But we also checked out a few smaller sites, events, and hikes in the park that are worth mentioning. While the park is hot and relatively unmanageable during the summers, it is a great place to take advantage of the many hikes in Saguaro National Park in winter and other times of the year. Hiking the Sweetwater Trail to Wasson Peak in Saguaro National Park near Tucson, ... TUCSON: Best Hikes | Saguaro National Park (FULL HD) - Duration: 4:09. To explore all the U.S. National Parks at our own pace and off the beaten path. A permit is required for overnight stays in the backcountry, the fee is $6 a night per campsite. Kristin went in with low expectations, and she ended up loving the park. Highlighted with great views with Avra Valley below and Picacho Peak to the north, this is a short and easy trail that shouldn’t be missed. Your email address will not be published. I give you my two favorite trails one in Saguaro East on the left and one in Saguaro West on the right. Saguaro National Park invita al publico atender un programa especial en espanol ofrecido en pedido a grupos familiares y escolares. If you have more time, add a backpacking trip in Rincon Mountain District. After the park acquired the grazing rights, young saguaro are growing again, but they’ll take years to get to where they used to be. Bring more water and snacks than you think you’ll need. A half day is all you need to see the highlights, but with more time you can tour the entire park, go on a day hike, or camp in the backcountry. Many people think exploring this 91,440-acre desert park is all about dodging the tall, spiny cacti that earned the place its name. Saguaro National Park offers more than 160 miles of hiking trails, ranging from short interpretive hikes to day-long adventures in the Saguaro wilderness (designated in 1976). The trail travels on for several more miles but I think this marks a good point to head back. The park’s namesake, saguaro cacti dominate the landscape, which consists of desert flats and rugged mountain ranges. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). Stay alert. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Trailhead Traveler - HIKE CALIFORNIA - Unisex T-Shirt, Trailhead Traveler - HIKE MONTANA - Unisex T-Shirt, 6 Best Day Hikes in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, 9 Best Day Hikes in Sequoia National Park, 6 Best Day Hikes in Crater Lake National Park, 10 Best Day Hikes in Grand Teton National Park, 4 Best Day Hikes in Pinnacles National Park, Best Hikes in San Juan National Forest (CO), Best Hikes in Rio Grande National Forest (CO), Best Hikes in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests (CO), Best Hikes in White River National Forest (CO). Saguaro cacti and mountains in Saguaro National Park. The trailhead is located off Kinney Road across from the Desert Museum. Coyote along Desert Loop Trail at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, The Mam-A-Gah Picnic Area en route to Wasson Peak. Kristin went in with low expectations, and she ended up loving the park. There are five trailheads which provide access to the Park's roughly 58,000 acres of desert and mountain terrain. For over a mile the path is through thick vegetation beside the creek, and almost level, but then begins a steady climb up a steep, manzanita-covered hillside, ending at a junction with the Heartbreak Ridge Trail. . This park is wild, and we ran into a western diamondback rattlesnake in the middle of. Click here for more National Park hikes!You can also view some of our most popular Gear Recommendations here! Due to grazing and some cold snaps, a lot of young saguaros died. This view at an overlook on the Cactus Forest Loop Drive used to have hundreds of saguaros. Perfect Day: Saguaro National Park. In the north of the Rincon Mountain District (RMD), the 5.2-mile roundtrip Douglas Spring Trail begins among towering saguaro cacti but takes you up into the foothills of the Rincon Mountains. I will be visiting both the east and west side, so please recommend hikes for both :) Hiking groups are limited to a maxi-mum of eighteen people. Switchbacks for the last mile get you to the top of Wasson Peak (4687′). From a trailhead on the east edge of Saguaro National Park, at the end of W Camino del Cerro (5.7 miles west of I-10 exit 252), the Sweetwater Trail follows a ravine for most of its 3.4 miles, climbing up to a narrow ridge running southwards from Wasson Peak, where the path joins the King Canyon Trail. I created ‘Trailhead Traveler’ for those wanting to know the can’t miss hikes on their next upcoming trip; the trails that will stay in your memory long after you’ve left. Harvey Barrison. Assume you're carrying all your own water, a gallon per person, per day. Given its location in the Sonoran Desert, winter and the shoulder seasons are the best times to visit Saguaro National Park. Saguaro National Park offers more than 160 miles of hiking trails, ranging from short interpretive hikes to day-long adventures in the Saguaro wilderness (designated in 1976). It offers some of the best close-up views in "Saguaro East "of the mature cacti that are the signature plant of the park. This hike is less than 1 mile. Accessed from the eastern boundary of the park, this trail gets you to the 3rd highest summit in Saguaro (8482′). Por mas informacion o para pedir este programa concorde a sus planes en visitar el parque, por favor llame al centro de visita oeste (520) 733-5158 y pregunte por el guia Freddy Fernandez. If you are in need of some new BOOTS, a new TENT or SLEEPING BAG, TREK POLES, etc. Both districts have plants and animals that are similar, but you will find a Saguaro forest in the Tucson Mountain District (TMD) to the west and possible sightings of bears, cougars and coati in … This trail is less than a mile, but still one of the best hikes in Tucson. The trailhead can be found at the end of Signal Hill Road off of Golden Gate Road. On Tucson's west side, much of the Tucson Mountains are located in Saguaro National Park West, where a forest of saguaros dots the jagged mountainsides. Both of these trails can be hiked as a short one or two mile hike with great views. Before you visit Saguaro National Park, there are a few things you need to know about this beautiful part of the Sonoran Desert. Here are our favorite spots in the park, along with some tips for visiting. 5 Recommended Hikes in Saguaro National Park 1. His favorite 20.3-mile route - including a 4,500-foot climb - reaches overlooks of Tucson and far beyond. Pin. please consider buying after clicking on one of the links on our site! Being so close to a larger city like Tucson makes Saguaro a very unique place to visit and allows people that wouldn’t necessarily venture to a more secluded park to get out and explore this desert landscape. Hikes in Saguaro National Park Desert hiking can be a killer, literally. With two districts, there is more than enough opportunity to appreciate the majestic Saguaro Cactus that covers the park grounds. HEY YOU, reading this page! Or use a National Park pass ($80 for annual pass) | Trailhead Location. Saguaro National Park is a dream destination for those that want to feel humbled by the environment and have an obsession with all things desert (that’s me!).. Visit the Desert Museum Those planning to do any serious hiking at Saguaro National Park are strongly advised to talk with rangers about their plans before setting out, and then to carry at least a gallon of water per day per person. This area has been the backdrop of countless Old West movies and television shows filmed at the nearby Old Tucson. Go during spring or fall, avoid the summer heat. Combining Mica View, Mesquite, Cholla, and Cactus Forest Trails, hikers get an easy, relatively short hike through the desert landscape. 7 Best Day Hikes in Lassen Volcanic National Park Lassen Volcanic National Park is a hiker's paradise, offering everything from lakeshore strolls to summit hikes to backcountry adventures. A crested saguaro (at mile 2.5) is a unique view, as well as "the Dome" (a large exposed surface at mile 3) offers even more breath-taking views. Admits one single, private, non-commercial vehicle or RV and all its passengers. The trailhead is off Easy Happy Valley Road next to a fenced, private property. You'll see saguaro cactus at every turn in this park, whether you're looking for a nearby lake, petroglyphs, or a great hike. Honorable mention: Tucson food scene. We did the best we could, but still ended up hiking during the hottest time of day. It's 8 looping, winding miles of untouched saguaro beauty, with plenty of pullouts for photo-taking opportunities and hikes to check out along the way. Only found in a small portion of the U.S., these majestic behemoths are preserved in the desert landscape of the park. https://groganandgrogan.com/11-best-hiking-trails-saguaro-national-park If you’ve visited Joshua Tree and loved it, then Saguaro National Park might be next on your list – it’s a similar vibe but with big cactuses instead of Joshua Trees, and with a … The trailhead is next to the parking lot off of Cactus Forest Drive. The Rincon Mountain District also offers plenty of other trails for longer day hikes as well as trips into the high-country wilderness. If you’re looking for an introduction to hiking in Tucson, but don’t have a lot of time, then check out the Valley View Overlook Trail. Saguaro National Park is a beautiful park that sandwiches Tuscon, Arizona and is divided into West and East. The weather can make it uncomfortable in the hot summer months so most visitors go between November and March. West Saguaro Hikes: 1. On our visit, we did nearly a dozen hikes in this spectacular park. The History Of Saguaro National Park. Your email address will not be published. The trailhead is on Bajada Loop Drive 3.5 miles north of Red Hills Visitor Center. Both districts have plants and animals that are similar, but you will find a Saguaro forest in the Tucson Mountain District (TMD) to the west and possible sightings of bears, cougars and coati in … The hike is more about the destination, not the journey, but there are plenty of picture-worthy views on your way. Much like we experienced in Saguaro National Park itself, I was pleasantly surprised – this time by the amount of high-quality and different varieties of cuisine we were able to try during our trip. For more National Park guides from Kim, check out her 7 day Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Park Itinerary or her 7-day Florida National Park Itinerary. That makes Saguaro a true four-season destination. The Tucson Mountain District sits 10 miles west of Tucson while the Rincon Mountain District (my personal favorite) lies 10 miles east. The beautiful weather and spectacular scenery that Tucson is known for is on full display throughout the myriad of picturesque hikes that can be found in the area. Overview. This is a steep trail to the summit of Stafford Peak offering great views of Tucson and the entire West district of Saguaro National Park. Tucson, AZ separates Saguaro National Park into two regions – Tucson Mountain District (West) and Rincon Mountain District (East). Best Hikes and Planning Guide ... Saguaro National Park surprised us around every turn. Best hikes in Saguaro? Winter might be nice too, especially if you see the rare snow on the saguaro cacti. A gradual climb through the rocky desert until you get to Sweetwater Trail junction where the trail steepens. Kim’s also into long-distance hiking and plans to hike the backcountry of Saguaro National Park someday when she tackles the Arizona Trail. An eastern collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) on Tanque Verde Trail. 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