Saguaro National Park: Cacti for Days
A big plus for the city of Tucson is being sandwiched right in the middle of Saguaro National Park, home to thousands of saguaro cacti and a picturesque desert. Saguaro National Park consists of two distinct sections, one to the west of Tucson called the Tucson Mountain District and one to the east called Rincon Mountain District, each named for the minor mountain ranges in the surrounding territory. Each site is about 30 minutes or roughly 15 miles from Tucson’s core and even closer to the outskirts of the city on either side.
The basic entrance fees last for 7 days and allow you to visit both sections of the park. Prices are currently $20 for a private vehicle, $15 for a motorcycle, and $10 for a pedestrian or biker.
Saguaro National Park is special because it offers an opportunity to easily access the uniqueness of the Sonoran Desert, the saguaro’s native home. Having never lived in Arizona or the desert before, the landscape splattered with saguaro cacti was an inspiring sight. The western (Tucson Mountain District) portion of the park is home to a visitor center. There are roads for driving through the park as well as bicycling or parking. We noticed some areas off the road with picnic benches and bathrooms offering scenic spots for a little bit of refreshment.
The western end of the parking gives way to some flatlands that allow a grand viewing of the sun setting.
The saguaro cacti are impressive. Some towered above us up to 20-30 ft tall. According to Wikipedia, saguaro cacti can live over 150 years and start growing arms when they reach 70-100 years old. Makes us feel lucky to be human and have arms at birth!
The eastern portion of the park is similar with an 8-mile paved loop on which you can either drive or bike through a portion of the desert. Along the way, there are several spots where you can pull over and get out of your car to get a closer look at the cacti.
There is also an ecology trail with several signs about the local foliage and wildlife, for those who are looking for an educational experience.
Coyote howls and fresh animal droppings made us cautious, but the sights were wondrous to behold! Stepping out of the car, you can take in the views of the mountains beyond and huge stretches of nothing but desert and saguaro cacti in between.
We recommend checking out both sides of the park, if you can. The eastern side is larger, but the western side made for a prettier sight at sunset.
