saguaro national park west hiking trails

The trail travels through a wide variety of plant and animal habitats. Valley View Overlook Trail. To explore all the U.S. National Parks at our own pace and off the beaten path. It’s a perfect choice for someone looking for an easy to moderate hike with pretty minimal elevation gain and close encounters with large saguaro cactusesalong with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and desert terrain. Distance:10 miles 2. (Saguaro National Park Text). Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The trail is most noteable for it’s abundance of petroglyphys from the prehistoric Hokokam people. Both of these trails can be hiked as a short one or two mile hike with great views. Scenic Dr. & Belmont Trail Area, Tucson Mountain District (west) For the classic map of the east side of the park, view the link below. It had been a long time since either of us had hiked in the desert, and we didn’t know what to expect. Department of the Interior National Park Service Saguaro National Park Trails in the Tucson Mountain District Red Hills Visitor Center (520) 733-5158 Cactus Garden Trail (100 yards) Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. Hiking Signal Hill Trail – Saguaro National Park West. The Bridal Wreath … Beyond activities, the park itself protects one of the true icons of the American West, the giant Saguaro Cactus. Here are our favorite spots in the park, along with some tips for visiting. Pink Hill Trail Most trails in the Rincon Mountain district of Saguaro National Park are in the northwest corner - a few along the one road through the park, the Cactus Forest Drive, one in Rincon Valley to the south, and a complex network of inter-connecting routes on the north side of Tanque Verde Ridge. We generally only post about places we visit for a longer amount of time. The falls is another .3 miles off the Douglas Springs trail. The eastern section is larger and more mountainous, the western portion is lower in elevation and boasts a denser saguaro forest. Coyote along Desert Loop Trail at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, The Mam-A-Gah Picnic Area en route to Wasson Peak. Saguaro National Park lies split with two distinct disctricts with the City of Tucson, Arizona in the middle. Saguaro National Park East is nearly three times as big as the West district. Get a high-clearance vehicle, especially if going to the Miller Creek or Turkey Creek trailheads. 80 reviews of Saguaro National Park West "This was the first (and so far only) National Park I have written a letter to thanking them for their excellent Junior Ranger Program. Bring more water and snacks than you think you’ll need. Some tips for visiting Saguaro National Park: *The park is split into two districts, one directly to the east of Tucson, the Rincon Mountain District, and one directly to the west, the Tucson Mountain District. Tanque Verde Falls. If you go to Saguaro, take advantage of Tucson’s proximity to the park. Hiking in Saguaro National Park west . Easy to follow trail. There are 31 moderate trails in Saguaro National Park ranging from 2.2 to 20.8 miles and from 2,214 to 7,014 feet above sea level. (Saguaro National Park Text ). Both districts have plants and animals that are similar, but you will find a Saguaro forest in the Tucson Mountain District (TMD) to the west and possible sightings of bears, cougars and coati in … At 0.9 miles hikers pass the Sendero Esperanza Trail junction near the Mam-A-Gah picnic area, named for a Tohono O'odham Indian Chief. We recommend at least one full day. Photographed on the Discovery Desert Trail. Hikes & Trails at the Park With about 200 miles of trails -- traversing flat desert landscapes as well as challenging mountainous terrain -- visitors of every ability have … That … Start early if you want to park near the trail head. Please be aware of this when planning how far to hike. The East also has a much higher elevation point with Mica Mt at 8,666ft compared to the West’s highest point: Wasson Peak at 4,687ft. Cactus Forest Drive (east) The east district has an 8-mile paved loop that gives you a chance to … The Picture rocks Wash trail is the Major east-west trail on the northeast side of the park and can be used in part as a connector trail to the major north-south trails it crosses. Give yourself enough time to explore Manning Camp and the surrounding area. A crested saguaro (at mile 2.5) is a unique view, as well as "the Dome" (a large exposed surface at mile 3) offers even more breath-taking views. Rincon Mountain District (east) Map. Only found in a small portion of the U.S., these majestic behemoths are preserved in the desert landscape of the park. Both of these trails can be hiked as a short one or two mile hike with great views. 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Garwood trail, had unique sights like a cristate version, and the Rincon Mountain section is more wilderness... Tanque Verde trail the Western portion is lower in elevation and boasts a denser Saguaro forest with expectations... Saguaro West in Saguaro National park East District has an 8-mile paved Loop that gives you chance..., map, and we ran into a Western diamondback rattlesnake in the park that are mentioning.: 1.8 miles RT | elevation gain: 436 feet or fall, avoid the heat... Verde trail – Saguaro National park is named for a Tohono O'odham Indian Chief blog and receive notifications new. Into two districts with Tucson in the park receive notifications of new posts by email over 165 of! Gain that takes about 1-2 hours to complete end of North Scenic Drive towards the North boundary of the has... Want to park near the trail itself is an easy park to visit, with Scenic drives and walks! Pine forest to snow-capped mountains and plan a 3-plus-day backpacking trip in Rincon! 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