Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park

Perhaps no symbol of the American West is more recognizable than the multi-armed saguaro cactus. People of all ages are fascinated and enchanted by these majestic desert giants. The saguaro is a complex life form. With an average life span of 150 years, a mature saguaro may grow to a height of 50 feet and weigh over 10 tons. Some consider them to be the most important plant in the desert. Desert animals eat the saguaro’s sweet fruit, and the cacti are home to a variety of birds, such as the Harris’ hawk, Gila woodpecker, and the diminutive elf owl. Though Hollywood movies have shown saguaro cacti all over the West, in fact they occupy only a relatively small area of the southwest desert in the United States .

Saguaro National Park, located near Tucson, Arizona, offers visitors an opportunity to experience saguaro cacti and other desert plants and wildlife firsthand. The park is made up of two districts, Saguaro West on the west side of Tucson, and Saguaro East, east of the city. The two districts are about thirty miles apart, and together encompass over 91,000 acres. Both districts have visitor centers, scenic drives, trails, and picnic areas. Neither has campgrounds or lodges, but there are many facilities located outside the park’s boundaries and in Tucson .

Saguaro West, called the Tucson Mountain District locally, is 15 miles west of downtown Tucson and includes the Red Hills Visitor Center, the six mile Bajada Loop Drive, hiking trails, and five picnic areas. The Red Hills Visitor Center has nature exhibits, audio-visual programs, a gift shop, and ranger-led nature hikes and interpretive programs.

Saguaro East, known as the Rincon District to many, encompasses a saguaro forest at the foot of the beautiful Rincon Mountains. Saguaro East includes a visitor center located 15 miles east of downtown Tucson, the eight mile long Cactus Forest Drive, 128 miles of hiking trails through the desert and mountains, and two picnic areas. The visitor center features nature exhibits, a slide show, ranger-guided walks and interpretive programs.

The best way to start a visit to the park is with a stop at one of the visitor centers for maps, information, and suggestions. Saguaro National Park offers visitors scenic drives, bird watching, photography, hiking, and ranger-guided walks. The visitor centers are open year round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The visitor centers are closed Christmas day.

During Saguaro National Park 's peak visitor season, from approximately November through April, both districts of the park offer naturalist-led activities on most days. Patio talks and cactus garden walks are offered near the visitor centers, and most of these are wheel-chair accessible. Longer guided hikes and special activities such as bird and wildflower walks are offered frequently during the season. Special moonlight hikes and full-moon talks are also offered. Many of these require reservations. Call the visitor centers for specific information: Rincon Mountain District (Eastside) at (520) 733-5153, or Tucson Mountain District (Westside) at (520) 733-5158.

While most visitors to Saguaro National Park choose a leisurely ride on one of the park’s scenic loop drives, those eager for adventure sometimes choose to explore the park on one of its many trails. With over 150 miles of hiking trails, ranging from flat and easy strolls in the Sonoran Desert to steep and rugged hikes into the Rincon Mountains , visitors of every ability have a place explore.

A popular way to enjoy the park is to ride around one of its scenic loop drives. The Cactus Forest Loop Drive in the Rincon Mountain District (east) is an 8-mile paved loop. The Bajada Loop Drive in the Tucson Mountain District (west) is a 6-mile gravel loop.

The Cactus Forest Loop Drive is a scenic route through the lower elevations of the Rincon Mountain District (east) of the park. It is paved, except for the spur road to Mica View Picnic Area. This road is open to all vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles. The Cactus Forest Loop Drive is narrow with many tight turns and steep hills. Bicyclists are asked to maintain a safe speed for road conditions and their own riding experience, or the least experienced rider in the group. Use extra caution on the steep hill at the beginning of the one way road, as there is a sharp right turn at the bottom. Slow down in congested areas around the visitor center, trailheads and picnic areas.

Mountain bikes are allowed on a 2.5 mile section of the Cactus Forest Trail, located within the Cactus Forest Loop Drive at the Rincon Mountain District (east). This is the only trail within Saguaro National Park that is open to bicycles, and it can only be accessed from the Cactus Forest Loop Drive. The trail may be ridden in either direction. This same 2.5 mile section of the Cactus Forest Trail is also open to equestrian and pedestrian traffic. Bicyclists are required to yield to all other trail users. Bicycles are not permitted in washes or off trail at any time.

Visitor centers, orientation programs with captioning available by request, bookstores, restrooms, picnic areas, cactus gardens, and one interpretive trail in each district are handicapped accessible. Inquire at the visitor centers regarding accessible interpretive programs.

There are six picnic areas in Saguaro National Park that can be reached by vehicle. Each of these picnic areas features one table with an overhang and a wheelchair accessible pit toilet. Mica View and Javelina picnic areas are available in the Rincon Mountain District. Sus, Signal Hill, Cam-boh and Ez-kim-in-zin picnic areas are available in the Tucson Mountain District.

Winters are delightful for exploring Saguaro National Park by motorcycle , with mild warm days averaging 65 degrees and cool nights averaging 40 degrees. Summers can be extremely hot, with daytime temperatures exceeding 105 degrees in the shade, and evening lows averaging 72 degrees. Always wear a hat and use sunscreen while hiking. Visitors are reminded to drink plenty of water, at least one gallon per person, per day is recommended. The desert can be a harsh environment. Visitors to the park should wear light colored loose fitting clothes, a wide-brimmed hat, adequate footwear, and sunglasses.

Saguaro National Park is home to a variety of wildlife, ranging from deer and javelina, to bobcats, mountain lion, cottontail and jackrabbits, many different species of birds, desert tortoises, Gila monsters, and snakes, including six species of rattlesnakes. Visitors are reminded to watch where they walk and place their hands and not to molest or feed the park’s wildlife.

For more information on Saguaro National Park, contact the Red Hills Visitor Center (Saguaro West), 2700 North Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona 85743 (520) 733-5158, or Rincon Mountain Visitor Center (Saguaro East), 3693 South Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, Arizona 85730 (520) 733-5153.