Tucson Mountain District

Took a motorcycle trip through Saguaro National Park near Tucson. Got my lifetime senior citizen pass and expect to enjoy this place first. 😁 Beautiful day, 80°, clear sky. Perfect Arizona winter. 🏜 Took a bunch of pictures, while riding around on dirt roads for hours. More cactus than anywhere else I've ever been. And roadrunners. No snakes. 😆 Beautiful drive. Next: the National Park on the East side of Tucson. 👍👍

Place with big cactuses.

It's nice to get out in to the desert. You shouldn't pass up this opportunity.

Great views and hiking. Saw my first petroglyph!

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My son and I visited during spring break. We opted to visit the west entrance. My son loves completing the Junior ranger programs and obtaining his badge. The visitor's center was easy fairly easy to find. I was expecting a toll booth to pay and entry fee, but was surprised to find out, only when you enter the visitor's center you can pay at the counter. My son talked to a ranger and obtained his book and he spent some time completing the activities. He did his junior ranger pledge and received his badge after about an hour. We enjoyed the area outside and loved the trail around the visitor's center. All of the staff were very friendly as with most National Park visitor's centers. There was plenty of parking. They even have locals onsite doing crafts that you can purchase. My son loved watching this. This was a very nice park and we enjoyed the time we spent.

This is such a beautiful park! My wife and I flew to Tucson in February to visit Saguaro and it was definitely worth the flight. There's 2 sections of the park and they flank the city of Tucson. The East side (Rincon Mountain) is easy to drive through with small areas to do short hikes and it's really a wonderful drive. The West side (Red Hills) has some nice hiking trails and both sides have a ton of saguaros. We enjoyed both sections and it's definitely worth it to visit both. There's petroglyphs at the Red Hills section (and some outside the park too), so that's definitely something you have to see, especially if you haven't seen any before. You also have to make sure to try all of the prickly pear snacks that you can get at the visitor centers; prickly pear is one of my favorite flavors and they have a ton of great items to try (the licorice was my favorite). It's a wonderful park overall and it's so much fun to see the saguaros and enjoy some nice hiking!

This place is beautiful, I had no idea how awesome this park would be. It's such an experience to be surrounded by so many cacti! They were also starting to bloom so it was really incredible. This park has an awesome information center with a bathroom area and water station. You pay your park fees here too. There was also a small museum?/ display inside and of course a gift shop. The people working were very nice and knowledgeable! The park is split up into two sides with the city of Tucson in the middle. The park pass will work for both parts. I'm not sure if there is a visitor/information center on the east side of the park. There's a dirt road loop on the west side of the park that takes you around the park (that any vehicle can drive on). Lots of opportunities to park and hike a short ways to an incredible view. Signal Hill Trail was an easy, short "hike" with awesome views! I would recommend this to everyone as it's not very steep and most people could probably do it. I can't wait to come back!

Amazing views and easy hike to see an historical sight and many desert plants. It was a beautiful spring day!

Saguaro National Park is a cool spot to go! Obviously lots of Saguaros, per it's name sake. I only visited Saguaro West and we saw it in about half a day. It was really exciting and cool to see such a large amount of saguaros in one space. The sunset in this park was very pretty. I would recommend bringing water because it was hot, hot, HOT! Really close to Tucson though, so not one of those parks that's in the middle of nowhere. Prior to going to this park, I was told don't travel to the area just to go to this park, but check it out if you're in the area and I definitely agree with that sentiment. Definitely a fun and beautiful park but not as grand as some others.

I've grown up visiting Saguaro National Park and it remains one of the absolute best places to experience the desert! Full of hiking trails that range from experienced hiker to someone wanting a leisurely stroll, there's something for everyone. The rangers are so knowledgeable and I highly recommend stopping by the visitor's center for some amazing views and history.

Super cool National Park full of Cactus! The staff In the visitor center were friendly. We went to the West Side and did a couple little hikes and drove through and on to Touson. Not the most exciting National Park I have been to but I love to check them out and since we were visiting Phoenix we made the trip!

Never have I ever seen so many cactuses in my life and what a sight it is. So many different shapes. Hiking is not my thing but I do it for my son who is an avid hiker. My favorite thing to say is..."are we there yet?" Of course my son can't hear me cause he is always 100 feet ahead of me. Make your way to the Visitor Center. Admission is $25 per vehicle. Grab a map, there are 46 trails to choose from with 1 to 10 mile hikes. We used an app called, Hiking Project to help guide us and it was very reliable. It was not smart of me to wear my Teva sandals. I slipped many times whenever I walked on a bunch of small pebbles and rocks. Most of the terrain is dry sand. It's the desert so make sure you put on tons of sunscreen. The trails all close at dawn so give yourself plenty of time to get back to your vehicle. The drive up and down is very scenic with winding rolling hills. Felt like I was in that Disneyland Cars Land ride. Whether you are a nature lover or not, you can't help but take in the wonder of Mother Nature here in Tucson, Arizona.

Did you know that the Sahuaro cactus is native to the Sonoran desert? The bloom is AZ State Flower and lovely to witness. That is if you can catch their short blooming season. These majestic cacti can live up to 200 years. They develop their upturned arms (as many as 24!) at 75 to 100 years of age. Some never grow arms and are called spears. SNP is another National Park in our own AZ Tucson backyard. My cousin lived in Tucson for a short while, too short, before moving back to her original state. The home she lived in backed right up to the park. Lucky her, right? I live in Phoenix but always a joy to drive down to Tucson to visit her and this lovely park. It was always a stop by. It truly is a photographers playground. We went often. It is a grand and majestic place to visit. So gorgeous and full of peace. I am usually not the biggest fan of cactus landscape preferring lush forested tree scapes like back east instead. However with that said, this place always takes my breath away. Cacti everywhere of all sizes and shapes. It is hard to describe. You really must see it in person. Happy trails. Take tons of photos. You will not regret it.

Rolling hills dotted with saguaro cacti, it's beauty in the desert! Nicely appointed visitor center with easy trails and lovely views. And longer drives or more challenging trails, truly something for everyone. Your admission fee gives you enough time to visit both parks if you want.

Are you tired of not seeing a single cactus no matter where you look? Is there a cactus-shaped hole in your heart? DO YOU NEED MORE CACTI IN YOUR LIFE? If you answered yes to any of the above questions then you need to come on down to Saguaro National Park. It's huge. There are some gift shops/welcome centers. There are cactus related exhibits that explain to you some things about the history and the culture of the great cactus plant. You can hike. It's in a desert so consider that....but you can hike. You can also drive. There are roads that connect the east and west entrances so it's easy if you're passing through to just drive on through. You can use an annual national park pass to gain entry. YOU CAN LOOK AT ONE HUMONGOUS CACTUS AFTER ANOTHER UNTIL YOUR NEED TO DO SO IS FULFILLED. It's a national park. It's worth seeing. If you're nearby, don't miss it. If you're passing by, don't miss it. If you're roaming aimlessly across the southwest and you're within a few hours of it, get down there and let the presence of the cacti sooth your mind.

National Parks get five stars from me; they really are one of the best things about this country. Saguaro NP has two districts. This Yelp page is for Saguaro NP West, aka Tucson Mountain District. It lies to the west of and fairly close to the City of Tucson (the East district, the Rincon Mountain District, lies a bit further away but still essentially on the outskirts of Tucson). - Saguaro cacti: the reason you're probably here. They're everywhere and many are spectacular with an incredible array of shapes and sizes. - You'll also find spectacular barrel cacti, cholla, ocotillo, little fuzzy cacti (careful where you step!) and other desert plants. Not a lot of wildlife. - Saguaro NP is a hiking and picnicking park, not so much an off-road 4WD park. In fact, there's really no place to off road here (I recommend Death Valley NP and Mojave Nat preserve for that if you want desert 4WDing). - Good loop road with numerous pull outs to stop and check out catii. - Very good visitor center. - If you have time to visit only one Saguaro NP district, I recommend this one. The Rincon Mountain District is maybe less spectacular. Both are definitely worth spending time in.

This is a review of the west entrance and west side , not the east side near the i10 freeway. This visitor center is much further inland and over past gates pass and pass the desert museum. There are no rangers there until 9 am but they do have an automated fee payment machine right outside the door to the visitor center. There are some little Loop trails right outside the visitor center that have a variety of plants and cacti and several types of birds. There are warning signs about rattlesnakes so beware. The park has a plethora of saguaro cactus, for miles and miles. Hence the name of the park. You can use your annual park pass here as well as numerous other national parks and national monuments.

I almost skipped out on Saguaro National Park since I was under a time crunch and I figured if you've seen one big cactus, you've seen them all...boy was I wrong. The park is divided into east and west halves, and I ventured out to the west half before making the drive to Phoenix, entering the Red Hills Visitors Center as my destination for navigation. It is a very scenic and peaceful drive on approach into the park. If you are pressed for time as I was, you can still see a lot of cacti and do a small hike just in the immediate area of the visitors center. The Red Hills Visitors Center is perfection for a National Parks Service center, complete with a rangers station, museum exhibits, restrooms, theater with an introductory film, gift shop, and beautiful pathways to take in all the beauty of the saguaro cacti...and you will see plenty of them! Make sure you stay until the end of the film in the theater as you're in for quite the pleasant surprise at the end. Totally unexpected, but Saguaro National Park is definitely worth the time in visiting when in Arizona.

This is a truly unique national park experience - you feel like you are in another world when you are surrounded by these cactus 'forests'. I will never forget the awe I felt seeing so many of these cartoonish-looking cactuses spanning as far as your eyes could see. They are vibrant against the stark desert landscape. I would not have been surprised if a cowboy rode out across the road in front of us. We only had time to explore one parcel of the park, so we opted for the western portion as we were told this was more cactus-heavy, so the classic view of Saguaro. They have a really nice visitor center and shop to check out where you also buy your park entrance pass. No reservations to enter are currently required.

This was a beautiful 4.2 mile hike. The walk through the thickly lined saguaro trail was unique even for someone who hikes in AZ often. The trail is well maintained with good signage. It's also very dog friendly if you want to bring the pups along .

Another great day out with my husband and our two fur babies. It was so cool since we were able to drive in the park for few miles. We all had so much fun especially since the weather was lovely and 73 degrees. There were many trails that can be taken but we just took a short one with the dogs and it was late I the afternoon. The park was very busy with many visitors driving or walking.

We bought a national park pass years ago. Today we used it to drive the loop at Saguaro National Park. Check in at the visitor center to either pay the fee or show your pass. There is a gift store inside. Plenty of parking for the center. Proceed north and follow the signs to the loop drive. The dirt road is well maintained. On your way to the loop are several turn outs for parking with hiking trails. What a sight to behold thousands of these silent giants of the desert. Beautiful!

My first National park out west and it did not disappoint. It was my first time in Arizona and it was on our to do list to visit Atleast one of the national parks What stands out at Saguaro is the giant cacti. I've never seen anything like it. It is cool that you can stand right next to them and see how small you are. The side of the park we were at did not have a lot of hiking trails so we went with the driving scenic route. They are a lot of stopping points where you can get out and look around. I'm glad my first national park out west was at Saguaro. I'm excited to visit more

I really enjoyed my first visit here. As a native of Arizona, I grew up seeing cactus on a regular basis. But visiting this park really showed me the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Saguaro National Park is a national park in Pima County that is separated into two different areas. Tucson and Interstate 10 is located in between both these areas. Even though I enjoyed both parts, I spent more time at Saguaro Park West. It is more spread out and requires more driving to get to the different trails. The Red Hills Visitor Center is really nice and spacious and has a nature trail around it. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum lies just south of the park. Whenever I visit a national park or monument, I look for hiking trails. For me, it is how I get in touch with the surrounding nature. There are a number of trails to visit here. Even though I have a parks pass, I didn't see any entrance fee station when I visited here and just drove in. The Desert Discovery Nature Trail is more to the south of the park and makes for a nice walk. I got great up and close photos of giant Saguaros of all different shapes and sizes. I didn't do this one, but the King Canyon/ Gould Mine Loop is around two and a half miles and pretty popular. King Canyon Trail to Wasson Peak is little longer and also popular. I really enjoyed walking around the Signal Hill area. There is a picnic area near the parking lot. Signal Hill is a minor summit that has excellent landscape views from the top. There are lots of petroglyphs carved on the rocks from the Hohokam people centuries ago. There are multiple trails in this area you can explore. Saguaro Park is a beautiful park that is only about an hour drive from the Valley. In addition to giant Saguaros, there is a lot of landscape, fauna, and flora to check out and photograph here. Just keep in mind that this is the desert and to bring lots of water and sunscreen if you are going to explore this park. Especially if you come in the summer.

If you know me, you know I'm OBSESSED with National Parks. I love them so much that my first year as an RA in college, I made National Parks my floor theme (I made all the students photoshopped NPS brochures with their names as name tags for their doors). I came to Arizona for a conference and I had to drive down to Tucson to see Saguaro National Park! I stayed in central Tucson and felt that the 25 minutes drive to the park wasn't bad at all. This is my 30th National Park and boy....it was GORGEOUS! Driving through the mountains covered in cacti left tears in my eyes. There is a west and east part of the park. I only made it to the west side on this trip and still loved it. Do know that the best sunsets are seen from the west side. If you prefer a sunset with the city in it, the east side sunset is for you. I explored and drove along the bajada loop drive. I did a short hike at Valley View Overlook, which also left me in tears with its beauty. The saguaros only grow one inch a year and can live up to 200 years. Knowing this made for a magical experience because most of them were more than three times my size. Checking out the petroglyphs at Signal Hill was special too. I loved reading about the history of the Hohokam. This spot also had a lot of great picnic benches. I'm grateful I had the chance to explore this National Park. I'm glad I rented a car for this experience. I highly recommend coming early in the morning to beat the heat. I came in October and it wasn't too busy.

This review is for the east park and I'm in love with both sides of this beautiful NP!! If this is not on your bucket list .... add it!! First, the park rangers are all super friendly and will love to talk about the park if you ask questions. They are so knowledgeable and you can tell they absolutely love what they do. I would say that this side of the park is more populated and dense with saguaros with older trees. The wildlife is amazing and wild ... so be careful because you will see lots of them in this park. The trails are great and I felt safe along them, just make sure to get to the park early because it will get hot on the trail. This park has a driving trail also which you can loop around as many times as you want and there are pull offs to enjoy amazing views, I'd suggest being in a high clearance car because this is a rugged trail. I definitely enjoyed this when it got hot later in the day. The saguaros are short, tall, with no arms or several arms ... each one has a different character and you can see the beauty in all of them!! These cacti are very sacred and I have several new appreciations for this park.

This place is amazing. Not only are the flora and fauna unique, there's also very neat archaeologic artifacts in the park. A great hike to see this is at the Signal Hill Petroglyphs. Past the picnic shelters and grills, you will see a hill with rocks on top, and you can easily see the spirals and figures carved onto the rocks. Unfortunately, there was a large family with young children there as well, and the parents let the kids climb on the rocks...how trashy. The Valley View Overlook Trail had a rewarding view at the end of the hike. You can easily see the many cacti in the distance, along with the city far away. You can see how the city encroaches on the wilderness, as well as how the road cuts across the desert landscape. Be sure to bring a lot of water on the trail!

We love cacti, and it was so nice to visit this beautiful park in winter. So nice having a park like this close to the city bustle.

I loved seeing all the giant saguaros! I didn't realize how large they grew until I was standing next to one.

Saguaro NP, like so many other national parks in the United States, is not done it's due justice by photographs alone. Visit in the park, weather at different times of the day, or during different seasons, provides a unique experience that is unlike any other. The desolation of the Sonoran desert, the preservation of incredible biodiversity here in a place that seemingly would struggle to support any living thing, and a nighttime sky that reveals more stars than it should considering how close to Tucson you are, I'll contribute to an amazing experience. Of course the prime attraction are the giant saguaro cacti, ancient and mysterious in their own right. Hundreds of other plants and animals call this area their home, and if you slow down, pay attention, and practice truly being still, you will see more than you thought possible here. Of course if you don't have that kind of time, a casual visit to the park, complete with a walk-through of the visitor center can be educational, too. No matter when you visit, always bring plenty of extra water, even in the cooler months. At least 1 gallon per person in your car at all times. Winter evenings can also be very cold, so dress accordingly. better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it. Exceptional hiking, exploring, and nature watching are all distinct possibilities here. if you enjoy the great outdoors, this place is a must visit.

Great place to stop and take a break from driving. First thing when we walked up they had just caught a black tail rattlesnake. So be careful and watch where you are walking. They show a great movie inside an air conditioned room and when the movie is over the movie screen rises and you see the beautiful Saguaros. They have a great gift shop and we were able to get a challenge coin and some post cards. The rangers are standing by to answer all your questions.

Absolutely beautiful park. Highly recommend and don't forget your camera. It really is something to see!

First time really checking out Saguaro National Park. Really cool. I hiked up to the petroglyphs (although, it isn't that long of a hike, there are some stairs to climb and I wouldn't recommend wearing flip-flops like I did). There are many trails I didn't have time to explore. Plus, great photo opportunities everywhere.

Very scenic. Large variety of the different cacti that live in the area. Most were in bloom which was cool to see.

This time we went to the West portion and really enjoyed it. The Park video was informative and employees very friendly. The gift shop was large and had many items.

Three generations of our family have visited here multiple times. And, we were only saddened, when it was time to leave this enchanted place. Saguaros are part of the southwest. They may not look it, but they are also a big part of the desert ecosystem. Birds both build nests in them and eat the flowers that grow on their tips each spring. The National Park Service calls them Icons of the Southwest... "Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset." https://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm It is well worth the journey to come and see their beauty. Enjoy!

I had vowed that our next trip to a National Park would not be in the desert. But being that we were in Tucson, we couldn't resist seeing the largest cactus in the world, saguaros. We only visited the western section of the park, being that you'll probably find 3x more cactus there than the eastern section, which is more mountainous, and we'd only have a short time in the Tucson area. More cactus here than you will ever see anywhere else, some 25 varieties. But the stars of this park are the upwards of some 50' saguaros; and they are only found in the Sonoran desert. And with a lifespan of about 200 years. But they don't even start growing their famous limbs until about the age of 100. Quite a site to see, and fortunately it was the end of November with mild temperatures. Extreme heat during late spring and summer visits will have you wanting to get in and out of the park by 10 AM! Another visit to the nation's National Parks checked off of my list.

I enjoyed my time here in the West section of Saguaro National Park. This West part or otherwise known as the Tucson Mountain District had some really colorful green surroundings loaded with saguaros!! To explore this West Tucson Mountain District, I'd say a lot of casual tourists would need just a few hours here mainly venturing around and making brief stops along the 8.6-mile Bajada Loop Drive. This unpaved road (which can be rugged in certain spots for basic, compact cars) runs throughout the heart of this section of Saguaro NP. I'd like to recommend 3 specific areas to stop at and really immerse yourself in the vintage desert setting among some of the grandest cactuses/saguaros you will ever see! But before I do that...I'd suggest first stopping in at the Red Hills Visitor Center to pick up a park pamphlet, buying any souvenirs you may need and of course getting your NP Passport stamped! Plus...if you speak with a park ranger...they'll happily set you up with an itinerary for the day. Btw, it's $25 entrance fee for Saguaro NP. I visited back in late August of this past year, 2021 and to say it was hot out would be an understatement, lol. But good thing...before arriving here at the park, just down the road about 5 miles away was a gas station with a convenience store where I bought a few refreshments prior to spending my day here. Lol, don't overlook this gas station. 1st spot to explore is just before starting out on Bajada Loop Drive. It's the NATURE TRAIL. The Nature Trail is an 8/10's of a mile roundtrip walk and was the perfect introduction for what you can expect to see around the park. I had plenty of chances to take quality photos of these giant saguaros. 2nd is the VALLEY VIEW TRAIL. This hike (or I'd rather say walk because of how easy it was) is also 8/10's of a mile roundtrip and along the way again I stopped plenty of times to simply admire just how beautiful these saguaros appeared. Towards the end of this Valley View Trail, you'll be afforded an opportunity at a vista point to look out upon the entire backdrop here at the West - Tucson Mountain District. This place is the true essence of being in the desert. I was having fun and appreciating the overall setting. Here at the Valley View Trail, you can continue for almost another 1-mile pathway connecting with WILD DOG TRAIL. It's optional to do this Wild Dog Trail if you give yourself enough time to explore. The 3rd highlight is a spot towards the end of Bajada Loop Drive called SIGNAL HILL. Signal Hill is simply a 1/2-mile roundtrip walk leading you towards some petroglyphs. Once again it gave me time capture any last photos or perspectives of Saguaro NP. While here at Signal Hill Trail I decided to walk off the path and pose in front of some very unique looking cactuses. Basically, I carved my own way having the saguaros be my guide, lol. If you are interested in having lunch and or barbecuing, they do have picnic tables and overhang shelters here at Signal Hill. Some guests were enjoying lunch. Overall, I really appreciated the aspect of how quiet it felt to be here. Along Bajada Loop Drive and most trails, I was the only tourist exploring around. Granted how hot it was outside, but just being among some wondrous looking cactuses surrounded by arid green desert helped me put into perspective how far away from reality I felt. I used about half the day hanging out here in this Tucson Mountain District. I was considering driving 25 miles to check out the East section called the Rincon Mountain District, but I was there years ago and felt like it offered minimal in terms of sights and surroundings. This West part of Saguaro NP had everything I was looking for. Lastly, I just want to say one more thing about this Bajada Loop Drive. The pavement was so broken up and rocky that I sort of feared for my car while gently maneuvering in and out of potholes. I really hope that with my $25 paid entrance fee that the Parks Service can do some repairs and paving around this road...especially considering how popular national parks have become lately. Alright well, this is the West Tucson Mountain District here at Saguaro National Park.

Drove the North Kinney road to Signal Hill picnic area about 90 minutes before sunset. Apparently lots of folks had the same idea. The road off Kinney is not paved to the picnic area. There were plenty of parking when I arrived though. My primary purpose was to see the petroglyphs. The hike to the area was rather short, and crowded. It was sad to see some "historical" graffiti alongside the petroglyphs. Secondary quest for the sunset picture with a saguaro was pretty to shoot. Beautiful area that I'm glad is protected for all.

We only spent about 2 hours here from 3:00-5:00 pm, right before sunset, on Tuesday, 12/20/22. It wasn't crowded at all! We felt like we saw what we wanted to see! Mostly, we drove. We did a couple little walks - couldn't really even call them hikes. Love seeing all the cacti! The petroglyphs are also cool. Very accessible by car, but just know that the roads are mostly gravel!

Magnificent landscape and well maintained trails. Visitor center is wonderful and informative

Beautiful hike for a fall day visiting Tucson! The cacti are stunning and a great workout for anyone who enjoys some elevation gain and desert scenery.

Incredible landscape and hiking! We were in awe of the numerous and often huge saguaros. The visitor center was closed for the day so we missed out there. The easy trail around that was nice but fairly limited. We hiked more around Gates Pass instead.

If you come during summer, start early since it gets really hot with very little shade. Did Bajada Loop drive and it was a nice drive to get introduced to Saguaro NP without doing big hikes. We did Valley View Overlook, Signal Hill, and Dessert Trail. They were all very easy walks and doable with children. Dessert Trail is wheelchair accessible.

The west side of the Saguaro National Park was my favorite side, although both are cool. There are trails for all levels of hikers, so there is something for everyone. I'm not in shape and am not a hiker but we were able to do a couple of trails and got to enjoy the desert for a bit regardless! It's gorgeous out here. You feel so far away from the city and you're only a quick drive away from Tucson. We got into the park around 7:30am on a Friday during the summer and were the only people out on the trails we selected. I'm sure it gets much more crowded in the winter and during weekends, but still absolutely worth the trip. During COVID-19 the visitor center has limited hours and has set up shop outside, but you can still get Information, National Park stamps, and the usual souvenirs if you are interested.

Who knew the dessert had so much green beauty?! Absolutely stunning! This is definitely a must stop if visiting Arizona. This was our first time in the state so visiting the park was a great experience to learn about what all there is in Arizona. I learned a lot! Like that cactus have blossoms! Truly impressive. This is a nice spot to bring kids as they can learn about bugs, insects and animals native to the area. Everything is mainly outside and it is a lot of walking so be prepared for that.

I love this park on the western outskirts of Tucson especially as twilight approaches. I hadn't been here in years and it was a pleasure to return and gaze upon the cacti as far as the eye can see.

I mean, this park is up there for me on my list of national parks. The saguaros go on forever, or what seems like forever. And they are old AF, how amazing. Didn't hike, but did do a scenic drive and saw a group of mule deer frolicking across the way.

There are two sides to Saguaro National Park - west and east and we ended up on the west side because it was recommended for first timers looking for a day trip. And though I was unable to visit the east side which is a bit of a drive away, I was impressed with all that I saw on the west end of Saguaro National Park. I really think Saguaro is underrated since people tend to speak of Grand Canyon National Park when they think of a national park in Arizona. Even AZ's license plate calls it the Grand Canyon State, which is true. But have you ever seen a saguaro in person, brah? They are beautiful and there's a reason it truly is the icon of not only the Sonoran Desert but the southwest...even if saguaros aren't at all southwest destinations. But still, the image of a cactus is likely that of a saguaro and it's a treasure. You come to this park to see in-person and up close these cacti and they are massive. We visited during late May, which is the time for when the flowers were blooming. We also visited at a time where we were advised that you should leave the park by 10am, as it really does get too hot for hiking and being exposed to the sun. With that said, start early! We started at 7am and didn't even see all of the park, but definitely hit the highlights. There are hiking trails of all elevation gains and levels. There are places to see the saguaros up close where you can stand by it and see the height difference. There are mountains to climb. And there are places where you can see petroglyphs. In addition to saguaros, you will see many other different cacti, which I'm always amazed by when I visit this part of the U.S. Saguaro National Park should be a must when visiting southern Arizona, or even, Arizona! It's a 20-minute drive from Tucson, which is unusual for national parks to be so close to a metropolitan area, so take advantage. Just note that during the pandemic, the visitor's center was not open; yet, the bookstore was. Rangers are at the visitors center entrance outside with an informational table should you need assistance and a map. Don't miss out on Saguaro!

We drove here on a whim when our flight out of Phoenix was delayed six hours. It was definitely worth it to see the beautiful cactus Forrest. It was incredibly hot when we went so we couldn't hike but it was still a great drive.

This is a unique NP. The variety of vegetation is incredible. We didn't see any wild life but we thoroughly enjoyed the scenery. The visitor's centers suck right now because of Covid. They only let a limited number of people in at a time. You still have to wear a mask which is strictly enforced. The bicyclists own the road so be careful as you drive around the loops. It's a beautiful place with things you can only see here.

As always my fondness of outdoor and national parks grow with every park I visit. This one is no less, a beautiful place preserving one of the lands well known treasure: the saguaro. Located right by Tucson, there is a East and West location apart by 1.5 hours of driving. Mostly due to the narrow roads, some paved some not but most cars and get by. Learn about their history at the visitor center with their 15 minute around the clock presentation. The gift store is stocked with awesome trinkets and collectibles. Get your fill of food items too at this location. Bathroom is plenty, and water fountain is available to fill your bottles. They have one camp site in this location called the Gilbert, where you can drive up to, first come first serve. The rest requires permit for hiking into camp. The hikes range from easy to strenuous. Highly recommended! Just be careful not to tread on spikey things

West Saguaro National Park is a great drive with a few small trails to explore. The visitor center is both informative and includes plenty of cactus themed souvenirs. Technically you can drive through it without paying a fee. If you're looking for free trails just keep heading west to the Tuscon Mountain Park area. - Fourth graders can pick up their official park card here that allows them (and in many cases their parents) free access to all National Parks. https://www.everykidinapark.gov - The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum was a fun place to check out. Only a few miles down the road.