At the end of our second day on the road, we headed north to Tucson. We stopped for some photos at San Xavier del Bac then drove over to the Rincon (East) District of Saguaro National Park. All we knew about Saguaro was that it was home to the beautiful and iconic saguaro cactus. I have to say that it totally took my breath away. The park areas are truly stunning, and it’s hard for me to describe how incredible a forest of cacti towering over 30 feet tall is to see.
Saguaro National Park has two separate sections on opposite sides of Tucson: the Rincon District on the eastern side of town and the Tucson District on the west side. You can visit both sites in one day, though I would plan to spend a full day between the sides. We chose to split them up into two days because we got to Tucson later in the afternoon. Your admission is good for a whole week, so you can have plenty of time to explore.
We timed our visit to hopefully see cacti in bloom. Most cactus varietals bloom from April to June, depending on the weather and rainfall. We were not disappointed. While not everything was in bloom at once, we saw thousands of pink, yellow, and red prickly pear blossoms, gorgeous white and yellow saguaro flowers, and wildflowers. I would definitely recommend a spring visit to see the cactus and to avoid the Arizona summer heat.
Whenever you visit, be sure to pack sunscreen, hats, sturdy shoes, and tons of water. You’ll find very little natural shade in the park (and I wouldn’t recommend hanging out under a cactus). Heat stroke is a very real thing, so take your time, hydrate, and don’t push yourself too hard too fast.
Rincon or East District
Address and Location
You’ll find the Rincon District Visitor’s Center at 3693 South Old Spanish Trail in Tucson, Arizona.
Cost
Entrance passes give you access to both park districts and are valid for seven days. You can also purchase a pay in advance through the park website. A general weekly pass costs $25 per vehicle. Motorcycle passes cost $20. People entering on foot or on a bicycle cost $15. As always, America the Beautiful pass holders get in free.
What to Do
The Rincon District offers several hiking trails of different lengths and intensities. From the Visitor’s Center, we headed out on Cactus Forest Drive, the main road through the district. The road is paved, one way, and one lane most of the way, so be prepared to drive the entire loop. You’ll find tons of pull-offs with parking along the entire road (and try to avoid stopping the road just for pictures). We opted to explore the Freeman Homestead Trail, though we didn’t do the full loop. We saw amazing prickly pear, teddy bear chollo, and loads of other smaller cactus species.
Tucson or West District
Address and Location
You’ll find the Tucson District Visitor’s Center at 2700 North Kinney Road in Tucson, Arizona.
What to Do
You can also hike in the Tucson District. We drove down Hohokam Road for some hiking and sites. The Tucson District has several roads, and two of these intersect with other roads in Tucson. It’s a bit easier to get in and out of this side of the park. Keep in mind that several of the park roads are not fully paved. You probably don’t need four-wheel drive in dry weather, but you won’t mind having higher clearance.
Our first stop was the Valley View Trail, a groomed gravel and sand trail in good condition. You’ll need to climb stairs in a few places, and you have some ups and downs along the way. This trail got us the closest to loads of saguaro. Be sure to take a few minutes and enjoy the views from the bench at the top of the trail.
Finally, we hiked up (it’s actually up) to the Signal Hill Petroglyphs. This path isn’t particularly strenuous, but you do have to climb packed dirt and stone stairs up to the top of the hill. I am personally always fascinated by petroglyphs, and I try to figure out what they are. You’ll also find great views of the park and the area from Signal Hill. From there, we headed out of the park and back to Tucson.
Arizona National Park Service sites: Fort Bowie National Historic Site | Chiricahua National Monument | Coronado National Memorial | Tumacacori National Historical Park | Saguaro National Park
Aren’t the saguaro’s amazing!?! I loved seeing them in real life.