Hiking in Saguaro National Park west . I give you my two favorite trails one in Saguaro East on the left and one in Saguaro West on the right. It had been a long time since either of us had hiked in the desert, and we didn’t know what to expect. Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! . Your email address will not be published. This trail continues to Juniper Basin Campground (6.9 mile mark, 3000 feet elevation) as well as Tanque Verde Peak (8.7 miles, 4000 feet elevation). Post was not sent - check your email addresses! At 0.9 miles hikers pass the Sendero Esperanza Trail junction near the Mam-A-Gah picnic area, named for a Tohono O'odham Indian Chief. Saguaro National Park has many interesting trails to hike in both the Eastern and Western districts. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Trail, located near Saguaro National Park (West) - Tucson Mountain District, Arizona is a 1.6 mile hiking, trail running and walking trail with a top elevation of 2725 feet. If you have more time, add a backpacking trip in Rincon Mountain District. The Cactus Forest Trail is a long 10-mile hike that can be broken down into smaller segments, since there are essentially four starting points for the trailheads. An easy family hike (.8-mile round trip) within Saguaro National Park West that reaches a ridge that provides great views within a 35-mile radius. This park is wild, and we ran into a western diamondback rattlesnake in the middle of. (Saguaro National Park Text ). Due to grazing and some cold snaps, a lot of young saguaros died. If you go to Saguaro, take advantage of Tucson’s proximity to the park. There are few options for hiking to the summit. The trail itself is an out and back 0.8 mile trail with very little elevation gain. Trails in the Saguaro National Park West SaguaroU.S. The Saguaro National Park East District acreage is 66,947 and Saguaro National Park West District is 24,498 acres. The falls is another .3 miles off the Douglas Springs trail. I give you my two favorite trails one in Saguaro East on the left and one in Saguaro West on the right. 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 … Required fields are marked *. Pink Hill Trail Most trails in the Rincon Mountain district of Saguaro National Park are in the northwest corner - a few along the one road through the park, the Cactus Forest Drive, one in Rincon Valley to the south, and a complex network of inter-connecting routes on the north side of Tanque Verde Ridge. It’s a perfect choice for someone looking for an easy to moderate hike with pretty minimal elevation gain and close encounters with large saguaro cactusesalong with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and desert terrain. Only found in a small portion of the U.S., these majestic behemoths are preserved in the desert landscape of the park. Explore more in our professional, high quality trail guides and outdoor reviews. Distance: 1.8 miles RT | Elevation gain: 436 feet. Saguaro National Park East is nearly three times as big as the West district. Valley View Overlook Trail. Especially when we saw it blooming! (263kb pdf file), Long Trails in Saguaro East This view at an overlook on the Cactus Forest Loop Drive used to have hundreds of saguaros. Saguaro National Park - Contact Park Headquarters and Rincon Mountain District Saguaro National Park 3693 South Old Spanish Trail Tucson, AZ 85730-5601 - or - Saguaro National Park-Tucson Mountain District 2700 North Kinney Road Tucson, AZ 85743 Visitor Information - Rincon Mountain District: (520) 733-5153 Parking: Free | Trailhead … They went above and beyond by having backpacks containing pencils, binoculars, and other items chidlren can use while exploring the park and filling out their Junior Ranger books. The top of the mountain has nice views of Tucson, the Santa Catalina Mountains, and beyond! The turn to Bridal Wreath falls is 2.7 miles up the Douglas Spring Trail, well depicted on the Gaia base map. It rises high above Tucson and the Sonoran Desert below. That … The Picture rocks Wash trail is the Major east-west trail on the northeast side of the park and can be used in part as a connector trail to the major north-south trails it crosses. Short Trails in Saguaro East 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. 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!).. Beyond activities, the park itself protects one of the true icons of the American West, the giant Saguaro Cactus. An eastern collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) on Tanque Verde Trail. If you hike the trails of Saguaro National Park West with any frequency, sooner or later you'll end up on the 4,687-foot summit of Wasson Peak. This is an easy park to visit, with scenic drives and short walks among the towering cacti. West Saguaro Hikes: 1. The eastern section is larger and more mountainous, the western portion is lower in elevation and boasts a denser saguaro forest. The trailhead is at the end of North Scenic Drive towards the north boundary of the park. The King Canyon Trail connects with other trails to allow you to climb Wasson Peak the highest peak in Saguaro West. Others, like Garwood Trail, had unique sights like a cristate version, and a cluster of 11 saguaros. This photo was taken from the Ez-Kim-In-Zin Picnic area in the middle of the park. Distance:10 miles 2. Photographed on the Discovery Desert Trail. Desert Discovery Trail There are no backcountry campsites in the Tucson Mountain district … Saguaro National Park is named for the Saguaro cactus, which grows only in the Sonoran Desert. Like with most parks, the National Geographic Trails Illustrated map is your best choice if you’re looking for a single detailed Saguaro National Park trail map with topographic lines, trail mileages, and wilderness campsites. 3.4 miles – Out and back Covering over 24,818 acres, the Tucson Mountain District sits on the park’s west boundaries. The Tanque Verde Ridge Trail is narrow, rocky, and steep, with spectacular views of the Tucson Basin. If you only have a couple days, explore the Tucson Mountain District. Remember you will find no water on any trails in Saguaro West and water in Saguaro East is spotty and usually only at Manning Camp (check at the visitor center for backcountry permits and water conditions at Manning Camp) which is a 16 mile hike one way and an elevation gain of over 4,000 feet. The Bridal Wreath … Bring more water and snacks than you think you’ll need. Scenic Dr. & Belmont Trail Area, Tucson Mountain District (west) For the classic map of the east side of the park, view the link below. As the trail gains elevation, the plant communities gradually change from desert scrub and desert grassland to oak/pine woodland. Overview Arizona's Saguaro National Park is known for two things: its vast forest of 100-year old saguaro cacti, and its incredible diversity of terrain. There are 31 moderate trails in Saguaro National Park ranging from 2.2 to 20.8 miles and from 2,214 to 7,014 feet above sea level. 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. Crater Lake: Best Hikes, Itinerary and Planning Guide, Crater Lake: Restaurants & Accommodations, Shenandoah: Backpacking Overall Run & Beecher Ridge Trails, Crater Lake: Cleetwood Cove Trail and Boat Tour. Your email address will not be published. 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. Obviously they are prevalent in many areas of the park, but some trails, like Wasson Peak, have particularly nice views. But we also checked out a few smaller sites, events, and hikes in the park that are worth mentioning. Get a high-clearance vehicle, especially if going to the Miller Creek or Turkey Creek trailheads. Saguaro National Park is divided into two districts with Tucson in the middle. Both of these trails can be hiked as a short one or two mile hike with great views. Notifications of new posts by email or fall, avoid the summer heat are moderate. North boundary of the park back Bridal Wreath … especially when we saw it blooming park in! The park, along with some tips for visiting in elevation and boasts a denser Saguaro forest be. Not sent - check your email address to subscribe to this blog receive. In both the Eastern section is larger and more mountainous, the Signal Hill trail is the Peak. A high-clearance vehicle, especially if going to the park, but still ended up hiking during the hottest of! Best we could, but still ended up loving the park, but some trails, Wasson... 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