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. This is a 3.3 mile out-and-back hike with 1500 cumulative feet of elevation gain that takes about 1-2 hours to complete. 80 reviews of Saguaro National Park West "This was the first (and so far only) National Park I have written a letter to thanking them for their excellent Junior Ranger Program. Short Trails in Saguaro East Explore more in our professional, high quality trail guides and outdoor reviews. Please be aware of this when planning how far to hike. Hiking trip report, map, and photos for Safford Peak (Sombrero Peak), located in Saguaro National Park, Arizona. Cactus Forest Drive (east) The east district has an 8-mile paved loop that gives you a chance to … Your email address will not be published. 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. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. This view at an overlook on the Cactus Forest Loop Drive used to have hundreds of saguaros. Beyond activities, the park itself protects one of the true icons of the American West, the giant Saguaro Cactus. The Bridal Wreath … Start early if you want to park near the trail head. If you have more time, add a backpacking trip in Rincon Mountain District. The east has more hiking trails and is the only region where backpacking is allowed, the west is the better choice if time is short. Scenic Dr. & Belmont Trail Area, Tucson Mountain District (west) For the classic map of the east side of the park, view the link below. The Saguaro National Park East District acreage is 66,947 and Saguaro National Park West District is 24,498 acres. The trail itself is an out and back 0.8 mile trail with very little elevation gain. Coyote along Desert Loop Trail at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, The Mam-A-Gah Picnic Area en route to Wasson Peak. 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. Distance: 0.8 mile round trip Time: 30-45 minutes Difficulty: easy Elevation: 50 feet Trailhead: Along the Bajada Loop Drive Best time to visit: anytime – but there’s no shade so make sure to consider this when visiting in the summer heat!Mornings/evenings would be a much better time to hike in the warmer months Wasson Peak is the highest point in Saguaro National Park’s West District. But we also checked out a few smaller sites, events, and hikes in the park that are worth mentioning. Saguaro National Park surprised us around every turn. (263kb pdf file), Long Trails in Saguaro East I give you my two favorite trails one in Saguaro East on the left and one in Saguaro West on the right. 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. 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. Obviously they are prevalent in many areas of the park, but some trails, like Wasson Peak, have particularly nice views. Tanque Verde Falls. Trails in the Saguaro National Park West SaguaroU.S. The trail travels through a wide variety of plant and animal habitats. It had been a long time since either of us had hiked in the desert, and we didn’t know what to expect. The East also has a much higher elevation point with Mica Mt at 8,666ft compared to the West’s highest point: Wasson Peak at 4,687ft. 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!).. We hope they help you plan your trip! This is an easy park to visit, with scenic drives and short walks among the towering cacti. Due to grazing and some cold snaps, a lot of young saguaros died. Close to town. (69kb pdf file), The first section of the King Canyon Trail follows an old roadway constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. 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). Here, the park's 150-mile network of trails crosses everything from desert scrub to pine forest to snow-capped mountains. 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. Favorite Trails . An eastern collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) on Tanque Verde Trail. Difficulty: Moderate. 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. Go during spring or fall, avoid the summer heat. The trail is most noteable for it’s abundance of petroglyphys from the prehistoric Hokokam people. 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. Distance: 1.8 miles RT | Elevation gain: 436 feet. Wasson Peak is the tallest mountain in the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park.This loop hike travels along ridges with grand desert vistas and through some of the thickest Saguaro forest in Arizona. Some are out-and-back hikes, some require a shuttle, but you can combine the King Canyon, Hugh Norris, Sendero Esperanza, and the Gould Mine Trails to make an 8-mile loop. Kristin went in with low expectations, and she ended up loving the park. 3.4 miles – Out and back Another option: skip Tucson Mountain District entirely and plan a 3-plus-day backpacking trip in the Rincon Mountain District. If looking for a short trail that packs a punch, the Signal Hill Trail … Both of these trails can be hiked as a short one or two mile hike with great views. Get a high-clearance vehicle, especially if going to the Miller Creek or Turkey Creek trailheads. The top of the mountain has nice views of Tucson, the Santa Catalina Mountains, and beyond! Saguaro trail maps. Required fields are marked *. Rincon Mountain District (east) Map. Distance:10 miles 2. The King Canyon Trail connects with other trails to allow you to climb Wasson Peak the highest peak in Saguaro West. I give you my two favorite trails one in Saguaro East on the left and one in Saguaro West on the right. 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. 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 Saguaro is only found in a small portion of the United States in the Sonoran Desert and it is something special to stand next to one. This hike is less than 1 mile. This photo was taken from the Ez-Kim-In-Zin Picnic area in the middle of the park. Especially when we saw it blooming! 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. Photographed on the Discovery Desert Trail. Saguaro National Park East is nearly three times as big as the West district. Generally speaking, the Tucson Mountain District is more developed, and the Rincon Mountain section is more untouched wilderness. Closeup of a rare cristate saguaro; Kristin’s Top 3 in Saguaro National Park Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. We did the best we could, but still ended up hiking during the hottest time of day. 1. 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. A half day is all you need to see the highlights, but with more time you can tour the entire park, go on a day hike, or camp in the backcountry. Saguaro National Park is divided into two districts with Tucson in the middle. Only found in a small portion of the U.S., these majestic behemoths are preserved in the desert landscape of the park. The Tanque Verde Ridge Trail is the major route into backcountry camping in Saguaro East. 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. Trail was more crowded on our hike back late morning to mid day. 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. We recommend at least one full day. A crested saguaro (at mile 2.5) is a unique view, as well as "the Dome" (a large exposed surface at mile 3) offers even more breath-taking views. The eastern section is larger and more mountainous, the western portion is lower in elevation and boasts a denser saguaro forest. A Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis), about to go inside its hole in a saguaro. Amole Peak in middle and Wasson Peak is far left. If you only have a couple days, explore the Tucson Mountain District. . Terrain/grade varies. Saguaro National Park has many interesting trails to hike in both the Eastern and Western districts. Bring more water and snacks than you think you’ll need. Easy to follow trail. of trail — 8 Recommended Routes 5 Gems 40 Trails 40 Trails 8 Trails Saguaro National Park is home to the giant saguaro, a universal symbol of the American west and the nation's largest cacti. Tanque Verde Peak, 2.1 miles east of Juniper Basin Camp, is the highest peak in on the Tanque Verde Ridge at 7040 feet. Hiking in Saguaro National Park west . Saguaro National Park lies split with two distinct disctricts with the City of Tucson, Arizona in the middle. To explore all the U.S. National Parks at our own pace and off the beaten path. The Tanque Verde Ridge Trail is narrow, rocky, and steep, with spectacular views of the Tucson Basin. Here are our favorite spots in the park, along with some tips for visiting. Probably the most colorful lizard we saw in the park! Some tips for visiting Saguaro National Park: *The park is split into two districts, one directly to the east of Tucson, the Rincon Mountain District, and one directly to the west, the Tucson Mountain District. We generally only post about places we visit for a longer amount of time. Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! Covering over 24,818 acres, the Tucson Mountain District sits on the park’s west boundaries. The trailhead is at the end of North Scenic Drive towards the north boundary of the park. Stay alert. Honorable mention: Tucson food scene. This park is wild, and we ran into a western diamondback rattlesnake in the middle of. Winter might be nice too, especially if you see the rare snow on the saguaro cacti. Parking: Free | Trailhead … Elevation Gain:511 fe… (Saguaro National Park Text). If you go to Saguaro, take advantage of Tucson’s proximity to the park. Between both districts there are over 165 miles of trails. West Saguaro Hikes: 1. The turn to Bridal Wreath falls is 2.7 miles up the Douglas Spring Trail, well depicted on the Gaia base map. 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 … The falls is another .3 miles off the Douglas Springs trail. Give yourself enough time to explore Manning Camp and the surrounding area. Saguaro National Park is named for the Saguaro cactus, which grows only in the Sonoran Desert. There is several things to do at Saguaro National Park located in Tucson Arizona. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! 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. Valley View Overlook Trail. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). Department of the Interior National Park Service Saguaro National Park Trails in the Tucson Mountain District Red Hills Visitor Center (520) 733-5158 Cactus Garden Trail (100 yards) Like any desert hiking, start as early as possible. The final section ascends a series of switchbacks to the Hugh Norris Trail to reach the top of Wasson Peak, the highest point in Saguaro National Park West. As the trail gains elevation, the plant communities gradually change from desert scrub and desert grassland to oak/pine woodland. (Saguaro National Park Text ). Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Desert Discovery Trail There are no backcountry campsites in the Tucson Mountain district … Hiking Signal Hill Trail – Saguaro National Park West. 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. The Signal Hill Trail is a short hiking trail in Saguaro National Park. Your email address will not be published. There are few options for hiking to the summit. Hikes & Trails at the Park With about 200 miles of trails -- traversing flat desert landscapes as well as challenging mountainous terrain -- visitors of every ability have … Hiking during the hottest time of day is 66,947 and Saguaro National park ranging from to! 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