Guide to Saguaro National Park in Arizona
Saguaro National Park in Arizona is an icon of the American Southwest. While it’s often overshadowed by one of Arizona’s other popular parks (you know, that one with the big canyon), this desert gem has a lot to offer. Set within the mountains near the border of Mexico, this park is lush with some of the oldest and tallest cacti in the world! It’s split into two districts with the vibrant city of Tucson located in between (and the food scene here is worth the trip alone). With so much to see across the vast Sonoran Desert, this guide breaks down everything you need to start planning your weekend trip to Saguaro National Park in Arizona.
Get ready for a true American Southwest experience with this is your guide to Saguaro National Park in Arizona.
The Basics
Entrance Fee: $25/vehicle. If you’re planning to visit three or more National Parks this year, be sure to pick up an America the Beautiful Pass to save on entrance fees.
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Tucson Mountain District (west) Hours:
Sunrise – Sunset year-round
Rincon Mountain District (east) Hours:
5:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (summer)
5:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (winter)
Notable Wildlife: Rattlesnakes, scorpions, javelinas, roadrunners, Gila monsters, desert tortoise
Pets: Leashed pets are allowed on roadways, picnic areas, and paved trails. Leashes must not exceed six feet in length. Be sure to protect your pet from cactus spines, poisonous wildlife, heatstroke, and burned paws from hot sand or pavement.
Getting to Saguaro National Park
Tucson has its own international airport (TUC). It’s also a quick and easy 90-minute drive from Phoenix, which makes a visit to Saguaro National Park even more accessible. We found flying into Phoenix and renting a car for the short road trip to be the most cost-effective way to travel here. Depending on where you’re traveling from, taking a non-stop flight to Phoenix and then making the drive may be the quickest way to get to the park as well.
You will need a car to get around – there is no shuttle service available in the park.
Additionally, Tucson is a sprawling desert city, so it takes about a 30-minute drive to reach either district of the park. That means that driving from the east side of the park to the west side takes about an hour.
Listen on the Drive: The Ultimate Desert Southwest Playlist
Best Time to Visit Saguaro National Park
Like all desert locations, the weather in Saguaro National Park brings warm days and chilly nights. The summer heat in the park can be intense and dangerous. I recommend avoiding a visit in June through August unless you’re well acclimated to the scorching desert heat. Summer is also monsoon season.
Arizona has some of the most pleasant winter weather in the country, so this is a good time to visit weather-wise, but it also means this is when visitors flock to the area. November through February is the peak tourist season in Saguaro National Park.
Visiting during the shoulder seasons of spring and fall will offer you comfortable temps and fewer crowds. Bonus: if you visit in the spring, you might catch the cacti in bloom!
The best times to visit are March through early May and mid-September through October.
How Much Time Do You Need in Saguaro National Park?
Like most National Parks, you could visit again and again and discover something new every time. That being said, a weekend in Saguaro National Park is an ideal amount of time for your visit. With a full weekend, you’ll have time to check out everything in this guide as well as spend some time exploring Tucson. The park can be done in a day if needed, but if you’re going to go this route I recommend sticking to just one district to cut down on time spent driving.
Which District is Better – East or West?
The question of superiority between the two districts comes up a lot. The Tucson Mountain District on the west side of the park is definitely the most popular and is what most will dub the better of the two. Here you’ll find a higher concentration of saguaros, like a forest of desert flora. You’ll be awestruck by the sheer quantity of cacti lining the hilly landscape on this side of the park. This is also where you’ll find several of the most popular trailheads and sights such as Valley View Overlook and Signal Hill. If you only have time to visit one side of the park, I’m going to agree with the consensus and say you shouldn’t miss the Tucson Mountain (west) District.
Although it has noticeably fewer saguaros, the Rincon Mountain District on the park’s east side is absolutely worth a visit as well. Set against a backdrop of the Rincon Mountains, the views here are also pretty spectacular. I found that, while I preferred the trails on the west side of the park, I liked the scenic drive on the east side better than its counterpart. Additionally, since many travelers only visit the west side of the park, finding solitude is an easier task in this district.
If you have the opportunity to visit both sides of the park, definitely do so. With a full weekend in the park, you won’t have any trouble getting to explore both districts.
Where to Stay
AirBnB
In Saguaro National Park, you won’t have to forego city amenities for that National Park wilderness experience. Tucson is centrally located between the east and west districts of the park, making it the perfect base for your trip. As Arizona’s second-largest city, there’s no shortage of AirBnB and hotel options in Tucson.
STAYING IN THE PARK
Backcountry camping is available with a permit at six different campgrounds in the park. These are only accessible by foot. There are no lodges or accommodations for vehicle camping in the park.
Food & Drinks
While we’re on the subject of Tucson, we’ve got to talk about the food. Tucson is a UNESCO “City of Gastronomy” (it was the first American city to receive this honor, in fact). This means that a large portion of the restaurants here use traditional culinary practices and local ingredients native to the Sonoran region. In short, come hungry.
The park itself doesn’t have any restaurants or food vendors, so be sure to bring along snacks or a picnic to hold you over. Don’t snack too much though – you’ll definitely want to save room for a few tacos or a Sonoran dog in Tucson.
Read More: Weekend Guide to Tucson
Things to Do at Saguaro National Park in Arizona
Tucson Mountain District (West)
The Tucson Mountain District is located west of Tucson and is the most visited unit of the park. Although it’s smaller and younger than the east side of the park, the saguaros here are denser.
Gates Pass
Located along the crest of the Tucson Mountains, this entire road has a gorgeous display of saguaros at every turn. Gates Pass isn’t technically part of Saguaro National Park, so you won’t need to pay an entry fee to access this area. If you’re up for a hike, there are several trailheads that start from Gass Pass Road (check out Yetman Trail and Gates Pass Trail). You’ll definitely want to be sure to check out Gates Pass Scenic Overlook while you’re here!
Gates Pass Scenic Overlook is a local favorite for sunset.
PLANNING TIP: Gates Pass is near the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, so plan to do these together if you’re interested in visiting both. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is so much more than just a museum, and you can find out more about it in my Weekend Guide to Tucson.
Desert Discovery Nature Trail
0.5 mile (0.8 km) Loop | Easy
What this trail lacks in distance, it makes up for in beauty. This short, paved trail will bring you through an area rich with desert flora. Interpretive signs along the trail give you insight into the desert ecosystem and wildlife as well. It’s such a lovely and easy stroll, so you definitely shouldn’t miss this one on your first trip to the park!
Valley View Overlook Trail
0.8-mile (1.3 km) Out-and-Back | Easy
This is an excellent spot to get up close to some of the largest saguaros in the park! There’s a dense population of cacti along this short trail, making for quite the scenic hike. The path winds its way up a steady incline, peaking at a stunning overlook of the valley below. I challenge you to visit this trail and not fall in love with the desert (it’s just not possible).
This is not only my favorite location in the park but also my favorite spot to watch the sunset.
HEADS UP: You may come across a number of bees while hiking here. I’m not going to lie, Joe and I are both pretty scared of bees (we love what they do, just not being around them while they do it). This was still our favorite trail in the park, so if you’re fearful of bees as well, don’t let this deter you. Just be aware you might cross paths.
Signal Hills Trail
0.2-mile (0.3-km) Out-and-Back | Easy
If you’re looking for a little dose of history during your visit, Signal Hills is just the place. A short hike up the hill will give you the opportunity to view prehistoric Native American petroglyphs! The drawings were made by the Hohokam, and they depict mostly animals, humans, plants, and geometric shapes. In addition to the fascinating petroglyphs, reaching the top of the hill brings excellent views of the desert. There’s also a great picnic area near the parking lot here.
Bajada Loop Scenic Drive
This five-mile, unpaved loop drive in the park’s western Tucson Mountain District is brimming with gorgeous cacti. This is also where you’ll find the trailheads for Valley View Overlook and Signal Hills. The Bajada Loop Drive is made up of two roads – Hohokam Road and Golden Gate Road. Portions of the drive are one-way, so the best way to do the loop is counter-clockwise to avoid having to turn around.
Rincon Mountain District (East)
Located east of Tucson, the Rincon Mountain District is the largest portion of the park. Here you’ll find a vast desert landscape set against a backdrop of the Rincon Mountains. Despite its size and beauty, it sees far fewer visitors each year than the west side of the park.
Cactus Forest Scenic Loop Drive
Alright, so you can’t really visit this side of the park without taking this drive because it’s the only road that traverses the east district. This 8-mile, paved road was my favorite of the two scenic drives in the park. Adding to the experience, there are several pull-offs and scenic vistas throughout the drive as well.
Mica View Trail
3.7-mile (5.9 km) Loop | Easy
This trail gives you the chance to walk amongst an abundance of cacti with views of Mica Mountain in the distance. I’ve heard that jackrabbits and roadrunners hang out around here! We didn’t spot any, but maybe you’ll have better luck. There’s also a picnic area at this trailhead as well. Even if you don’t have time to hike the full trail, definitely make a stop here to hike what you can.
SKIP THE DESERT ECOLOGY TRAIL
We made a stop here and were bummed to find it was not remotely scenic. The entire trail was surrounded by dead and decaying cacti, so, unless you’re into that, go ahead and skip this one. There are interpretive signs throughout the trail, but that’s not enough to really make this a worthy stop in my opinion.
Javelina Rocks
This rocky overlook is named for the desert critter that likes to hang out here. We visited at midday and didn’t see any javelinas, but definitely be on the lookout – especially if you visit in the morning or evening when they’re most active. Feel free to climb and explore the rocks here – the views are excellent!
SAFETY TIP: Be on the lookout for rattlesnakes or other desert dwellers in rocky areas. Desert dwellers often hide out in these spots to keep cool, so never pick up rocks or stick your hands or feet anywhere that you can’t see.
Saguaro National Park in Arizona is truly an iconic Southwest experience. From the enchanting desert trails to the thriving culture in Tucson, there’s something for everyone here. Do you have any questions before your trip that I didn’t cover here? Let me know in the comments below!
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