Welcome to Saguaro National Park

Welcome to the Saguaro National Park Information Page.

Here you will find all you need to know about the natural history of the park.
Learn about the geology, trees, mammals, birds, or other plants and wildlife of the area.

Saguaro National Park is located in southeast Arizona, on the east and west sides of Tucson, Arizona

Getting Here
The closest major airport is Tucson, Arizona
From the North

1. Take I-17 South to I-10 East to Tucson and the park.

2. Take Highway 89 South to I-17 South to I-10 East to Tucson and the park.

From the East

1. Take I-40 West to I-17 South to I-10 East to Tucson and the park.

2. Take I-10 West to Tucson and the park.

From the South

1. Take I-19 North to Tucson and the park.

2. Take Stateroad 80 North to I-10 West to Tucson and the park.

From the West

1. Take I-40 East to I-17 South to I-10 East to Tucson and the park.

2. Take I-10 East to Tucson and the park.

3. Take I-8 East to I-10 East to Tucson and the park.

Additional Directions

Saguaro East, or the Rincon Mountain District, may be reached from Tucson by traveling east on Broadway or Speedway to Freeman Road; turn right to Old Spanish Trail; turn left. Look for signs to park entrance.

Saguaro West, or the Tucson Mountain District, may be reached from Tucson by traveling Speedway Road west. Speedway becomes Gates Pass Road; the road ends at Kinney Road where you turn right and continue to the park entrance.

Note: Saguaro East and West are each about 15 miles from downtown Tucson. Along Interstate 10, there are signs directing travelers to Saguaro National Park.

Transportation

Bus lines and major airlines serve Tucson which is a short drive from the park. Both districts of the park feature scenic loop drives.

Establishment the Welcome to Saguaro National Park

The Saguaro National Park was made a national monument in 1933. In Nov of 1961, President Kennedy signed a bill expanding the monument to include Tucson Mountain Park. Then on 14 Oct 1994, Saguaro National Park was established.

Designations

Saguaro National Monument – 1933
Tucson Mountain District – 1961
Saguaro Wilderness Area 71,400 acres – 1975
National Park Status – 1994

Size and Visitation of Welcome to Saguaro National Park

Gross Area Acres – 91,446

Total Recreation Visits in 2000 – 757,417

Saguaro National Park is open year round, daily from sunrise to sunset, with peak visitation in March.

General Information

The saguaro has been described as the monarch of the Sonoran Desert, as a prickly horror, as the supreme symbol of the American Southwest, and as a plant with personality. It is renowned for the variety of odd, all too human shapes it assumes, shapes that inspire wild and fanciful imaginings. Giant saguaro cacti, unique to the Sonoran Desert, sometimes reach a height of 50 feet in this cactus forest, which covers the valley floor, rising into the Rincon and West Tucson mountains.

Since 1933 this extraordinary giant cactus has been protected within Saguaro National Park. Preserved along with it are many other members of the Sonoran Desert community, other cacti, desert trees and shrubs, and animals. In lushness and variety of life the Sonoran Desert far surpasses all other North American deserts and yet paradoxically, it is one of the hottest and driest regions on the continent. Summer midday temperatures commonly climb above 100 degrees F. Less than 12 inches of rain fall in a typical year. Between summer and winter rainy seasons, it is not unusual for months to pass without a drop of rain. The plants and animals able to survive this environment, with adaptations specially designed for desert survival, make up one of the most interesting and unusual collections of life in the United States.

History of Welcome to Saguaro National Park

The desert is immense and infinitely variable, yet delicate and fragile. It is a land shaped by sudden torrents of rain and climatic extremes. Rainfall is sparse and unpredictable. Streambeds are usually dry and water holes are few. This land may appear lifeless, but within its parched environment are intricate living systems, each fragment performing a slightly different function and each fragment depending upon the whole system for survival.

Birds of Saguaro

The saguaro is like a multi-storied complex; many animals live in close quarters and the occupants change constantly. Two common residents are the Gila woodpecker and glided flicker. These birds dwell in nest holes they make in the trunk and larger branches of saguaros. The birds excavate new holes each spring and reject several cavities in one nesting season before settling in one and raising a family. Their industriousness leaves many holes for other animals, who rapidly move in. The birds who compete for the homes include:

• American kestrel
• Cactus wrens
• Lucy’s warblers
• Phainopeplas elf owls
• Purple martins
• Screech owls
• Western kingbirds

Accessibility
Visitor centers, restrooms, picnic areas, and some trails and programs are fully accessible.

Basic Recommendations
I recommend that you plan your trip and the areas you would like to see and then go and relax and make a day of it. Go and see all that is in the area and enjoy it. You spend more quality time and learn and see more than you could ever imagine.

Saguaro East encompasses an aging saguaro forest at the foot of the majestic Rincon Mountains, as well as an exceptional variety of other desert communities. Saguaro West embraces a variety of Sonora Desert life against the backdrop of the rugged Tucson Mountains.

Biking
A popular way to view native plants and animals while surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the Sonora Desert is to take a bike ride around the Cactus Forest Loop Drive. The ride can prove to be strenuous for beginner bikers, which is why an electric mountain bike may be preferred to enjoy the wilderness without too much exertion. The more athletics folks can still travel with a normal mountain bike.

Camping
There is no drive-in camping in the park. Backcountry camping is permitted in Saguaro East; a free permit is required and can be obtained at the visitor center.

There are 6 backcountry campgrounds; Douglas Spring, Grass Shack, Happy Valley Saddle, Juniper Basin, Manning Camp and Spud Rock. The Tanque Verde Ridge and Douglas Spring Trails lead to the higher elevations of the Ricon Wilderness area.

Entrance Fees

• Rincon Mountain District – Entrance
• Individual Entry (Bike, Foot, Motocycle & Moped) $ 5.00 (Seven Day Pass)
• Private Non-commercial Vehicle $ 10.00 (Seven Day Pass)
• Annual Pass (good 1 year from date of purchase) $ 25.00
• National Park Pass (good 1 year from date of purchase) $ 50.00 (Valid in all Natl Parks)
• Gold Access Pass (Blind or permanently disabled) Free (Lifetime – valid in all natl parks)
• Golden Age Pass (1 time fee – for those 62+ years young) $ 10.00 (Lifetime – good in all natl parks)
• Golden Eagle Pass (good 1 year from date of purchase) $ 15.00 (good in all natl parks & fed fee areas)

The west district has no entrance fee.

Food and Supplies
Food and supplies are available in Tucson.

Hiking
A hike in Saguaro National Park can be a stroll on a day trail or a long wilderness trek. Within a mile of the visitor center in Saguaro West, there are two nature trails, the Cactus Garden Trail and the Desert Discovery Nature Trail. There are approximately 128 miles of trails that wind through the desert and mountain country of Saguaro East.

Safety Tips

• Hiking and other strenuous activities in extreme heat can be hazardous. Pace yourself and rest often.
• There is no water available at the picnic areas or along most trails.
• Drinking water is essential. Each person should carry at least one gallon of water per day.
• Persons planning to hike or ride a horse on the longer park trails should carry a topographic map.
• Beware of painful encounters with cacti and other prickly plants.

Horseback Riding
Horses are prohibited from traveling off trail throughout the park.

Horseback riders must access the Douglas Spring Trail via the Wildhorse Trailhead. It is located on Speedway Boulevard, .12 mile west of Douglas Spring Trailhead.

Horseback riding is permitted on all trails except the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail, Miller Creek Trail, and Rincon Peak Trail.

Lodging
There is no lodging in the park.

Permits
Permits are needed for backcountry camping.

Pet Information
Pets are allowed on paved roads only and must be leashed.

Picnic Areas
There are seven picnic areas in the east and west Saguaro National Park.

Visitor Center
There are two visitor centers.

Weather of Welcome to Saguaro National Park
Winters are delightful with mild warm days 60 F to 70 F, and cool nights 40 F. Summers can be extremely hot with daytime temperatures of 100 F to 115 F in the shade, and evening lows in the 80’s. Long hikes are not recommended in the summer. Even short hikes require lots of water, a hat and sun screen lotion.