Saguaro national park
Saguaro National Park is located in southern Arizona. It is known for its rugged landscape dominated by the iconic saguaro cacti. There are beautiful scenic drives, hiking and desert wildlife. It is stunning at sunset.
getting to Saguaro National Park
If you are flying to the area, the closest airport is the Tucson International Airport (TUS). There are two portions of the park. One east and one west of Tucson. The Rincon Mountain District is east of Tucson and about a 32 minute drive while the Tucson Mountain District is about 32 minute drive west of Tucson. You can also fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). The drive from Phoenix is 110 miles away and takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes to the Tucson Mountain District in the west and about 134 miles which is about 2 hours and 12 minutes to the Rincon Mountain District.
getting around
The best way to visit this national park is in your own private vehicle. You can drive through most of the park on paved roads. If you are flying to the area, you should rent a car. You could also consider renting an RV and camping in the area.
where to stay
Tucson is the ideal city to stay in while visiting Saguaro National Park. Since the park is split it two sections you with Tucson right in the middle. You can also make a it a day trip if you are staying in Phoenix. The Tucson Mountain District is closer to Phoenix and has a great concentration of cacti so if you are short on time I would prioritize that section of the park.
If you want to camp in the park everything is backcountry camping. There are no vehicle or RV sites in the park. All campsites need to be hiked to. Reservations are required on recreation.gov. The shortest hike is to Happy Valley Saddle campsite which is 4.1 miles from nearest trailhead.
when to visit
Saguaro can be visited year round. Fall and winter are ideal for cooler temperatures but tend to be the busiest times to visit. The desert bloom of wildflowers starts in late March and early April while the iconic white flowers of the saguaro bloom late April through June. During the summer the temperatures can be very high so you will be more comfortable visiting earlier or later in the day. Always prepare for the sun with plenty of water and sunscreen.
fees
The fee for the park is $25 per vehicle, $15 per person or $20 per motorcycle. You can also get an annual pass for this park for $45.
America the Beautiful Annual Pass: $80 interagency pass good for one year from month purchased- I highly recommend this if visiting more than 3 parks in a year.
top things to do
Visit the visitor centers
Red Hills Visitor Center is located in the Tucson Mountain District in the western portion of the park. The Rincon Visitor Center is located in the eastern portion of the park. Both visitor centers are open daily from 9 AM- 5PM. They have maps and bookstores with lots of information.
Drive the scenic Bajada Loop
The Bajada Loop is located in the Tucson Mountain District. This 6 mile gravel road brings you through the park. Along the way you can stop along some scenic overlooks, picnic spots and trailheads. This section of the park is teeming with saguaro cacti. It is a great place to catch sunset as well.
Drive the scenic Cactus Forest Loop
The Cactus Forest Loop is located in the Rincon Mountain District. This 8 mile paved road brings you through the park. Along the way you can stop along some scenic overlooks, picnic spots and trailheads. This section of the park has various cacti and the javelina rocks. It is a great place to catch sunset as well.
Hiking
Saguaro West has around 40 miles of trails while Saguaro East has around 128 miles of trails to explore. The NPS has great maps and breaks down the hikes based on ease and length. Whenever hiking make sure to have proper sun protection and bring lots of water.
Biking
There are numerous amazing trails with diverse terrain for bikers to enjoy in the park and surrounding areas. You can bike the Loop Scenic drives as well.
Sunset Viewing
There is almost noting quite iconic as the saguaro silhouette with the setting sun. In the western part of the park, Gates Pass is a popular place for catching the sunset. We saw the sunsetting as we finished the Bajada Loop and we were happy with that. In the Rincon Mountain District, the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail is a popular place to catch the sunset. Another popular place is at the Javelina Rocks which is where we caught it and were happy! The gates to the Rincon Mountain District close at 8 PM so plenty of time to exit after the sun goes down.
camping
Saguaro National Park has backcountry camping only. You must hike to all these campsites and they must be reserved in advance on recreation.gov.
