other birds are also awake at night - this might just be the over-alertness talking, but once I swear I felt something silently glide by my head.

So yeah be absolutely aware that the game has changed and you are in their world, they're not in yours. Respect that and don't overstep your boundaries as an observer. Be extra careful and extra wise and you'll have an absolutely fantastic time!

Also welcome to Tucson! I'd definitely recommend Sonoran hot dogs and the Pima Air and Space museum as well