Saguaro National Park Things to Do

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. Saguaro National Park is west of the Anza Expedition historic route. The park offers a spectacular view of the desert, very similar to how it would have appeared to the expedition in 1775. This is also a passport stamp location for the Anza Trail.

A paved, 300-foot (91 m) accessible loop trail, located on the west side of the Red Hills Visitor Center parking lot. This short trail provides a great introduction to the notable species of the Sonoran Desert, featuring signs that identify and interpret many of the most common species.

Cactus Wren Trail traverses 1.8 miles south to the Signal Hill Picnic Area. This trail passes many large Saguaro cacti, along with many other desert plants and possible animals. This trail makes a great wildlife viewing are and/or sunset hike. The trail can be found just north on the Signal Hill Trail, or by using the Access Point 3 along Rudasill Road just east of Sandario Road.

This picnic area is located in Saguaro National Park's West District along Picture Rocks Rd. There is a trailhead at this location, as well as a place for horse trailers to park. The Prophecy Wash Trail is accessed from here.

The Manning Cabin sits in the Rincon Mountains in Saguaro National Park. Levi H. Manning had the cabin built in 1905 for use as a mountain summer home. It was the first such retreat built in the Rincon Mountains.

The Desert Discovery Trail is an easy, paved, accessible, 0.5 mile (0.8 km) trail in Saguaro National Park's west district. The trailhead is located along Kinney Road, 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest from the Red Hills Visitor Center. Interpretive signage along the trail provides an introduction to the ecology and habitats of the Sonoran Desert. There are several shade structures and benches along the way. This trail features any large and impressive saguaros along with impressive views of Avra Valley to the west and the Quinlan Mountains and the Baboquivari Mountains to the southwest. This is a great introduction to Saguaro National Park and a family-friendly trail that allows pets on leash and is accessible to wheelchairs.

Access to the park's trail system via the Deset Winds Trail (1.3mi one way). This flat trail meanders through Sonoran Desert scrubland, past some residential houses, leading east into the park across Sandario Road. A great location for birding, wildlife sighting, and sunset walks.

This picnic area is located along the Bajada Loop Drive in Saguaro National Park's West District. It is located near the Sendero Esperanza Trailhead.

Fee Kiosk by the Rincon Mountain District Visitor Center, at the entrance of the scenic Cactus Forest Drive.

Gates Pass Overlook and Trailhead area is located in the Tucson Mountain Park, just east of Saguaro National Park West. This area provides access to numerous trails, parking, restrooms, and a wonderful place to watch sunset. The area is managed by Pima County (this is not an NPS site), and is open to the public from 6am to 8pm daily. Gates lock from 8pm to 6am, cars are unable to leave during these times. Click here to learn more about this trailhead and the surrounding Tucson Mountain Park.

This is the closest picnic area from the Saguaro National Park East District entrance. There are plenty of parking spots and covered table areas. The Tanque Verde Ridge Trail starts from this location. Backpackers looking to take the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail up into the Rincon Mountains can park their car here and start their ascent. The closest campsite from here is Juniper Basin (6.9 miles away on foot, 4000 ft of climbing).

Javelina Rocks Overlook is located roughly 6 miles into the Cactus Forest Loop Drive, on the right side of the road. This area provides unique landscape views, opportunities to explore and climb, and is a much loved area for viewing the sunset. Be cautious when exploring the area; watch out for wildlife living in between the rocks, be mindful of your step as you climb the trail, and be extra diligent when exploring the area as the sun is setting. Climb at your own risk.

A 600-yard loop trail through the wash behind the Red Hills Visitor Center, looping through the wash from one end of the building to the other. Flat, but sandy and rocky, with stairs at either end. Follow the self-guided "Signs of Life in the Desert" tour under Self-Guided Tours in the NPS app to learn more about the habitats you'll see along this short, varied trail. The Javelina Wash Trail allows visitors to get a taste of the Sonoran Desert right next to the Visitor Center, and is the setting for various guided ranger walks. A variety of Sonoran Desert pland and animals can be seen close-up in the wash, as well as a variety of animal habiats, from their holes and burrows.

This trailhead is located in Tucson Mountain Park, just outside of the National Park boundary. It is the starting point for several trails: the King Canyon Trail (3.5miles up to Wasson Peak), King Canyon Wash Trail (meets back up with King Canyon Trail 0.9mi up the dry river bed), and Gould Mine Trail (0.8mi one way, meets up with the Sendero Esperanza Trail), all of which connect to Saguaro National Park's West District's extensive trail system.

This is a unique picnic area located along the Sendero Esperanza Trail. This picnic area is hike in only and cannot be reached with any form of vehicle. It is most easily accessed from the King Canyon Trailhead in Tucson Mountain Park, consisting of a hike from the parking lot of just under 1 mile.

This is a great place to take some shorter hikes and enjoy covered picnic areas. There is a large, family-friendly and accessible picnic shelter near the parking lot. There is an ADA accessible trail starting from this area called the Mica View Trail. Additionally, this picnic area has wheelchair friendly picnic area and grills.

MICA VIEW TRAIL IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING REPAIRS. IS NOT ADA ACCESSIBLE AT THIS TIME. Traverse at your own risk, surface will be rough and uneven. Mica View Trail provides visitors with a easy stroll through the low desert vegetation. The trail is just under a mile one way from the picnic area to Broadway Road, or vice versa, and can be accessed via either entrance. This is also one of the few dog friendly trails within this district.

This small paved pull-off provides a small break along the Cactus Forest Loop Drive, and can squeeze two cars into it (do not park in the road). It offers visitors a stopping point along the drive; to take pictures, read the map, and is often used a place to watch the sunset. While the park trails are open to visitors 24 hours a day, the loop drive will close around 8pm, including locking the gates. Be sure to plan accordingly.

This easy to moderate trail begins at the Loma Alta Trailhead, along the southern parts of the Rincon Mountain District. This trail traverses 2.2miles (round-trip) and has roughly 300ft of elevation change throughout. It provides a secluded hiking experience, along with beautiful sonoran desert views. The end of the trail also provides spectacular sunset viewing.

Sendera Esperanza Picnic Area is the last stop along Golden Gate Road on the Bajada Loop Drive. THis picnic area provides visitors with a large parking area (big enough for RVs and busses to use to turn around at), unshaded and wheelchair accessible picnic tables, a restroom, bootbrush, closest parking for the largest dog friendly trail (Golden Gate Multi-Use Trail), as well as access to the large trail network on the north side of the Tuscon Mountain Range.

Signal Hill is a popular multi-use area along the Bajada Loop Drive in Saguaro National Park's west district. This is a popular destination, as it is the best place to see petroglyphs within the park. There are trails that start from this destination, as well as a picnic area. The trails from this area (including the short walk up to the petroglyphs) are not ADA accessible.

Many people visit national parks to see wildlife. Visitors to Yellowstone will see bison and elk. Black bears roam the roads in Sequoia, and deer dot the meadows in Yosemite. Why don’t visitors to Saguaro National Park see animals such as these? There are a couple of reasons. In Sequoia, if a bear wants to disappear, it walks a few yards into the woods, and it’s gone. The same is true for a deer in Yosemite, or elk in Yellowstone. But look out over our cactus “forest;” do you think you could still see a deer walking a fair distance away? It’s hard for a large animal to hide in this open habitat. Another, more important reason you see less wildlife here is that the days are hot—sometimes very hot. Animals seek sheltered areas in which to pass the day and become active at night. Summer is the time for most animal activity in the desert, precisely the time of year we have the fewest number of visitors. Additionally, those visitors come during the day when the animals are hiding. The trick to finding out about wildlife in the desert parts of Saguaro National Park is to look for clues—signs of life that tell you what’s here. What do we mean by “signs” of life? You can probably make a few good guesses: Footprints Droppings (“scat”) Burrows, holes Nests Webs Nibbled leaves or other plant parts This does not mean you won’t see any wildlife! Keep your eyes open for lizards, butterflies, birds, insects, and spiders. Listen for bird songs or insect sounds. A lot of little creatures go about their lives throughout the day, even in the hottest times of the year, and can be seen by the careful observer.

Stop 1: Crevices in the Wall When the Park Service built this wall, their main objective was probably retaining the soil and bordering the trail. They likely were not creating habitat, but that is what happened. These huge slabs of flagstone (sandstone) provide cracks and fissures for all kinds of small animals. Look for spider webs, rodent droppings, and dirt excavated from beneath along the length of this wall. If it’s a sunny day, look along the tops of the rocks to find lizards sunning themselves. At night this wall is alive with running crab spiders and bark scorpions, among many other small invertebrate animals. And the “caution” sign with the rattlesnake depicted on it is not just there for the entertainment of visitors: the crevices in this wall are often used by snakes of many kinds, including rattlesnakes.

Stop 10: Sweetbush A common, rounded, thin-leafed shrub you see on this trail is Sweetbush (Bebbia), which grows small, yellow composite flowers a couple of times a year, in spring and in summer. It is particularly attractive to butterflies, and at certain times of the year (especially September-October) a variety of colorful butterflies may be seen flitting around it. Look closely and you may also see flies, various kinds of native bees (the Sonoran Desert is the bee capital of the U.S., with nearly 700 species), caterpillars, and otherinsects that find this plant attractive. This trail will help you understand what kinds of signs you are looking for as you explore desert trails (and please, do stay on the trails, both for your safety and for protection of the resources).

Stop 11: Wildlife Camera Even the best observer won’t see all there is to see in a given range. Scientists, naturalists, and rangers have various ways of finding out what lives in an area. These may include trapping, tracking, or photography. One method of photographing animals is the wildlife camera which allows passing animals to take a “selfie:’ the animal trips a beam which triggers the camera shutter. One such camera is located in the box on the post in front of you. Through the use of this camera, we have documented the presence of javelina, mule deer, desert cottontails and black-tailed jackrabbits, coyotes, gray foxes, bobcats, and even mountain lions! (pictures) We ask your consideration in not disturbing this camera so that we may continue to document the natural wildlife found here.

Stop 12: Signs of Life in a Saguaro Cactus We mentioned holes in the ground but look up: there are holes in saguaros.as well. These are made by woodpeckers of two species: the Gila woodpecker and the gilded flicker. These birds bore holes into the flesh of the cacti and form chambers inside the plant in which to lay their eggs. The plant responds by emitting a substance that coats its “wound” and stops the loss of water, much like a scab over a scrape or cut. The cactus uses this means to heal any cut in its tissue, as you can see from the saguaro in front of you which has several hard, grayish “scabs” on it. When the woodpeckers abandon their nests, the nests are taken over by other animals. Elf owls (up from Mexico in the summer), cactus wrens, starlings, purple martins, kestrels, and other cavity nesting birds will use these homes, as will spiders, snakes, mice, and other desert creatures. When the saguaro dies and rots away, pieces that were surrounded by the hardened “scab” will be left among the ribs and the powdery remains of the tissue. The woodpecker nests are vaguely shoe or sock shaped and are often called saguaro “boots.”

Stop 2: Moth Trap Sometimes there are signs of life we hope to never see. In a shrub toward the building wall, you may see a strange paper structure. This is a moth trap baited with attractant chemicals (pheromones) meant to lure in the non-native Argentine cactus moth. This is a moth native to South America, as its name implies. Its larvae bores into the interior of cacti, and in many cases destroys the plant. They have no natural controls outside of their home range. They were used in Australia to help eliminate the (also introduced) prickly pear cactus that had overwhelmed regions of the country. If the moth were to reach the southwestern United States, it would be disastrous to our desert habitat.

Stop 3: Nests Remember to look up once in a while—there may be a nest in a tree, or even on the “shoulder” of a saguaro arm. A common nest in the desert is that of the cactus wren, Arizona’s state bird.They appear as masses about a foot across and at least two to three feet off the ground in cacti or shrubs. The nests are woven from grasses and plant stems and are lined with feathers. This bird is busy building nests throughout the year. Cactus wrens build nests in springtime to lay their eggs in, of course, but while the female is brooding her eggs, the male may be building another nest, either for a second clutch of eggs or for the first nestlings to use as they grow. Sometimes cactus wrens have three broods in one year! Other nests to look for are those of the verdin, curve-billed thrasher, phainopepla and white-winged dove, especially in palo verde trees.

Stop 4: Signs of Life in a Prickly Pear Cactus Look around this corner carefully and you may see several signs of life. Do you see where the edges of the prickly pear pads have been nibbled? The prickly pear pads were probably eaten by packrats, although rabbits or other rodents will munch on the moisture-filled stems as well.Are there spider webs between the pads? Are there any holes in the ground around the base of the cactus or around the nearby shrubs? The leafy retreat of the desert shrub spider looks like a small, thin cocoon strung up by strands of web. The tiny spider itself is seldom visible by day. The other inhabitants might be kangaroo rats and pocket mice, two desert rodents that are neither rats nor mice, but belong to their own family. These creatures are the ultimate desert animal—they can go their whole lives without ever drinking water and instead subsist on the dry seeds of grasses and shrubs!

Stop 5: Javelina Wash The open area we are entering is called a “wash.” It’s basically a stream bed without a stream. The monsoon rain runs downhill as it falls on the sides of the mountain.Rivulets join together, increasing in size and intensity as they flow down toward this wash, which ultimately can become a roaring, rock-tumbling torrent. It tears away loose vegetation and soil, producing the open pathway that we see here. It not only makes it easier for us to travel through the desert in its channel, but also provides a highway for other animals as well. Here in the bottom of the wash is the best place to look for animal tracks, scat, or other signs of desert denizens. Keep your eyes open for lizards, butterflies, and the sheet-like webs of funnel-web spiders. These spiders are harmless and not related to the deadly funnel-web spiders of Australia.

Stop 6: Life in Death The trees from which these branches came are dead, but life goes on even in dead material. Lifeless plants and animals are fodder for the FBI—fungi, bacteria, and insects. These are collectively called decomposers, and are responsible for breaking down organic matter into smaller bits and pieces that can be reused and recycled into the environment. Look closely at the wood and you will see round holes where beetles have bored into the branches. You can also see the tunnels and “galleries” made by termites as they ate their way through the rotting wood. Underneath the dead branches, the cool and moist area provides habitat for a variety of insects, scorpions, and other arthropods (joint-legged animals), as well as bacteria and fungi. Lizards and small snakes may take refuge under logs such as these. Please take our word for it and do not turn these branches over—that destroys the microhabitat for these organisms.

Stop 7: Caliche The rock wall in front of you is composed of a substance called caliche. It is a natural cement formed by the leaching of calcium carbonate from the surrounding soils, which then concentrates in layers beneath the soil surface. When it is exposed by erosion, as in this wash bank, it erodes into a series of holes, cracks, and crevices creating habitats for a myriad of small creatures. Look in the holes and you will see spider webs, animal droppings, and other signs of life. Packrats build homes in the open, at the bases of trees or cacti, or in rock shelters such as caliche pockets or caves. Homes out in the open are referred to as packrat houses, while those in rock shelters are called dens. Within the homes are chambers for sleeping, storing food items, and a midden, or trash heap. This is where the animal (they usually live alone) throws out seed pods and other debris, and where it defecates and urinates.

Stop 8: Brush Cover Dense shrubbery such as the desert hackberry, wolfberry, and canyon ragweed growing in this area provide cover, as well as food for many forms of animal life. Small mammals and reptiles will hide in the shade of these shrubs, while birds will perch in the branches by day and roost there at night. You may find a small, brown, and orange butterfly guarding a desert hackberry bush; this is an Empress Leilia, also called the desert hackberry butterfly. Its caterpillars (larvae) feed on the leaves of hackberries, and males will perch on a bush or on the ground nearby waiting for female butterflies to come along. The male will defend “his” hackberry from other males, assuring a better chance at being the one who mates with any female visiting that plant.

Stop 9: Desert Mistletoe This palo verde tree is heavily infested with desert mistletoe, a semi-parasitic plant. As you can see, the mistletoe is green, which means that it has chlorophyll and can produce its own food by the process of photosynthesis. However, it gets its water and nutrients directly from the tree, rather than from roots in the ground. This does not normally kill the tree— there is no advantage for a parasite that cannot move to kill its host! The primary disperser of mistletoe is a bird called the Phainopepla. These members of the Silky Flycatcher Family (Ptilogonatidae), the only ones that come into the United States, migrate vertically: they winter in the desert and spend the warmer months in the mountains. During their time in the desert, a staple food item is mistletoe berries. The berries are digested, but the seeds pass through the birds’ digestive systems and are deposited with their sticky droppings on the branches of trees. The seeds grow into the wood of the tree to start a new mistletoe plant.

This small, 4-spot parking lot is just east of the Redhills Visitor Center. This location offers spectacular views during sunset. No trails stem from this area.

This is the closest picnic area to the Red Hills Visitor Center in the west district of Saguaro National Park. It is along the Bajada Loop Drive.

Tanque Verde Ridge Trail offers a wide variety of hiking options for visitors. From a quick walk up to the overlook, to a multi day trip up the mountain. The trail extends a total of 11 miles from the trailhead, up to Cow Head Saddle Trail. Along the trail sits one of the many backcountry campsites (Juniper Basin). Be sure to plan accordingly for your desired hike. For sunset viewing along this trail, head up about 0.6miles (roughly 100ft elevation) to the overlook area.

The Valley View Overlook Nature Trail is an easy 0.8 mile (1.3 km) roundtrip trail, starting at the Valley View Trailhead along the Bajada Loop Scenic Drive in Saguaro National Park's west district. This short trail was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The trail drops into and out of a couple of washes and then gradually ascends to a ridge. Along the way, you will travel through typical Sonoran Desert vegetation. Signs along the way identify and interpret several of the more common species of plants. The trail ends at a ridge with benches that allow you to relax and enjoy sweeping views. From here you can see Avra Valley to the west, Signal Hill, which looks like a small black mound from here, and the jagged ridge of Picacho Peak to the north.

The Valley View Trailhead is located on the Bajada Loop Scenic Drive, about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) from the turn-off from Kinney Road. There are several parking spots along the left side of the dirt Bajado Loop Scenic Drive. If parking spots are full, please don't park illegally. Continue along the loop to explore other trailheads with more parking availability and try again later.

Mica View Picnic Area, specifically for Poetry in the Parks event in 2024