- Hours: Open daily except December 25
- Cost: National park fee
- Location: Just outside Tucson - directions below
- How Long: Allow a few hours to look around, more if you hike
- Best Time to Visit: Winter is coolest - during summer, try to go early in the day
- See It Now: Photo Tour
Saguaro National Park protects the distinctive saguaro cactus, tree-like plants that can live 150 years and grow up to 50 feet tall, weighing over 10 tons. It is also home to animals such as Harris’ hawk, the Gila woodpecker and the tiny elf owl.
Saguaro National Park has two districts, both located near Tucson:
Saguaro West: Easy to tour by automobile on the six-mile Bajada Loop Drive. Also easy is the 0.5-mile Cactus Garden Trail at the Visitor Center. The 0.5-mile Desert Discovery Loop Trail and the 0.8-mile Valley View Overlook Trail can both be reached along the Bajada Loop. Allow two hours for a stop at the Visitor Center, a drive along the Loop Drive, and a few photo opportunities. Saguaro West's entrance is near the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Follow Kinney Road north and west off I-19.
Saguaro East: Includes an aging saguaro forest, an 8 mile scenic drive and 128 miles of hiking trails. Saguaro East's entrance is off Old Spanish Trail.
Getting to Saguaro National Monument
Saguaro National ParkExit I-10 at exit 275 (Houghton Road) and drive 9.5 miles (15 kilometers) north to Old Spanish Trail and turn right. Drive 3 miles (5 kilometers) southeast on Old Spanish Trail and the park entrance.
Tucson, AZ
Rincon Mountain District 520-733-5153
Tucson Mountain District 520-733-5158
Website
From Tucson, travel west on Speedway Boulevard. At the junction of Camino de Oeste, Speedway Boulevard will change names to Gates Pass Road. From this junction, drive 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) west on Gates Pass Road until it ends at Kinney Road. Turn right on Kinney Road and drive 3 miles (5 kilometers) north on to the Sequoia National Park entrance.
