Saguaro National Park
National park · Pima County
Arizona
Highlights
Home of the country's largest cacti, scenic desert views
Home of the country's largest cacti, scenic desert views
"A DarkSky‑certified national park (certified in 2023) known for pristine night skies and excellent stargazing opportunities as one of the trail’s premier outdoor viewing sites." - Stephanie Vermillion Stephanie Vermillion Stephanie Vermillion is a travel journalist and photographer covering culture and adventure for Travel + Leisure Outside, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"An iconic desert landscape dominated by endless miles of towering cacti, offering classic Sonoran Desert scenery, dramatic sunsets, and expansive, cactus-studded panoramas." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A major desert park near Tucson where travelers can see iconic saguaro cacti—recommended as a striking, educational natural stop early in an Arizona road trip." - Jill Krasny Jill Krasny Jill Krasny is a journalist based in New York. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, The Financial Times, and Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Named for the country’s largest cacti and split into two districts on either side of Tucson (nearly an hour apart), the national park sits within the Sonoran Desert and contains an estimated two million saguaro cacti. As James Lorentzen puts it, the surrounding desert is “one of the most ecologically diverse wilderness areas anywhere on Earth,” and the “‘world’s wettest desert’ is home to numerous varieties of cacti such as cholla, prickly pear, and barrel cactus, as well as the rare cristate or crested saguaro cactus.” Visitors should plan ahead: an America the Beautiful annual pass or a standard entrance pass (good for seven days) is required, there are no restaurants or concession stands in either district, and the NPS recommends carrying basic tools (tweezers, a large pick comb, and a multi-tool) to remove any cactus spines or segments that attach to you." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"The park’s two segments sit just east and just west of Tucson, each with a visitor center and trailheads reachable by about a 30-minute Uber from downtown. Hikers can enjoy spectacular views of some of the world’s largest cacti, but it can get scorchingly hot — so bring plenty of water and consider pre-booking an air-conditioned rideshare for the trip home." - Travel + Leisure Editors
