Saguaro National Park Travel Guide

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If you are planning a trip to Saguaro National Park, I have the perfect travel guide and itinerary for you. Saguaro National Park is located in the state of Arizona, in the southwestern United States. It is near the city of Tucson. This park is so unique, with its colossal size cacti, some reaching heights of over 50 feet and living for centuries.

Which Side is Better for Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park is divided into two sides: the Rincon Mountain District (East) and the Tucson Mountain District (West). There isn’t a definitively “better” side of Saguaro National Park. The East side offers more diverse long trail hiking, bigger saguaros. The West side has smaller but more saguaros, shorter more accessible trails (perfect for kids and family).

The two sides are about 30 miles apart and about a 1 hour drive. So it is totally doable to see both sides of the park during your visit. Here are some observations I found after my first time visiting last year.

The Rincon Mountain District (East)

Located closer to Tucson
Bigger cacti with more arms – better photographs of individual cacti but a lot less saguaros
Higher elevation which means iconic hike views of pine-dotted mountains
Rewarding long hikes and picnic oppurtunities
8 Mile Cactus Forest Loop Drive
More directed, slower drive with better signs at the pullouts

The Tucson Mountain District (West)

Great for impressing your cousins from Ohio or Kansas ;P)
Scenic Bajada Loop Drive
Great for short, flat hike/walk trails
More saguaros and dramatic vistas (incredible sunset views)
Great for impressing your cousins from Ohio or Kansas ;P)
Scenic drive through Gates Pass and Tucson Mountain park
Close to Desert Museum
Signal Hill Petroglyphs

Ultimately, I don’t think there’s a single “better” side of Saguaro National Park.

Choose the East if: You prioritize longer, more challenging hikes, diverse ecosystems, and sweeping panoramic views.
Choose the West if: You want to immerse yourself in the quintessential dense saguaro forests, enjoy dramatic mountain backdrops, and prefer shorter, more accessible trails.

In the end, I suggest you explore both the east side and west side as they are 1 hour apart.

Distance from Major Cities

Tucson: Expect a scenic drive of just 15-30 minutes to the West District and 20-40 minutes to the East District, depending on your specific destination.

Phoenix: The journey from Phoenix takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours to the West District and 2 to 2 hours and 15 minutes to the East District.

Scottsdale: Plan for a drive of around 2 to 2 hours and 15 minutes to the West District and 2 hours and 15 minutes to 2 hours and 30 minutes to the East District.

Best Time to Visit

The best times to visit Saguaro National Park are during the spring (March to May) and fall (October to November) when temperatures typically fall between the high 50s and the mid-70s. If you visit in the spring, you might catch the cacti in bloom!

Where to Stay

The beauty about Saguaro National Park is that Tucson is centrally located between the east and west sections of the park making it a perfect base for your trip. So there is no shortage of Airbnb and hotel options in Tucson.

>>>AirBnB options in Tucson , >>>Hotel options in Tucson

Alternatively there are backcountry campgrounds (meaning you have to hike, not accessible by car) six different campgrounds in the park, which honestly would be such a beautiful experience as you will be able to see the whole sky filled with stars at night! There are no lodging or accommodations inside the park.

>>>Book your campsite here!

Entrance Fees: You can expect $30 per vehicle but if you plan on visiting more than one park this year we suggest you go ahead and purchase the America the Beautiful Pass (which can be found at the entrance gates to most national parks). This pass gets you into all National Parks, Forests, Monuments, and more including 2,000 sites for free after a one time $79 fee.

Best Things to Do in Saguaro National Park

RINCON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT (East )

Located on the east side of Tucson, the Rincon Mountain District is the largest of the park and is massive compared to the west side. Even their saguaros are bigger. It would not be a bad idea to explore this section first. I think one day is more than enough time to explore the east side of the park so let’s get started.

Fun Fact: Saguaros can store hundreds of gallons of water during rainfall and at full capacity a saguaro can weigh over a ton.

Tanque Verde Ridge Trail

The Tanque Verde Ridge trail is a beautiful hike that will take you along the ridgeline of the mountain while slowly creeping up in elevation. While the hike is 17.5 miles, you can hike as far as you want and then turn back when you get tired. It is a steep, rocky trail. and is quite the leg workout! The views are incredible throughout, especially at sunset.

Pro-Tip: Once a year the saguaro cactus produce ruby colored fruit ( Carnegiea gigantea) that usually ripens by late June. The fruit is full of pulp and seeds, high in proteins and fats and has a nutty flavor. The fruit can be eaten raw, cooked, dehydrated and made into syrups or jams. You can also find sweet prickly pears (Opuntia velutina)

Bridal Wreath Fall Trail

The Bridal Wreath Falls hike in Saguaro National Park East is a 7.8 mile hike that culminates in a waterfall (depending on the season). See waterfalls and if you are lucky some bighorn sheep. This hike would be best done in the morning as the trail is very exposed and there is hardly any shade.

Fun Fact: Saguaro is pronounced “suh·waa·row”

Cactus Forest Scenic Loop Drive

Cactus Forest Scenic Loop Drive is an 8 mile paved loop road that starts at the visitor center and takes you through the east side of the park. Along the drive, there are several scenic pullouts and trailheads with access to hiking trails.

While It’s only 8 miles, we took our time, stopping for photographs, and short walks along the way, it took us over 3 hours to get all the way around.

Mica View Trail

I really enjoyed walking on the Mica View trail in the east park. We did this hike to stretch our legs while driving the cactus forest scenic drive loop. This trail is 1.5 miles, flat and has beautiful, unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains to and from. You will walk through colossal size cacti, with views of Mica Mountain in the distance. If you don’t have time to do the hike, you should definitely at least stop at the trailhead picnic area and soak in the views for a bit.

Javelina Rocks Overlook

Javelina Rocks Overlook is located roughly 6 miles into the Cactus Forest Loop Drive, on the right side of the road. It is a much loved area for viewing the sunset, and spotting javelinas. For us, it was a loved area for having fun and taking all kinds of photos with different shots on the rocks. These rocks are made to climb, so climb we did. The views were incredible!

Side Note: We did not see any Javelinas while we were there. They are most active in the morning and the evening.

TUCSON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT (West)

The Tucson Mountain District is located west of Tucson and smaller than the east side. However, it carries a load of hiking trails filled with saguaros and desert landscapes. Most of the activities and hiking trails run off of the Badajo Loop Scenic Drive making many of the activities easy and accessible for a one day visit.

Hike Wasson Peak

When the month of April gives you a perfect day in the mid-70s, you absolutely must go hiking! And what better hike than hiking Wasson Peak, an 8 mile hike that takes you to the highest point on the west of Saguaro. While we did not get to this hike, I hope to come back and challenge myself to hike Wasson Peak.

Desert Discovery Trail

For a quick and accessible experience, the 0.4-mile paved Desert Discovery Trail features saguaros, desert plants, and interpretive signs. It’s also a rare dog-friendly option in Saguaro National Park West. However, if time is short, we recommend prioritizing the Valley View Overlook Trail for a more profound natural experience and superior views.

Bajada Loop Scenic Drive

For an immersive Saguaro National Park experience, take the 6-mile Bajada Loop Drive. This dirt loop presents stunning saguaro views, valley overlooks, and trailheads (valley overlook and signal hill). The drive is made up of two roads- Hohokam Road and Golden Gate Road. Some parts of the drive are only one- way, so I suggest doing the drive counter clockwise to avoid having to turn around.

Valley View Overlook Trail

Valley Overlook Trail is accessible from the Bajada Loop drive. From Hohokam Road, there is a small pullout for parking, with the trailhead to this hike. The trail itself is only about 0.8mi / 1.3km long, out and back. It is a light, easy and minimal effort trail and you get rewarded with some pretty awesome views.

Note: The parking lot is very small, it can hold maybe up to 5 or so cars. We had to drive around the loop road for about 20 minutes in order to get back to the same spot and find parking.

Signal Hills Trail

Another excellent hike just off the Bajada loop drive is Signal Hills Trail. It is a blend of history and natural beauty. One I had not seen before. On this trail you can see Native American petroglyphs created by the Hohokam, showcasing animals, humans, plants, and geometric designs. The summit also offers stunning desert views, and a convenient picnic area is located near the parking lot.

Gates Pass

You will most likely travel through Gates Pass if you are driving from Tucson to Saguaro National Park West. Also, you don’t need to pay an entry fee to access this area, as it is not part of Saguaro National Park . The road has stunning saguaro scenery.

This location provides access to hiking trails, including Yetman Trail and Gates Pass Trail. Additionally, Gates Pass Scenic Overlook makes for a stunning place to watch the sunset.

Stargazing

Even though Tucson is only a few miles away, starry skies are seen throughout the park. NPS Photo

Stargazing is one of the funnest things to do in Saguaro National Park. While there is some light pollution from the bustling city of Tucson, it’s not as much as you might think, thanks to the mountains blocking out most of the city lights. Saguaro National Park was certified as a Night Sky Urban Place by the International Dark Sky Association in 2023.

To enjoy spectacular stargazing without hiking, head to the western section of Saguaro National Park, west of Gates Pass, where the night sky offers nearly pristine views. The remote Manning Camp, accessible via hiking trails, provides unparalleled celestial views.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

The highly recommended Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, a Tucson highlight, is situated just outside Saguaro National Park West. It honestly is more than just a regular museum. You get to see all the birds and critters that would normally take years of hiking to see… It has a zoo, art gallery, aquarium and botanical gardens. So it would be a nice place to visit if you have kids or if it’s too hot outside to be outside. Though we missed it on this trip, we plan to visit in the future, given its strong local endorsements.