| Saguaro National Park | |
Things to Do:
Saguaro National Park consists of two districts that are 30 miles apart and separated by the city of Tucson. Saguaro West preserves a variety of Sonoran Desert life against a backdrop of the rugged Tucson Mountains. Saguaro East includes an aging saguaro forest at the foot of the Rincon Mountains and an exceptional variety of other desert communities. With more than 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 to get out of the car and explore.
Saguaro West: Tucson
Mountain District
Begin your visit at the Red Hills Visitor Center, which offers exhibits,
audio-visual programs, books, maps, and other literature. Rangers can help you
plan your trip, and schedules of activities (which include guided hikes, nature
walks, and talks) are posted. Most activities are conducted from December
through April.
The nine-mile Bajada Loop Drive begins at the visitor center and passes through a dense saguaro forest. A variety of trails are available, ranging from short nature walkways to longer trails that penetrate the wild country of the Tucson Mountains and their foothills. Horseback riding is permitted on most trails. Four picnic areas are located along park roads and a fifth, located in the backcountry, can only be reached on foot. Each area has tables, grills, shade ramadas, and pit toilets.
Saguaro East: Rincon
Mountain District
Begin your trip at the visitor center, where you'll find books, brochures,
trail and drive guides, exhibits, and a slide program on the saguaro and Sonoran
Desert. Schedules of ranger-guided walks are posted. The eight-mile Cactus
Forest Drive winds through the heart of an extensive saguaro forest and offers a
close-up view of the variety of Sonoran Desert life.
More than 128 miles of trails wind through the desert and mountain country of Saguaro East, ranging from short hikes that will introduce you to the plant and animal life of the Sonoran Desert to longer trails that will allow you to explore the wilderness of the Rincon Mountains and their foothills. Horseback riding is permitted on most of the park's trails. There are two picnic areas in Saguaro East, both located off the Cactus Forest Drive. Each include picnic tables, pit toilets, and fire grills, but no drinking water.