10 Fun Things to Do in Saguaro National Park
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If people held cactus beauty pageants, saguaros would win every time. These long-lived, many-armed giants are the perfect combination of awe-inspiring and familiar. Their shapes make it impossible not to compare them to humans. That one is waving. That one is dancing. Something took a weird turn with that one. I start talking to them when I’m in the desert long enough. Why do you have one massive arm and eight tiny ones? No answers so far. Despite their fame worldwide, saguaros are rare and grow only in the Sonoran Desert. Two million of them fill the beautiful and surprisingly uncrowded Saguaro National Park. From scenic drives to ancient petroglyphs, here are the best things to do in Saguaro National Park, just outside Tucson, Arizona.
I have a great view of the cacti from the Valley View Overlook
Know before you go
You need a pass to visit Saguaro National Park. Pick up a 7-day pass for $25 at one of the visitor centers. It covers one passenger vehicle. You can also use an annual Saguaro National Park Pass ($45) or an annual America the Beautiful Pass ($80).
The only drinking water in Saguaro National Park is at the visitor centers. Bring lots of water with you.
Restrooms are at the visitor centers and picnic areas.
Saguaro National Park has little shade and gets very hot. In the summer, temperatures often climb above 100 degrees F during the day. Picnic areas have at least one shaded table.
Leashed dogs are allowed in some areas of Saguaro National Park. They can be on roads, at picnic areas, and on the Desert Discovery and Desert Ecology hiking trails.
Watch for rattlesnakes.
Avoid contact with plants. They’re pretty much all spiny.
Recent funding cuts to the US National Parks make it more important than ever to visit respectfully. Pack out all trash and plan on being as independent as possible. Have water, food, and a first aid kit with you.
West versus East Saguaro National Park
Regional map of Saguaro National Park, courtesy NPS
One name, two parks. West Saguaro National Park, also called the Tucson Mountain District, is about 30 minutes west of Tucson. East Saguaro National Park, the Rincon Mountain District, is 30 minutes east. Each park has a scenic loop drive with viewpoints, picnic areas, and hiking trails. Ideally, you’d have a day to spend at each. You could see them both in one day if your time is limited. I spent a day in each park and felt I was able to see all the easy-to-reach highlights. I’d love to come back again to check out more of the hiking trails.
If you only have time to see one side, I’d steer you toward the west side. A history of overgrazing in what is now East Saguaro National Park reduced the number of saguaro there. West Saguaro was incorporated later as a park, in part to correct the mistake in the early management of East Saguaro. It’s enjoyed better protection, preserving the cacti. This preference is only a slight one. East Saguaro National Park has excellent things to do and some absolutely humungous cacti. If you’re interested in backpacking, East Saguaro is the place to go. Most of the park is reachable only by trail.
West Saguaro National Park has tons of saguaros
My biggest surprise about Saguaro National Park was how uncrowded it was for being so close to a city. I live in the Pacific Northwest, where visiting the national parks during popular times can mean hours of waiting to get in, full parking lots, and, in the case of Mount Rainier, a reservation system. Imagine how I felt visiting Saguaro National Park on a beautiful weekend with highs in the 70s and finding no lines. And all within 30 minutes of a city! It’s wonderful and baffling.
Things to do in West Saguaro National Park
Map of West Saguaro National Park, courtesy NPS
1. Red Hills Visitor Center and Desert Discovery Nature Trail
Saguaros abound at the Red Hills Visitor Center
The first thing to do in West Saguaro National Park is a practical one. Unless you already have a pass, you’ll need to buy one at the Red Hills Visitor Center. While you’re there, check out the displays about the park’s ecology inside. Walkways outside meander through a Sonoran Desert landscape with signs identifying the plants. The paths are paved, flat, and stroller and wheelchair-friendly. Behind the visitor center, you can walk down a desert wash. Observation decks are good places to watch for wildlife, especially birds.
Due to recent cuts in federal funding, the Red Hills Visitor Center is closed on Mondays. You can buy a parking pass with a credit card at outdoor pay stations when it’s closed.
Bench on the Desert Discovery Trail
Only a mile down the road from the Red Hills Visitor Center is the Desert Discovery Trail, an easy 0.4-mile loop that showcases the weird and wonderful cacti of the Sonoran Desert. Signs identify plants, explain desert ecology, and describe the local geology. The trail is paved and flat enough to push a stroller or wheelchair. Shaded benches let you linger without frying in the sun. You’ll see tons of desert plants on the trail, like saguaros, cholla, prickly pear, creosote, palo verde, and mesquite. Look for distant mountain ranges in several directions. The Desert Discovery Trail is one of the few dog-friendly hiking trails in Saguaro National Park.
2. Drive (or bike) the Bajada Scenic Loop
You’ll see awesome cacti on the Bajada Loop
The Bajada Scenic Loop is the heart of West Saguaro National Park. This 5-mile road connects hiking trails, picnic areas, and highlights like the Signal Hill Petroglyphs. It’s unpaved but in good condition. You’ll be fine in a low-clearance vehicle. RVs and trailers aren’t recommended. If you’re pressed for time, driving the loop without stopping makes a great quick visit. You’ll see some gigantic saguaros and dramatic Tucson Mountain vistas. Short side trips will take you to scenic picnic areas like Sus and Ez-Kim-In-Zin. Some of the best hikes in the park begin from the Bajada Loop, like the Valley View Overlook and Hugh Norris Trails. Since part of the loop is one-way, it works best to start on Hohokam Road and drive counterclockwise.
Instead of driving, you can bike the Bajada Scenic Loop. Make sure to stay on the road. Biking isn’t allowed on the connecting trails. The road is in good shape without intense terrain. It can get dusty when cars go by.
3. Visit the Signal Hill Petroglyphs
One of 200 petroglyphs at Signal Hill
Seeing the Signal Hill Petroglyphs is hands down one of the best things to do in Saguaro National Park. From the Signal Hill picnic area, make the short walk up a hill surrounded by cactus forests and mountain views. At the top is a wonderful collection of petroglyphs. These etchings feel like a direct line to the past. I find myself imagining the carver some hundreds of years ago creating art that remains compelling today despite the hardships of life in the desert.
Like most petroglyphs, those at Signal Hill raise more questions than they answer. We don’t know exactly when they were carved or for what purpose. Archeologists think they may have been for spiritual practice or storytelling. The Hohokam people carved them when they occupied the area between 450 and 1450 AD. The petroglyphs depict human figures, animals, and abstract shapes. You can get very close to some of them at the top of Signal Hill. Take pictures, but please don’t touch them. Oil from the skin can damage the rock.
4. Check out the hiking trails
Valley View Overlook Trail
Saguaro along the Valley View Overlook Trail
Distance: 0.8 miles out and back
Elevation gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
If you only do one hike in West Saguaro National Park, I’d suggest the Valley View Overlook Trail. It leads to big rewards while still being short and easy enough to tackle on a hot day without becoming a grueling, water-guzzling trek. A stroll through a cactus forest takes you past some towering saguaros with varying degrees of chaos in their arms. Teddy bear chollas look deceptively cute and cuddly while being just as pointy as the severe-looking staghorn cholla. On my late February visit, fiery red flowers decorated the tips of the ocotillo, whose name comes from the Nahuatl word for torch. The trail passes through a couple of washes and ends at a viewpoint overlooking the Avra Valley, the Tucson Mountains, Picacho Peak, and Signal Hill.
Hugh Norris Trail to Wasson Peak
Hugh Norris Trailhead. Note the tippy-looking rock on the hillside.
Distance: 10 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 2,400 feet
Difficulty: Hard
If you’re up for a challenge, many visitors call the Hugh Norris Trail the best hiking trail in West Saguaro National Park. With a 10-mile roundtrip distance and over 2,000 feet of elevation gain, it’s not an idle undertaking. You’ll want to plan for this one. Avoid it on hot days and get an early start. Bring tons of water and use sun protection. The trail ends at Wasson Peak, the highest point in the Tucson Mountains. At the summit, you’ll see panoramic vistas from 5,000 feet of elevation. Don’t feel like you need to finish the trail to see some great views. Even if you don’t go farther than the trailhead, it’s worth looking for the strange, gravity-defying rock perched on a hillside.
King Canyon Trail
King Canyon Wash Trail
Distance: Up to 6.9 miles out and back
Elevation gain: Up to 1,800 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
We’ve now left the Bajada Scenic Loop. The King Canyon Trail starts east of the Red Hills Visitor Center on the way back to Tucson. The trail explores the southeast corner of West Saguaro National Park. The trailhead is just outside the park boundary. I mention it because you can park here without a pass. About a mile on the King Canyon Trail will bring you to the Mam-A-Gah picnic area (no restrooms). You could turn around here for a laidback scenic hike, following the King Canyon Wash Trail or the Gould Mine Trail to make it a loop.
Continuing on the King Canyon Trail will bring you to the top of Wasson Peak, a shorter and easier version of the Hugh Norris hike. If you don’t have a map with you, take a picture of the map on the sign at the trailhead. I met a family who took a wrong turn on this trail, ending up on the other side of the park. It’s not a place where you want to get lost.
5. Visit the Desert Museum
Desert Museum’s reptile exhibit
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is five minutes down the road from the Red Hills Visitor Center. Although not technically in Saguaro National Park, I have it on the list of things to do to add flexibility to your trip (and because it’s really cool). If you visit on a hot day, you might want to finish early in the park and head somewhere with indoor options. The Desert Museum charges admission ($30/adult), so I’d only go if you have at least a half day to spend there. The museum celebrates all things related to the Sonoran Desert, from cactus gardens to animals to rocks and minerals. It’s a place where you can see all the elusive animals that you looked for but didn’t see in Saguaro National Park, like mountain lions, snakes, Gila monsters, javelinas, and coyotes. Some of them, like lizards and raptors, roam freely on the museum grounds.
Things to do in East Saguaro National Park
Map of Cactus Forest Loop Drive, courtesy NPS. Backcountry trails not pictured.
6. Drive (or bike) the Cactus Forest Loop
The Cactus Forest Loop
And now to the east. Unlike the west side, only one road leads into East Saguaro National Park. On the way in, you’ll pass the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center, where you can stop for drinking water and a bathroom before entering. A toll booth sells passes if you need one. Once you’re through it, you’ll start the Cactus Forest Loop, East Saguaro National Park’s version of the Bajada Loop. This 8-mile road is paved and in good condition. Pullouts along the way provide tons of opportunities to admire the cactus forest and the surrounding mountains. The Rincons are to the east. Look north to see the Santa Catalinas. The Cactus Forest Loop connects many of the best things to do in Saguaro National Park, including hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and the Javelina Rocks. Most of the loop is one-way. Head left from the entrance to drive it clockwise.
You can bike on the Cactus Forest Loop instead of driving. It’s paved, sparing you the dust of the Bajada Loop. The road heads uphill, at times steeply. I watched a biker start the ride down, which looked thrilling. I’d think of it more as a conditioning trail than a laidback ride.
7. Scenic overlooks
Riparian Overlook
The east side of Saguaro National Park is more generous with the overlooks than the west side. One of the best things to do along the loop drive is stop to admire far-reaching views of the desert and its mountain ranges. You’ll reach the Future Generations Overlook just after entering the park. It’s not the most impressive viewpoint on the loop, but it’s a great first look at East Saguaro National Park after the anticipation of the drive. From here, I’d say pull over anywhere that looks cool. Make sure not to miss the Riparian Overlook on the far side of the Cactus Forest Loop. This viewpoint is perched over a canyon in the Rincon Mountains with some impressive saguaro-covered slopes.
8. Climb on the Javelina Rocks
Javelina Rocks
You’ll reach the Javelina Rocks toward the end of the Cactus Forest Loop, around mile six of eight. If you arrive later in the day, watching the sunset here is one of the best things to do in Saguaro National Park. At any time of day, it’s fun to climb onto the huge slabs of ancient rock to admire the surrounding desert vistas. The rocks got their name because javelinas like to visit them, not because of their shape. I spent way too long trying to see how they could look like a javelina. They don’t. Nor did I see any animals beyond lizards, but it can’t hurt to look. The Javelina Rocks are part of the volcanic core of the Rincon Mountains. Time, stretching, and pressure changed the granite to gneiss, a beautiful banded rock. Look for lime green lichens and a smattering of cacti growing, seemingly impossibly, from the rocks.
9. Hike the trails
If you’re looking for backcountry hiking trails, head to East Saguaro National Park. Long trails explore remote areas of the Rincon Mountains that are only accessible on foot or horseback. Several campsites are in the undeveloped eastern part of the park. Make a reservation if you plan on camping. For the rest of us, here are a few of the best approachable day hikes in East Saguaro National Park.
Desert Ecology Trail
Saguaros, creosote, and prickly pear along the Desert Ecology Trail
Distance: 0.3-mile loop
Elevation gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
The Desert Ecology Trail is a gentle hike that takes you through lush desert scenery without intense terrain or a big time commitment. It only takes about ten minutes to complete, short enough to tackle on a hot day without the risk of overdoing it. This quarter-mile loop is flat, even, and paved. It’s doable with a wheelchair or stroller. Benches and interpretative signs encourage you to take your time. If you’re traveling with a dog, the Desert Ecology Trail is one of the best things to do in Saguaro National Park, a rare dog-friendly hike.
Mica View Loop
Crested saguaro at Mica View
Distance: 3.8-mile loop
Elevation gain: 100 feet
Difficulty: Easy
A short detour from the Cactus Forest Loop will bring you to the Mica View picnic area. It has BBQ grills and a canopy shading most of the tables, making it one of the best picnic spots in Saguaro National Park. Make sure to look for the crested saguaro about 200 feet past the restroom. Biologists aren’t quite sure what causes this rare growth pattern, which affects about one out of every 200,000 saguaros. Although unusual, crested saguaros are healthy. You can recognize them by the fan shape at the top.
A network of trails begins at the picnic area. The Mica View Trail is a 0.7-mile dog-friendly trail. Turn around when you reach Broadway Blvd for a flat and easy out-and-back hike. If you don’t have a dog with you, connecting trails create some rewarding loop hikes, like the 3.8-mile Mica View, Cactus Forest, and Mica View Loop.
Cactus Forest Trail
The Cactus Forest Trail has excellent saguaros
Distance: Up to 10 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 500 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
The full Cactus Forest Trail runs north to south through East Saguaro National, crossing the Cactus Forest Loop Drive twice along the way. It’s a rare trail in Saguaro National Park that allows bikes. It’s fairly flat and easy but gets narrow and uneven at times. The full trail makes for a long hike, a little over 10 miles roundtrip. For a rewarding short hike, start at the trailhead at the north end of the Cactus Forest Loop Drive, just past the Desert Ecology Trail. Make the easy stroll to the lime kilns, about a 2-mile roundtrip. You’ll reach the old kilns with interpretive information about their history.
10. Find the Freeman Homestead Site
Freeman Homestead Trail
Distance: 1-mile loop
Elevation gain: 100 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Towards the end of the Cactus Forest Loop Drive, a short detour branches off to the Javelina Picnic Area and the Freeman Homestead Trail, one of the best short hikes in Saguaro National Park. This easy loop has kid-friendly signs explaining desert ecology. In theory, it’s a good place to see owls. I didn’t see any, but there were plenty of birds and lizards.
The trail ends at the site of the former Freeman Homestead. Little trace of it remains. Sand covers all but a small corner of the foundation where the house stood. It’s worth taking a moment to read the sign about the Freeman family. What jumps out first is how many people lived together in a three-room house in a remote part of the desert. I hope they got along. After finishing the hike, you can head back to the Cactus Forest Loop or stop at the Javelina Picnic Area. It has shaded tables and many curious birds like cactus wrens and curve-billed thrashers. No javelina when I visited, as usual.
Curve-bill thrasher at the Javelina Picnic Area
Fun facts about saguaro ages
Saguaros are all about the long game. In ten years, they’re only a few inches tall, still vulnerable and easily trampled. They get their first flowers when they’re several decades old, around the time they reach the height of an adult human.
The saguaro on the right is around 3 feet tall and about 25-40 years old. On the left is a teddy bear cholla.
Saguaros get their first arm after 50 to 70 years, if at all. After that, it’s a free-for-all. Some never grow arms. Some are neat and symmetrical about it. Others go off the rails, with arms shooting off in every direction. Saguaros are considered adults after about 125 years. The tallest of them can reach 75 feet tall and weigh several tons. Some live to be 200 years old and possibly older.
After the first arm, anything goes
When to visit Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park could be a fun visit any time of year, but it’s best from late fall through spring when temperatures are milder. It’s rare to see snow except at higher elevations. Wildflowers and some cacti start blooming in Saguaro National Park at the end of February or early March. They peak around mid-March to mid-April. Look for crowns of white flowers on the saguaros beginning in late April through early June. After the flowers fade, red cactus fruit appears in summer. Keep in mind that July through September is monsoon season around Tucson. These storms are beautiful but can cause flash floods. Temperatures in summer can also be brutal. It’s not unusual for them to get over 110 F during the day.
Ocotillo flowers in late February
What to bring to Saguaro National Park
Water bottle and trail snacks
Comfortable, close-toed shoes and long pants (those cactus spines are no joke)
Tweezers in case you need to pull out some cactus spines
Hat for the sun and sunglasses
Camera
Shade is hard to come by in Saguaro National Park
Getting there
Google Maps has trouble finding the entrances to Saguaro National Park with the name alone. The two sides of the park confuse things. Put the physical address of either East or West Saguaro National into your GPS rather than the park name:
West Saguaro National Park: 2700 N. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona 85743
East Saguaro National Park: 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, Arizona 85730
West Saguaro National Park is a 30-minute drive west of downtown Tucson. East Saguaro is a 30-minute drive east of downtown. It takes an hour to drive between them.
Trail buddy
Best things to do in Saguaro National Park, the summary:
Red Hills Visitor Center and Desert Discovery Nature Trail
Drive the Bajada Scenic Loop
Visit the Signal Hill Petroglyphs
Check out the hiking trails
Visit the Desert Museum
Drive the Cactus Forest Loop
Stop at the overlooks
Climb on the Javelina Rocks
Hike the trails
Find the Freeman Homestead Site
Enjoy your trip to Saguaro National Park!
With love,
Emma
Explore nearby
For another incredible desert excursion with plenty of saguaros, check out Tucson’s Sabino Canyon.
Find tips on visiting Tucson in the winter.
