Plan Your Visit to Saguaro National Park Travel Guide
If you are planning a trip to Saguaro National Park and looking for the best things to do, see and eat while visiting, you are in the right place. Tucson is the second-largest city in Arizona and the home of Saguaro National Park in the Sonora Desert. The park is 1.5 hours from Phoenix and an easy day trip. This desert is a must-visit spot in the US Southwest if you have watched Western movies and dreamed of tumbleweed, sand, dust devils, bighorn sheep, cactus forests, wildflowers, Mexican jumping beans, and petroglyphs. Saguaro National Park is a popular place for hiking and camping. Southeastern Arizona is very hot in the summer, the best time to visit is between October and April. Enjoy your time out of the office!
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Facts About Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is located in southeastern Arizona’s Sonora Desert. The park is divided in half with the city of Tucson Arizona in between. East Saguaro National Park consists of the Rincon Mountain District is east of Tucson. West Saguaro National Park includes the Tucson Mountain District to the west. Sabino Canyon is also not to be missed. The Saguaro cactus is native to the Sonora Desert, they are the nation’s largest cacti and the symbol of the Southwest. The Saguaro’s white blooms are the Arizona state flower. Blooming begins the last 2 weeks of April and continues throughout May into the first week of July. The cactus grows slowly at approximately 1 foot every 15 years. Saguaros are protected, it is illegal to remove or damage them. They have a lifespan of 260 years, grow up to 50 feet tall, and weigh up to 6 tons. Arizona’s Sonora Desert is the only place in the world where Saguaro cactus grows. The area is 100,000 square miles with over 1 million Saguaro cacti. It sits between Arizona, California, and Northwest Mexico. The area southeast of Tucson near the Mexican border is the only place in the US where jaguars live. This is also a popular place for illegal border crossings. If you see someone who appears to be in distress, think twice before stopping, be safe, and call the authorities to assist the individual.
Things to Do in Saguaro National Park
East Saguaro National Park and the Rincon Mountain District are 15 miles east of downtown Tucson Arizona. You will find an 8-mile Cactus Forest Scenic Loop Drive with picnic areas, hiking trails, and viewpoints. The Freeman Homestead Trail is a 1-mile hike to a grove of Saguaro. The Tanque Verde Ridge Trail is popular for backcountry camping. Horseback riding is also available in this section of the park. West Saguaro National Park and the Tucson Mountain District are west of downtown. The 6-mile scenic Bajada Loop Drive is a highlight of this part of Saguaro National Park. Valley View Overlook is an 8-mile hike popular for its incredible sunset view. Signal Hill Trail is a 1-mile hike full of petroglyphs. There is also a half-mile Desert Discovery Trail and a 7-mile King Canyon Trail. The Sabino Canyon tram is a 1.8-mile drive through the Sonoran Desert with 9 stops for those who can not hike.
Be sure to check the Saguaro National Park Service website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.
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Plan Your Trip to Saguaro National Park
Arizona Travel Guide
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Saguaro National Park Attractions and Day Tours
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