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Saguaro National Park, Tucson
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Saguaro National Park, Tucson

Poster of the Freeman homestead - Tucson
Poster of the Freeman homestead
by Redlats
Saguaro National Park tips and photos posted by real travelers and Tucson locals.

There are two locations - East and West of Tucson
• 38 Photos
• 23 Reviews

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Saguaro National Park: Saguaro National Park
  • Tip Rating:
  • KimberlyAnn
  • Updated By KimberlyAnn on March 13, 2004
  • Tucson Page by KimberlyAnn
  • Saguaro Cactus in the National Park - Tucson
    Saguaro Cactus in the
    National Park
    by KimberlyAnn
    Saguaro National Park, which is divided into two districts, protects the saguaro cacti and other desert vegetation of the Sonoran Desert, as well as the wildlife living within it. The giant saguaro cactus, which you see in the photo, can live up to 150 years and reach 50 feet in height, weighing several tons. This cactus grows only in southern Arizona, California along the Colorado River, and in the northern Mexican state of Sonora. The national park therefore plays an important role in protecting this marvelous huge cactus. You will be able to explore this beautiful desert by traveling its drives and numerous hiking trails. The best time to explore this park is between March and May when the temperatures are usually pleasant. If you should arrive in April or May, you may even be lucky enough to catch the desert when the cacti and other desert plants are in bloom.

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  • Phone: 520-733-5153
  • Directions: The Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East) is about 15 miles east of central Tucson. The Tucson Mountain District (Saguaro West) is 15 miles west of Tucson.
  • Website: www.nps.gov/sagu]www.nps.gov/sagu
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    Saguaro National Park: Mica View Picnic area - Saguaro NP East
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  • Redlats
  • Updated By Redlats on December 12, 2004
  • Tucson Page by Redlats
  • approx. 200 yr old saguaro - Tucson
    approx. 200 yr old
    saguaro
    by Redlats
    After hearing the recommendations of the naturalists, we drove the 8 mile Cactus Forest Drive, stopping at the Mica View Picnic area. We settled for an easy 2 mile hike through the forest of cacti.

    On the hike, we passed many saguaros including a few of giant ones such as in the photo. The hike also goes by a number of washes. Washes are dry 'river-beds' that only get used during the raining season in the fall. Then there is too much water to absorb into the ground, so it flows away in these washes. We also saw birds such as the gilded flicker who dig out their nests inside the saguaros, as well as cactus wrens and western kingbirds who nest in the old holes made by the woodpeckers and flickers. We even saw a roadrunner cross our trail. All that was missing was Wiley E. Coyote.

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  • Phone: 520-733-5153
  • Website: http://www.nps.gov/sagu
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    Saguaro National Park: Freeman Homestead Trail - Saguaro NP East
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  • Redlats
  • Updated By Redlats on April 10, 2006
  • Tucson Page by Redlats
  • Poster of the Freeman homestead - Tucson
    Poster of the Freeman
    homestead
    by Redlats
    The Freeman Homestead trail was the most interesting of our three hikes. It was only one mile long, and had interpretive signs. A family settled in the desert in 1930, built a home and farmed there.

    All that is left now is mounds of dirt where the walls of the house once was (the home was built of clay walls), some ocotillas planted in a row which must have been a fence, and a big tree that provides shade (but looks somewhat out of place).

    The trail goes past a spring where they must have got their water, but it was not obvious if or where they planted any crops in the desert. It took us 45 minutes, and we saw quite a bit of small wild-life -- ground squirrels, woodrats, a cardinal, wrens and flickers, etc.

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  • Phone: 520-733-5153
  • Website: http://www.nps.gov/sagu
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    Saguaro National Park: Desert Ecology Trail - Saguaro NP East
  • Tip Rating:
  • Redlats
  • Updated By Redlats on April 18, 2004
  • Tucson Page by Redlats
  • Desert Ecology Trail trailhead - Tucson
    Desert Ecology Trail trailhead
    by Redlats
    This is a quarter-mile wheel-chair accessible trail - again through cacti and washes. Interestingly the interpretive signs are marked Saguaro National Monument (not Park).

    We found out from the visiter centre that the American national park system is made up of national parks (by decree of Congress) and national mounuments (by decree of the President). Often parks are first national monuments and then become national parks.

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  • Phone: 520-733-5153
  • Website: http://www.nps.gov/sagu
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    Saguaro National Park: Saquaro National Park East
  • Tip Rating:
  • Redlats
  • Updated By Redlats on April 18, 2004
  • Tucson Page by Redlats
  • Mica View picnic area - Tucson
    Mica View picnic area
    by Redlats
    Saquaro National Park is divided into two districts 30 miles apart - one west of Tucson, and the other east. Both districts have visiter centres, scenic drives, trails and picnic areas.

    We spent most of one day at the SNP East. This park might have been outside the city once, but now Tucson butts right up against the park. We spent some time inside the visiter centre to help decide which of the 128 miles of trails we wanted to hike.

    To go inside the national park, you need to pay a $3 per person fee, or have a national park pass.

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  • Phone: 520-733-5153
  • Website: http://www.nps.gov/sagu
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    Saguaro National Park: Saguaro National Park - Tucson Mountain District
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  • M0B1US
  • Updated By M0B1US on November 5, 2002
  • Tucson Page by M0B1US
  • National Park West - Tucson
    National Park West
    by M0B1US
    We visited the western portion of the Sonora National Park, called the Tucson Mountain District, after going to the Arizona – Sonora Desert Museum on the road from Tucson, which makes a good ‘double header’ for the day. Situated in the unique Sonoran desert, it is home of its namesake, the World’s most recognisable cactus – the majestic saguaro.

    These huge cacti are fascinating, especially their complex relationships with other desert life. The cacti provide their sweet fruit to hungry animals and also provide homes to a variety of birds, such as the Harris’ hawk, Gila woodpecker and the tiny elf owl. Despite their seeming invulnerability, the saguaro require other desert plants for their very survival during the first few years, needing the shade and protection of a nurse plant such as the palo verde tree. With an average life span of 150 years, a mature saguaro may grow to a height of 50 feet and weigh over 10 tons.

    Red Hills visitor centre, near the entrance is very informative with a large diorama depicting the natives species, and a viewing platform that allows you to see ‘Sensitive Resource Area’ of the park. Stop here for maps, information, and suggestions about the scenic drives, bird watching, photography, hiking, and participating in guided walks. There is also a bookstore with a great selection of books on the Sonoran Desert and the Southwest. Numerous guided walks are also offered.

    My favourite sight was Signal Hill, which has ancient Native American pictoglyphs at it’s summit.

    The Park is open daily, 7:00 am to sunset. Visitor centers are open daily, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and the best time to visit is winter when the weather is very pleasant with mild, warm days averaging 19C. and cool nights averaging. Summers can be extremely hot with daytime temperatures exceeding 41C. even in the shade. Always wear a hat and use sunscreen while hiking and drink plenty of water. If driving, carry extra water and remember to leave windows slighty open to prevent the glass from shattering.

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  • Phone: (520) 733-5158
  • Directions: 15 miles west of Tucson. Take Speedway Bvd, which becomes Gates Pass Rd. Continue until you reach a "T" junction with Kinney Rd (4 miles). Turn right and drive 3 miles north to Park entrance.
  • Website: http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm
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    Saguaro National Park: Saguaro National Monument
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  • jedd43
  • Updated By jedd43 on July 17, 2003
  • Tucson Page by jedd43
  • Saguaro National Monument - Tucson
    Saguaro National Monument
    by jedd43
    Saguaro National Monument

    Tucson is bookended by portions of Saguaro National Park.
    They both showcase the saguaro cactus, found only in the Sonoran Desert.
    Hiking in either area is a perfect way to discover the almost prehistoric sense of the desert.
    Each has a looped road for driving or bicycling, picnic areas and visitor center.

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  • Phone: 733-5100
  • Directions: The west side, with free entry, is on Speedway. The east side, which has an entrance fee is Old Spanish Trail. My travelogue pics are from the east side.
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    Saguaro National Park: Saguaro National Park
  • Tip Rating:
  • sambarnett
  • Updated By sambarnett on November 30, 2002
  • Tucson Page by sambarnett
  • Saguaro National Park - Tucson
    by sambarnett
    The perfect place to take in the Sonoran Desert! The Saguaro National Park has two units: Rincon Mountains (about 12 east of the city) and Tucson Mountains. The latter is free and is the better choice for those with limited time. There are a variety of trails (both long and short), a nice scenic drive and a visitors center. The Rincon Mountain unit contains more than 57,000 acres. Visit the Nation Park System website for all the information. If you visit bring plenty of water!!!!

       By the way, Saguaro is pronounced "SWA - row."

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    Saguaro National Park: See the Mighty Saguaro
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  • Basaic
  • By Basaic on August 26, 2008
  • Tucson Page by Basaic
  • A Mighty Saguaro - Tucson
    A Mighty Saguaro
    by Basaic,
    4 more photos
    There are a variety of species of cacti in the Saguaro National Park; but the most famous and the one that best symbolizes the American West is the mighty Saguaro. Saguaro Cacti actually grow very slowly increasing in size only 1 to 1.5 inches a year for the first 8 years. They begin by sprouting under trees like the Littleleaf Palo Verde Tree, the state tree of Arizona. Eventually they dwarf the trees, killing them. Saguaro normally live about 150 years; but some are over 200 years old. A 20 foot tall Saguaro weighs over 2000 pounds. There are at least two mountain ranges near the park and several more within view. The Santa Catalina Mountains are just north of the park and the Rincon Mountains comprise part of the southern border of the park. For more information and photos see my Saguaro National Park - East Unit Page.

  • Phone: 520-733-5153
  • Website: http://www.nps.gov/sagu
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    Saguaro National Park: Saguaro National Park: ...
  • Tip Rating:
  • Davidp1952
  • Updated By Davidp1952 on August 25, 2002
  • Tucson Page by Davidp1952
  • Saguaro National Park: Tucson’s famous saguaro forest encompasses almost 80,000 acres in two separate regions of Pima County. The main section, to the east, includes Tucson’s highest peaks, Rincon, Spud Rock and Mica Mountains. Beneath slopes lined with pine, fir and aspen, the foothills are covered with saguaro cactus, a species that only grows in this area of the world. A visitor center contains special exhibits about the saguaro and other desert flora and explains the influence of men and animals on the Sonoran Desert. Some of these cacti live for more than 200 years and reach a height of 50 feet or more. During May or early June, white or yellow blossoms top the saguaro branches. Arizona’s early legislators selected the saguaro blossom as the state flower and applied its likeness to the Great Seal of Arizona. Saguaro National Park West is 16 miles west of Tucson in the Tucson Mountains. Naturalists conduct daily interpretive tours at both sites at 10am & 2pm during the winter season. Park headquarters, 733-5100– Rincon Mountains visitor center, 733-5153 – Tucson Mountains visitor center, 733-5158.

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