This is also the only place to camp inside the park and it offers miles of backcountry trails, perfect for those who want to leave the crowds behind. GRAND CANYON: Check out our guides to the Best Things to Do on the South Rim, how to spend one perfect day in the Grand Canyon, and which South Rim viewpoints are the best ones to visit. Also don't forget to catch the sunrise (or sunset) at Delicate Arch. However, because they are rare the odds of finding them are improved in places where there are numerous saguaro cacti. My family spent several hours here, both at the East and West side. One trail is handicap accessible and paved.Allot plenty of time, 3 or 4 hours. Plus, its flat and easy and great for all ages. Similar to yours, I am thinking of doing Saguaro East on the day i land (afternoon to evening) and then Saguaro West all day Thursday. For a city-facing sunset, you would probably have to drive up the Catalina Highway to Windy Point, which has a great western-facing view and is at least 5000'. more. Call the park's visitor center at 520-733-5158 for updates the day of the program. This is more of a zoo than a museum, with animal exhibits, an aquarium, and botanical gardens, and it also has a natural history museum. In fact, it was featured in our list of the best trails in all the national parks! These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Valley View Overlook Trail. Really appreciate your informative descriptions. It is also far less crowded. Access road to the Mica View picnic area. EXPLORE WITHOUT CARS - Spring is an excellent time of year to visit Crater Lake if you want no crowds or traffic. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Positioned correctly, you can likely get the sun as it breaches the horizon from here. Continue to the end of the trail for a great viewpoint of the park. Wasson Peak is one of the most spectacular places in Saguaro National Park. On the way to the top, there's a particularly good view of saguaro as the slopes descend toward the valley floor. It was short, flat, and easy. The best place to view the sunset on the east side is either the Tanque Verde Ridge trail (.5 mile hike) or the Javelina Rocks pull out. This was high on our list do to but we skipped it due to high temperatures in the park. LOVE THE NATIONAL PARKS?Discover 65+ Perfect Gifts for National Park Lovers. SEDONA: To learn what there is to do in Sedona, read our article Best Things to Do in Sedona. Along the road are some partial mountain saddles. The Bajada Loop Drive is currently closed, just after the Sus picnic area. In mid-June, monsoon season begins. You have everything you require for high-quality time out of the park. Required fields are marked *. Sign up for early access to our community of travelers around the globe. Going on an epic hike is the best things to do at Saguaro National Park. Or, walk a section of the Hugh Norris Trail or the Sendero Esperanza Trail. A tripod is also recommended for capturing those breathtaking night and sunset photographs. 531. Saguaro National Park West is rugged and sharp, beautiful cacti-clad mountains all around you. Saguaro is a fantastic place to wander dry washes and winding trails, smelling the sweet scented air and stopping to admire cacti and scurrying wildlife. If you do get close enough to be in danger, they do this amazing thing.they typically warn you with a rattle which means back off!. However, if you have the time, its still worth the visit. In the western part of the Tucson Mountain District, the Signal Hill Trail is a trail that leads to the petroglyphs of the ancient Hohokam people. The orientations of both park units are such that they are both behind mountains at sunrise. Specialties: Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. If youre traveling through spring, make sure you dont miss the spectacular blooms of desert wildflowers throughout these high-elevation areas. This allows unlimited access to all Federal fee areas for one year from the date of purchase. So a HUGE thank you to you if you click one of these links . Here are some things to do along the drive: Desert Ecology Trail: short walking trail similar to the Desert Discovery Nature Trail in Saguaro West. The slow-growing saguaro cacti rise an inch or two each year before reaching a mature height of 40 to 50 feet. I like the idea of Gates Pass and I don't want the city in my photos anyway. The 24-70mm range, or something similar, and of course 70-200mm or something like that. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-60041637', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Tucson doesn't have the most spectacular sunrises. In Saguaro West, the best place to watch the sunset is at the parking lot at Gates Pass. (520) 733-5159. Our website uses cookies. The Bajada Loop drive is a 6-mile graded dirt road. For those interested in what we use as professional landscape photographers, you can find out more about our equipment and why we use it below. Vehicle access is from sunrise to sunset daily. To reserve your spot call the visitor center at 520-733-5158. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The other plant and animal life just adds to the drama and beauty. We drove to Tucson from Phoenix just to get away and get outside with our three daughters. From the towering stands of saguaro cacti to the flower-filled grasslands, youll discover photographers greatest opportunities for picturesque scenes and unique photo opportunities along this well-maintained 16-mile loop. Many people mispronounce Saguaro. We did too, before our visit. Great horned owl perched on a dead tree with cactus in the background. April, however, sees relatively moderate temperatures and while the crowds have died down, the Saguaro cactuses begin to bloom. Saguaro National Park is unique in that its 92,000 acres are actually two different units separated by the city of Tucson. Beautiful scenery and great gift shop! Red Hills Visitor Center is on your left in 2 miles. While in Saguaro National Park, please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife. Therefore I would take Ina Road to Wade road for photos. Thank you very much. The hotel is located close to Saguaro National Park. Be advised: the park is split into an east side and a west side, with Tucson in between. I have wanted to visit here for decades, and finally got the chance. This is the most popular spot in the park, and for good reason. Specialty Museums, Art Galleries, Natural History Museums, Missions, Architectural Buildings, Sacred & Religious Sites. . I recommend avoiding a visit in June through August unless you're well acclimated to the scorching desert heat. The Tucson Mountain District (west) is open sunrise to sunset daily for vehicles, and open to foot and bike traffic 24 hours a day, 356 days a year. Hike through the saguaro cactus forest and spot wildlife on our nature trails, or simply relax in one of our shaded picnic areas. Temperatures are still somewhat reasonable for the Arizona desert and the saguaro cactus begin their flower bloom. This hotel has a handy location just off of Route 10. Best $15 we ever spent. Signal Hill is a great place to get some fantastic park views. If youre lucky enough to be in Saguaro National Park on a clear night, dont miss the opportunity to experience an excellent view of the Milky Way. During a visit to Saguaro National Park in September, Deputy Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau announced that over $10 million of the funding is being invested in Arizona to . Learn how to put all of this together in our Arizona Road Trip Itinerary. Although the white sands look magnificent against a blue sky, the wildflowers add unique touches of color. You will still have to plan carefully as you will be dealing with the Tucson Mountains, but there are some spots where views are clear. Start at the trail sign and follow the signs. Cost: $25 per vehicle. Looks cools though. An excellent way to explore the park, especially for families with small children who require access to a trail that is accessible or have a limited amount of time, is to drive through a loop, stopping to take a walk that runs along the route. The way we planned to do it was to start on the Sendero Esperanza Trail. Mid-Range: Cactus Cove Bed and Breakfast Inn. With both designated tent and RV sites, plus modern . With their stunning white flowers, Saguaros in bloom are certainly a sight to see. But theres no pressure, so some of them dont grow any arms at all. Here are the best things to do in Saguaro National Park, organized by location. Took the road over Gates Pass into the west park entrance. Best sunrises in Tucson. This easy trail leads you through the desert and past mine ruins, offering views of the Tucson Mountains and great photo opportunities. The only place that is narrow is the second half of Hohokam Road, which is why it is one-way here. There are a couple of easily accessible trails on the west side of Saguaro National Park. The . Campsite type: RV, tent, car camping. This section of the park is smaller and less visited the Saguaro West. Along the way, and on the rocks on top of the hill, you get to see the rock art, or petroglyphs, drawn by the Hohokam people over 800 years ago. In just 15 minutes, you can travel within 15 minutes of the Hampton Inn & Suites Tech Park to the eastern region of Saguaro National Park. Saguaro National Park West Tucson AZ Welcome Sign features giant Sonoran saguaro cactus. The whole thing began, as these things often do, on social media. In the morning, the sun crests the Gila Mountains. From Phoenix, your trip will cover about 100 miles and should take around an hour and a half, depending on traffic. Cactus Forest Loop Drive: The Cactus Forest Loop Drive is a scenic adventure that skirts the west side of Saguaro National Park and visits the base of Sentinel Peak, this gigantic mountain that rises to 4,392 feet. This area has the most Saguaro Cacti and dense . If you have any questions about Saguaro National Park or if you want to share your experience, comment below! You don't see any of the city looking that way though, so you would be missing that. It never fails to mesmerize those visitors, and always offers something new for frequent visitors as well. Best $15 we ever spent. Not Another Sunset . To complete the loop, turn left onto Golden Gate Road and then drive until it ends at N Sandario Road. The loops start point is either McKellips Road or Signal Hill Road. 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