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Exploring | Sports and the Outdoors | Shopping
Saguaro National Park West: 14 miles west of Central Tucson; Saguaro National Park East: 12 miles east of Central Tucson.
Saguaro National Park’s two distinct sections flank the city of Tucson. Perhaps the most familiar emblem of the Southwest, the towering saguaros are found only in the Sonoran Desert. Saguaro National Park preserves some of the densest stands of these massive cacti.
Known for their height (often 50 feet) and arms reaching out in weird configurations, these slow-growing giants can take 15 years to grow a foot high and up to 75 years to grow their first arm. The cacti can live up to 200 years and weigh up to 2 tons. In late spring (usually May), the succulent’s top is covered with tiny white blooms—the Arizona state flower. The cacti are protected by state and federal laws, so don’t disturb them.
Orientation
Saguaro West. Also called the Tucson Mountain District, this is the park’s smaller, more-visited section. At the visitor center is a Native American video about saguaros; also in the park’s western part are hiking trails, an ancient Hohokam petroglyph site at Signal Hill, and a scenic drive through the park’s densest desert growth. This section is near the Arizona–Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson’s Westside, and many visitors combine these sights.
Saguaro East. Also called the Rincon Mountain District, this area encompasses 57,930 acres of designated wilderness area, an easily accessible scenic loop drive, several easy and intermediate trails through the cactus forest, and opportunities for adventure and backcountry camping at six rustic campgrounds.
When to Go
Saguaro never gets crowded. However, most people visit in milder weather, October through April. December through February can be cool and are likely to see gentle rain showers. The spring days of March through May are bright and sunny with wildflowers and cacti in bloom. Because of high temperatures, from June through September it’s best to visit the park in the early morning or late afternoon. The intense summer heat puts off most hikers, at least at lower elevations, but lodging is much cheaper—rates at top resorts in Tucson drop by as much as 70%. Cooler temperatures return in October and November, providing perfect weather for hiking and camping throughout the park.
Planning Your Time
Saguaro in One Day
Before setting off, choose which section of the park to visit and pack a lunch (there’s no food service in either park district). Also bring plenty of water—you’re likely to get dehydrated in the dry climate—or purchase a reusable bottle at the visitor center (there are water stations in both districts of the park).
In the western section, start out by watching the 15-minute video at the Red Hills Visitor Center, then stroll along the ½-mile-long Desert Discovery Trail. Drive north along Kinney Road, then turn right onto the graded dirt Bajada Loop Drive. Before long you’ll see a turnoff for the Hugh Norris Trail on your right. If you’re game for a steep 45-minute hike uphill, this trail leads to a perfect spot for a picnic. Hike back down and drive along the Bajada Loop Drive until you reach the turnoff for Signal Hill. From here it’s a short walk to the Hohokam petroglyphs.
Alternatively, in the eastern section, pick up a free map of the hiking trails at the Saguaro East Visitor Center. Drive south along the paved Cactus Forest Drive to the Javelina picnic area, where you’ll see signs for the Freeman Homestead Trail, an easy 1-mile loop that winds through a stand of mesquite as interpretive signs describe early inhabitants in the Tucson basin. If you’re up for more difficult hiking, you might want to tackle part of the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail, which affords excellent views of saguaro-studded hillsides. Along the northern loop of Cactus Forest Drive is Cactus Forest Trail, which branches off into several fairly level paths. You can easily spend the rest of the afternoon strolling among the saguaros.
Getting Here and Around
Both districts are about a half-hour drive from Central Tucson. To reach Rincon Mountain District (east section) from Interstate 10, take Exit 275, then go north on Houghton Road for 10 miles. Turn right on Escalante and left onto Old Spanish Trail, and the park will be on the right side. If you’re coming from town, go east on Speedway Boulevard to Houghton Road. Turn right on Houghton and left onto Old Spanish Trail.
To reach the Tucson Mountain District (west section) from Interstate 10, take Exit 242 or Exit 257, then go west on Speedway Boulevard (the name will change to Gates Pass Road), follow it to Kinney Road, and turn right.
As there’s no public transportation to or within Saguaro, a car is a necessity. In the western section, Bajada Loop Drive takes you through the park and to various trailheads; Cactus Forest Drive does the same for the eastern section.
Park Essentials
Park Fees and Permits
Admission to Saguaro is $10 per vehicle and $5 for individuals on foot or bicycle; it’s good for seven days from purchase at both park districts. Annual passes cost $25. For camping at one of the primitive campsites in the east district (the closest campsite is 6 miles from the trailhead), obtain a required backcountry permit for $6 nightly from the Saguaro East Visitor Center up to two months in advance.
Park Hours
The park opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. It’s in the Mountain Time zone.
Visitor Information
Park Contact Information
Saguaro National Park. | 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail | Tucson | 520/733–5158 for Saguaro West, 520/733–5153 for Saguaro East | www.nps.gov/sagu.
Visitor Centers
Red Hills Visitor Center.
Take in gorgeous views of nearby mountains and the surrounding desert from the center’s large windows and shaded outdoor terrace. A spacious gallery is filled with educational exhibits, and a lifelike display simulates the flora and fauna of the region. A 15-minute slide show, “Voices of the Desert,” provides a poetic, Native American perspective of the saguaro. Park rangers and volunteers hand out maps and suggest hikes to suit your interests. The gift shop sells books, trinkets, a few local items like honey and prickly pear jellies, and reusable water bottles that you can fill at water stations outside. | 2700 N. Kinney Rd. | Saguaro West | 520/733–5158 | Daily 9–5.
Saguaro East Visitor Center.
Stop here to pick up free maps and printed materials on various aspects of the park, including maps of hiking trails and backcountry camping permits (Red Hills Visitor Center, in Saguaro West, does not offer permits). Exhibits at the center are comprehensive, and a relief map of the park lays out the complexities of this protected landscape. Two 20-minute slide shows explain the botanical and cultural history of the region, and there is a short self-guided nature walk along the paved Cactus Garden Trail. A small, select variety of books and other gift items, along with energy bars, beef jerky, and refillable water bottles, are sold here. | 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail | Saguaro East | 520/733–5153 | Daily 9–5.
Exploring
Scenic Drives
Unless you’re ready to lace up your hiking boots for a long desert hike, the best way to see Saguaro National Park is from the comfort of your car.
Bajada Loop Drive.
This 6-mile drive winds through thick stands of saguaros and past two picnic areas and trailheads to a few short hikes, including one to a petroglyph site. Although the road is unpaved and somewhat bumpy, it’s a worthwhile trade-off for access to some of the park’s densest desert growth. It’s one way between Hugh Norris Trail and Golden Gate Road, so if you want to make the complete circuit, travel counterclockwise. The road is susceptible to flash floods during the monsoon season (July and August), so check road conditions at the visitor center before proceeding. This loop route is also popular among bicyclists, and dogs on leash are permitted along the road. | Saguaro West.
Cactus Forest Drive.
This paved 8-mile drive provides a great overview of all Saguaro East has to offer. The one-way road, which circles clockwise, has several turnouts with roadside displays that make it easy to pull over and admire the scenery; you can also stop at two picnic areas and three easy nature trails. This is a good bicycling route as well, but watch out for snakes and javelinas crossing in front of you. This road is open from 7 am to sunset daily. | Saguaro East, Cactus Forest Dr. | Tucson.
Historic Sites
Manning Camp.
The summer home of Levi Manning, onetime Tucson mayor, was a popular gathering spot for the city’s elite in the early 1900s. The cabin can be reached only on foot or horseback via one of several challenging high-country trails: Douglas Spring Trail to Cow Head Saddle Trail (12 miles), Turkey Creek Trail (7.5 miles), or Tanque Verde Ridge Trail (15.4 miles). The cabin itself is not open for viewing. | Douglas Spring Trail (6 miles) to Cow Head Saddle Trail (6 miles) | Saguaro East.
Scenic Stops
Signal Hill.
The most impressive petroglyphs, and the only ones with explanatory signs, are on the Bajada Loop Drive in Saguaro West. An easy five-minute stroll from the signposted parking area takes you to one of the largest concentrations of rock carvings in the Southwest. You’ll have a close-up view of the designs left by the Hohokam people between AD 900 and 1200, including large spirals some believe are astronomical markers. | Bajada Loop Dr., 4½ miles north of visitor center | Saguaro West.
Educational Offerings
Junior Ranger Program.
Usually offered during June in the East District, a day camp for kids ages 5 through 12 includes daily hikes and workshops on pottery and petroglyphs. In the Junior Ranger Discovery program, young visitors can pick up an activity pack any time of the year at either visitor center and complete it within an hour or two. | Saguaro East and Red Hills Visitor Centers | 520/733–5153.
Orientation Programs.
Daily programs at both park districts introduce visitors to the desert. You might find presentations on bats, birds, or desert blooms, and naturalist-led hikes (including moonlight hikes). Check online or call for the current week’s activities. | Saguaro East and Red Hills Visitor Centers | 520/733–5153 | Free | Daily.
Ranger Talks.
The assortment of talks by national park rangers are a great way to hear about wildlife, geology, and archaeology. | Saguaro East and Red Hills Visitor Centers | 520/733–5153 | Free | Nov.–Apr.
Sports and the Outdoors
Bicycling
Scenic drives in the park—Bajada Loop in the west and Cactus Forest Drive in the east—are popular among cyclists, though you’ll have to share the roads with cars. Bajada Loop Drive is a gravel and dirt road, so it’s quite bumpy and only suitable for mountain bikers; Cactus Forest Drive is paved. In the east section, Cactus Forest Trail is a great unpaved path for both beginning and experienced mountain bikers who don’t mind sharing the trail with hikers and the occasional horse; Hope Camp Trail is also open to mountain bikes.
Bird-Watching
To check out the more than 200 species of birds living in or migrating through the park, begin by focusing your binoculars on the limbs of the saguaros, where many birds make their home. In general, early morning and early evening are the best times for sightings. In winter and spring, volunteer-led birding hikes begin at the visitor centers.
The finest areas to flock to in Saguaro East (the Rincon Mountain District) are the Desert Ecology Trail, where you may find rufous-winged sparrows, verdins, and Cooper’s hawks along the washes, and the Javelina picnic area, where you’ll most likely spot canyon wrens and black-chinned sparrows. At Saguaro West (the Tucson Mountain District), sit down on one of the visitor center benches and look for ash-throated flycatchers, Say’s phoebes, curve-billed thrashers, and Gila woodpeckers. During the cooler months, keep a lookout for wintering neotropical migrants such as hummingbirds, swallows, orioles, and warblers.
Hiking
The park has more than 100 miles of trails. The shorter hikes, such as the Desert Discovery and Desert Ecology trails, are perfect for those looking to learn about the desert ecosystem without expending too much energy.
TIP Rattlesnakes are commonly seen on trails; so are coyotes, javelinas, roadrunners, Gambel’s quail, and desert spiny lizards. Hikers should keep their distance from all wildlife.
Easy
Cactus Garden Trail.
This 100-yard paved trail in front of the Saguaro East Visitor Center is wheelchair accessible and has resting benches and interpretive signs about common desert plants. Easy. | Trailhead: next to Saguaro East Visitor Center, Saguaro East.
Desert Discovery Trail.
Learn about plants and animals native to the region on this paved path in Saguaro West. The 0.5-mile loop is wheelchair accessible, and has resting benches and ramadas (wooden shelters that supply shade). Dogs on leash are permitted here. Easy. | Trailhead: 1 mile north of Red Hills Visitor Center, Saguaro West | 520/733–5158.
Desert Ecology Trail.
Exhibits on this ¼-mile loop near the Mica View picnic area explain how local plants and animals subsist on limited water. Easy. | Trailhead: 2 miles north of Saguaro East Visitor Center, Saguaro East.
Freeman Homestead Trail.
Learn a bit about the history of homesteading in the region on this 1-mile loop. Look for owls living in the cliffs above as you make your way through the lowland vegetation. Easy. | Trailhead: next to Javelina picnic area, 2 miles south of Saguaro East Visitor Center, Saguaro East.
Signal Hill Trail.
This ¼-mile trail in Saguaro West is a simple, rewarding ascent to ancient petroglyphs carved a millennium ago by the Hohokam people. Easy. | Trailhead: 4½ miles north of Red Hills Visitor Center on Bajada Loop Dr., Saguaro West.
Moderate
Cactus Forest Trail.
This 2.5-mile one-way loop in Saguaro East is open to pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians. It is a moderately easy walk along a dirt path that passes historic lime kilns and a wide variety of Sonoran Desert vegetation. While walking this trail, keep in mind that it is one of the only off-road trails for bicyclists. Moderate. | Trailhead: 2 miles south of Saguaro East Visitor Center, off Cactus Forest Dr., Saguaro East.
Douglas Spring Trail.
This challenging 6-mile trail, steep in some parts, leads almost due east into the Rincon Mountains. After a half mile through a dense concentration of saguaros, you reach the open desert. About 3 miles in is Bridal Wreath Falls, worth a slight detour in spring when melting snow creates a larger cascade. Blackened tree trunks at the Douglas Spring Campground are one of the few traces of a huge fire that swept through the area in 1989. Moderate. | Trailhead: eastern end of Speedway Blvd., Saguaro East.
Fodor’s Choice | Hope Camp Trail.
Well worth the 5-mile round-trip trek, this Rincon Valley Area route rewards hikers with gorgeous views of the Tanque Verde Ridge and Rincon Peak. The trail is also open to mountain bicyclists. Moderate. | Trailhead: from Camino Loma Alta trailhead to Hope Camp, Saguaro East.
Wildlife in Saguaro National Park
The saguaro may be the centerpiece of Saguaro National Park, but more than 1,200 plant species, including 50 types of cactus, thrive in the park. Among the most common cacti here are the prickly pear, barrel cactus, and teddy bear cholla—so named because it appears cuddly, but rangers advise packing a comb to pull its barbed hooks from unwary fingers.
For many of the desert fauna, the saguaro functions as a high-rise hotel. Each spring the Gila woodpecker and gilded flicker create holes in the cactus and then nest there. When they give up their temporary digs, elf owls, cactus wrens, sparrow hawks, and other birds move in, as do dangerous Africanized honeybees.
You may not encounter any of the park’s six species of rattlesnake or the Gila monster, a venomous lizard, but avoid sticking your hands or feet under rocks or into crevices. Look where you’re walking; if you do get bitten, get to a clinic or hospital as soon as possible. Not all snakes pass on venom; 50% of the time the bite is “dry” (nonpoisonous).
Wildlife, from bobcats to jackrabbits, is most active in early morning and at dusk. In spring and summer, lizards and snakes are out and about but tend to keep a low profile during the midday heat.
Sendero Esperanza Trail.
Follow a sandy mine road for the first section of this 6-mile trail in Saguaro West, then ascend via a series of switchbacks to the top of a ridge and cross the Hugh Norris Trail. Descending on the other side, you’ll meet up with the King Canyon Trail. The Esperanza (“Hope”) Trail is often rocky and sometimes steep, but rewards include ruins of the Gould Mine, dating back to 1907. Moderate. | Trailhead: 1½ miles east of the intersection of Bajada Loop Dr. and Golden Gate Rd., Saguaro West.
Sweetwater Trail.
Though technically within Saguaro West, this trail is on the eastern edge of the district, and affords access to Wasson Peak from the eastern side of the Tucson Mountains. After gradually climbing 3.4 miles, it ends at King Canyon Trail (which would then take you on a fairly steep 1.2-mile climb to Wasson Peak). Long and meandering, this little-used trail allows more privacy to enjoy the natural surroundings than some of the more frequently used trails. Moderate. | Trailhead: western end of El Camino del Cerro Rd., Saguaro West.
Valley View Overlook Trail.
On clear days you can spot the distinctive slope of Picacho Peak from this 1.5-mile trail in Saguaro West. Even on an overcast day there are splendid vistas of Avra Valley. Moderate. | Trailhead: 3 miles north of Red Hills Visitor Center on Bajada Loop Dr., Saguaro West.
Difficult
Fodor’s Choice | Hugh Norris Trail.
This 10-mile trail through the Tucson Mountains is one of the most impressive in the Southwest. It’s full of switchbacks, and some sections are moderately steep, but the top of 4,687-foot Wasson Peak treats you to views of the saguaro forest spread across the bajada (the gently rolling hills at the base of taller mountains). Difficult. | Trailhead: 2½ miles north of Red Hills Visitor Center on Bajada Loop Dr., Saguaro West.
King Canyon Trail.
This 3.5-mile trail is the shortest, but steepest, route to the top of Wasson Peak in Saguaro West. It meets the Hugh Norris Trail less than half a mile from the summit. The trail, which begins across from the Arizona–Sonora Desert Museum, is named after the Copper King Mine. It leads past many scars from the search for mineral wealth. Look for petroglyphs in this area. Difficult. | Trailhead: 2 miles south of Red Hills Visitor Center, Saguaro West.
Tanque Verde Ridge Trail.
Be rewarded with spectacular scenery on this 18-mile round-trip trail that takes you through desert scrub, oak, alligator juniper, and piñon pine at the 6,000-foot peak, where views of the surrounding mountain ranges from both sides of the ridge delight. Difficult. | Trailhead: Javelina picnic area, 2 miles south of Saguaro East Visitor Center, Saguaro East.
Shopping
The visitor centers in both districts sell books, gifts, film, and single-use cameras, as well as a few necessities such as sunscreen, bug repellent, and reusable water bottles. For other items, including food, you’ll have to drive a few miles back toward town.