and makes them easier to spot. . Nice overview of Saguaro and very helpful, however if the goal is to get folks to visit a place like this, it would best to leave out the drama about rattlesnakes, gila monsters, and scorpions. Take I-10E to Avra Valley Road, exit 242. NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries. Check out StreetView of the road to see what you think. Saguaro National Park - Tucson, Arizona. Great horned owl perched on a dead tree with cactus in the background. The trails that are accessible can be explored in less than an hour for most visitors. Tanque Verde Ridge Trail. The best camera equipment to capture photos in Saguaro National Park. But we also checked out a few smaller sites, events, and hikes in the park that are worth mentioning. Current Time: 2023-02-23 09:21:27 . Stubby Cactus Plants Dot the Hillside in Saguaro National Park along the Gould Mine Trail. Saguaros don't just grow in the park; they're all over the area, including along that road. A 10 year old plant may only be 2 inches tall. We stayed at Hotel McCoy, per your recommendation. In fact, the entire East section is tucked so tightly into the Rincon Mountains that you will not even see the sun until an hour or so after it has risen. This allows unlimited access to all Federal fee areas for one year from the date of purchase. Saguaro National Park Hiking At the Mica View - Cholla - Cactus Forest Loop Trail. I LOVE the teddy bear cholla. The desert sunset may rival the saguaros as the park's most Instagrammed natural wonder. We chose this hotel for its location and great reviews. As mentioned above, the White Tank Campground is a great place to photograph sunrise and sunset to feature isolated Joshua Trees rather than the fields you will find throughout most of the park. Arizona desert landscape with Saguaro cactus at sunset. Reservations: Yes. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. One of the best photography spots in Saguaro National Park, the Arizona desert is an ideal location for hiking, camping, and birdwatching. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This trail is ranked moderate, and it is a good place for hiking, birdwatching, and walking during your visit to Saguaro National Park. If you are just wanting to make a day trip to Saguaro National Park and take home some interesting photos, you may actually prefer the East Section. If you are willing and able to make the hike in, you will need to find your favorite south-facing views and compositions if you want to include the Milky Way. Valley View Overlook Trail in the west section was one of some favorite hikes in Saguaro National Park. Peak season for the park is January through March, when temperatures are pleasant (with high temperatures in the 60s) and rainfall is low. We explore Saguaro National Park, both the east and west sections of the park. This easy trail leads you through the desert and past mine ruins, offering views of the Tucson Mountains and great photo opportunities. Cheers, Julie. If you dont have the lens you need, do not fret, the same lens should perform just fine. To start the drive, turn right from N Kinney Road onto Hohokam Road. Here are driving distances and times from nearby destinations: There are no accommodations inside Saguaro National Park, unless you plan to camp in Saguaro East. Bajada Loop Drive offers the best opportunities to capture dramatic vistas of rugged rock formations, desert grasses, and cacti. This paved and totally level loop hike is only half a mile long. The park is split into two sections on both the east and west sides of the city of Tuscon, and while it is possible to see many of the park's best spots in one day, I would recommend carving out more time than that to experience it. Keep checking for updates as we are constantly updating our content. My family spent several hours here, both at the East and West side. SUBSCRIBE for more videos! Top 5 Best Things to Do in Saguaro National Park. There is a parking lot at . Park is open to hikers and cyclists 24 hours/day. Ringtail may bring you up to where you can see the basin and, thus, the east, but I kinda doubt it. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Here are the best things to do in Saguaro National Park, plus when to go, where to stay, how to plan your time, and what it is like in June. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-60136795', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Tucson is really pretty, and it creates some really nice shadows in the mountains and on the cacti, but you very likely won't catch any colors, if that's what you're looking for. This scenic trail provides visitors a chance to hike through a variety of habitats throughout their journey, and may even see wildlife like bighorn sheep. From here it is a 30-minute drive to both Saguaro West and Saguaro East. 14-24mm or similar. Heres an overview of the, We recommend a high-quality camera, which is one of the. Best $15 we ever spent. If you only have half of a day, we recommend visiting Saguaro West. Best Sunset Spot in Saguaro National Park. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Set on two separate sides of the city of Tuscon, Saguaro National Park showcases the Sonoran Desert. Sunrise photography at Saguaro National Park can be challenging as the mountains often obstruct your views to the east. This unique US National Park located in the southwest, and just so happens to be our favorite Arizona national park. As outdoor lovers and travel photographers, we created a store to share our joy for the natural world with affordable gifts and products. The mighty saguaro only grows in Arizona, and this one stands over 40 feet tall. Day 4: Monument Valley. Make it a point to stop at each and every kiosk or pullout, for there will not only be information but also a fantastic vista awaiting you. This forum is excellent. This trail intersects the Hugh Norris Trail. If you only have time for one, dont miss our article Should You Visit Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon? With their stunning white flowers, Saguaros in bloom are certainly a sight to see. Saguaros are often depicted as tall, prickly plants with two arms. Traveling between the two sections of the park takes 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. The Loma Verde Trail is a 3.8 mile loop that offers a terrific variety of scenery. Visitors will want to stay in the left lane when turning onto Bajada Loop Drive from Signal Hill Road or Leisure Lane in case cars come from behind. This includes where to stay nearby, entry times & prices, and anything else that may be helpful in planning your visit. 7. Each side of the park offers a prime sunset viewing spots so try to celebrate the sunset during your visit. Visitors will want to stay in the left lane when turning onto Bajada Loop Drive from Signal Hill Road or Leisure Lane in case cars come from behind. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Take your pick, take your camera, and start scurrying for Tucson sunset spots. The park is open to bikes and pedestrians 24 hours a day. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Saguaro West will likely have a lot more dust and dirt and crowds to contend with. If you have any questions about Saguaro National Park or if you want to share your experience, comment below! Sunrise is usually not nearly as good as sunsets. The accommodations are exquisite as well. Join us on an adventure in the desert! The distances are quite big and it would be quite painful to try to get around on public transport. Besides the amazing forests of saguaro cacti, we see tons of prickly pear cacti and an antelope jackrabbit. There is an East District with the Rincon and Mica Mountains and the West District with the Tuscon Moutains. This site has been a popular attraction among hikers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts for decades. The Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East) opens at 6 am and closes at sunset. East Saguaro is known as the Rincon Mountain District (RMD). Depictions and descriptions of desert wildlife and varieties of cactus will help you identify examples as you drive on. (c) Seeker.io. Guess I can try that. I recommend avoiding a visit in June through August unless you're well acclimated to the scorching desert heat. Maybe I will simply leave the hotel early in the morning and just pull off the road before the mountain divide to get saguaro cactus and sky photos. Wasson Peak is one of the most spectacular places in Saguaro National Park. Monsoon sunset over the cactus forest of the Saguaro National Park West, Wednesday, August 10, 2016, Tucson, Ariz. . Call the park's visitor center at 520-733-5158 for updates the day of the program. Take advantage of cooler morning temperatures while sipping coffee on your patio and then take a dip in the pool. Sunset over Javelina Rocks. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. This area has the most Saguaro Cacti and dense . From Cortaro Road, it's a short and scenic jog over the . There is a pullout at the high point of the loop, about 5.2 miles out, that is ideal for a magnificent desert sunset shot, if the cloud conditions are present. Hugh Norris Trail. Here are some things to do along the drive: Desert Ecology Trail: short walking trail similar to the Desert Discovery Nature Trail in Saguaro West. . GRAND CANYON: Check out our guides to the Best Things to Do on the South Rim, how to spend one perfect day in the Grand Canyon, and which South Rim viewpoints are the best ones to visit. Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive: Best Stops, Hikes & Permit Info. with only 49 feet of elevation gain. In mid-June, monsoon season begins. For sunset in the east unit, Javelina Rocks is a good area. I never would have known about that road. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-60132697', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Tucson are A Mountain or Gates Pass. In the Rincon Mountains District (the East Side of the Park) head to the Tanque Verde . Day 8: Grand Canyon & Sedona. Mar 17, 2016; Hiking with a toddler Oct 28, 2015; Afternoon and morning in Saguaro-which part when? Access road to the Mica View picnic area. Note that the Hugh Norris Trail is a steep one! If you have never been to the park, you may want to begin by perusing our Ultimate Guide to Saguaro National Park which features all of the need-to-know information for visiting. Love the blog. 2/28/2023. One day is all you need to visit Saguaro National Park, unless you plan to go camping in the backcountry. Saguaro National Park is named for the Saguaro cactus, which grows only in the Sonoran Desert. Time to watch the beauty above us. Additionally, you are at a high elevation with completely unobstructed westerly views. The Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East) opens at 6 am and closes at sunset. While in Saguaro National Park, please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife. This area is located closer to the city, so it's easier to access. Make sure to cross the wash and continue forward to the overlook. Along the way, and on the rocks on top of the hill, you get to see the rock art, or petroglyphs, drawn by the Hohokam people over 800 years ago. For this reason, photographers hoping for a sunrise photoshoot should go to the West section. Why are you so focused on the national park? We spent several hours in Saguaro East and then checked into our hotel in Tucson. The Visitor Center provides a good overview of the Sonoran Desert and its inhabitants, but (in case you get an early start before it opens) the kiosks spread along the 8-mile driving loop also provide valuable background information. Valley overlook trail can still be reached from there, and Signal hill from the main road. We were here in January--temperatures were in the mid-50s to the upper 60s. If youre lucky enough to be in Saguaro National Park on a clear night, dont miss the opportunity to experience an excellent view of the Milky Way. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is situated in the western part of Tucson close to Old Tucson, Saguaro National Park West along with Tucson Mountain Park In a remote desert canyon, the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum offers visitors a chance to explore the wonders of the Sonoran Desert region. June through September receives the lowest number of visitors. The Tucson Mountain District sits 10 miles west of Tucson while the Rincon Mountain District (my personal favorite) lies 10 miles east. This will help you have the perfect one day in Saguaro west. Absolutely beautiful! Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Saguaro National Park released the following schedule: January 14 3:45 p.m. Moonlight Reflections Hike: 3 hours, 2 miles. But it was still incredibly hot in June, hitting 95F by 8:30 am. You can click the check marks to hide or show layers. Start at the trail sign and follow the signs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. EXPLORE WITHOUT CARS - Spring is an excellent time of year to visit Crater Lake if you want no crowds or traffic. Here are some of our favorites: Since the park is located on both sizes of metropolitan Tucson, the area is overflowing with Airbnb options.. To capitalize on the desert experience, stay at the Central and Stylish Midcentury Pool House. 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