Saguaro
Two desert districts on either side of Tucson, filled with giant saguaro cactus forests
- Hours
- 24 hours on foot; drives have set hours
- Entry
- $25 per car
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- About 92,000 acres
Saguaro Weather Now
Loading the forecast for Saguaro…
Saguaro National Park protects the giant saguaro cactus, a plant that grows only in the Sonoran Desert. The park has two separate districts about 30 miles apart: the Rincon Mountain District east of Tucson and the Tucson Mountain District to the west. Saguaros grow very slowly, can live 150 years or more, and often do not sprout their first arms until they are 50 to 70 years old. The area became a national monument in 1933 and a national park in 1994.
The west district is lower and has dense saguaro forests, the Bajada Loop and Signal Hill petroglyphs. The east district is bigger and wilder, climbing from the desert floor to over 8,600 feet in the Rincon Mountains, where pine forests and even black bears live. In late spring the saguaros bloom with white flowers, Arizona's state flower, that open at night and feed bats, birds and insects. Many visitors are surprised to learn the park is a short drive from downtown Tucson.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- November through April brings mild, sunny days, and late April through June is the time to see saguaros in bloom.
- How long to stay
- One day covers both districts at a fast pace; two days lets you hike in each.
- Getting there
- Tucson International (TUS) is about 30 minutes from either district, and Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) is about 2 hours away.
- Wildlife
- Look for javelinas, coyotes, roadrunners, Gila woodpeckers, desert tortoises, Gila monsters and rattlesnakes, plus black bears and deer high in the Rincons.
Plan and book
Some links below are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works
Where to stay
- Hotels in Tucson (opens in a new tab)Arizona
- Hotels in Oro Valley (opens in a new tab)Arizona
- Hotels in Marana (opens in a new tab)Arizona
- No lodging inside the park. The towns above are the closest bases.
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Saguaro
- Large water bottle or hydration packThere is almost no shade or water on the trails.
- Wide-brim sun hatThe desert sun is strong in every season.
- Comb and tweezersThe easiest way to remove cholla spines is with a comb and fine tweezers.
- Sturdy hiking shoesTrails are rocky and covered with spiny plant debris.
- HeadlampUseful for sunrise starts and dusk walks after the visitor centers close.
A first day, start to finish
- Rincon Mountain Visitor Center
- Cactus Forest Loop Drive
- Freeman Homestead Trail
- Red Hills Visitor Center and Bajada Loop
- Signal Hill Petroglyphs and sunset at Valley View Overlook
Don't miss
- Cactus Forest Loop DriveAn 8-mile paved, mostly one-way loop in the east district with pullouts, picnic areas and trailheads among thick stands of saguaros.
- Signal Hill PetroglyphsA short climb off the 6-mile Bajada Loop Drive in the west district leads to rocks covered in Hohokam petroglyphs that are hundreds of years old.
- Valley View Overlook TrailAn easy 0.8-mile round trip in the west district that ends at a wide view over the Avra Valley and its cactus-covered slopes.
- Wasson PeakAt 4,687 feet the highest point in the Tucson Mountains, reached by a strenuous 7 to 8 mile round trip via the King Canyon or Hugh Norris trails.
- Freeman Homestead TrailA 1-mile loop in the east district past an old homestead site, big saguaros and a shady wash.
Know before you go
Do
- Carry at least one gallon of water per person per day when hiking.
- Start hikes at sunrise, especially from May through September.
- Bring a card, since the park does not accept cash.
Don't
- Touch or brush against cholla cactus, whose spiny joints stick to skin and clothing.
- Hike in the middle of a hot day; the park advises staying active only before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. in summer.
- Touch, climb on or carve the saguaros or petroglyphs.
You can walk or bike into the park 24 hours a day, year-round. The paved Cactus Forest Loop Drive in the east district is open to vehicles from 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and west district roads, including the Bajada Loop Drive, are open dawn to dusk. Both visitor centers (Rincon Mountain to the east and Red Hills to the west) are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October 1 through May 31 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in summer, and close on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Visit the west district for sunset, when the saguaros along the Bajada Loop and Valley View Overlook light up against the sky.Trekker's tip