Weekend in Saguaro National Park (AZ)
- The Wandering Warmacks
- Jul 15, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 28, 2024
Cacti are an iconic symbol of the desert; however, Saguaros only grow in a small region of the southwestern United States (and Mexico). These enormous plants are the largest cacti and are exclusive to the Sonoran Desert.
We visited Saguaro National Park for a weekend in early May 2024. This was great weather to take walks and go camping before the summer heat set in. This was a really easy park to explore, and it was nice change of pace to enjoy majestic views without having to strap on our hiking boots. A lot of the trails were pretty short and only required tennis shoes.
After seeing a few Saguaros around Scottsdale, AZ, we didn’t know how impressed we would be with this park. But boy, we were wrong. We’re so glad we took the drive down to Tucson. Seeing the abundance of cacti for miles was truly remarkable. The best part is there’s no one “must do” hike at this park; anywhere you go is sure to provide excellent views of this special species and give off true desert vibes.
SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK WEST
⇢ Signal Hill (0.3 miles) - a rocky hill that leads to a petroglyph site
⇢ Valley View Overlook Trail (0.8 miles) - this was one of my favorite trails. Getting both up close and large valley views was the best of both worlds
⇢ Bajada Loop Drive - this was our favorite scenic drive in the park. This graded dirt road is only 5 miles long and offered some of the best views!
Note: photos are randomly selected from the park as a whole and not necessarily from any of the specific trails in this section
SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK EAST
⇢ Mica View Trail (1.4 miles) - an easy trail that’s a great option if you’re also looking to have a picnic at their nearby picnic site.
⇢ Desert Ecology Trail (0.3 miles) - paved trail perfect for a stroller walk
⇢ Freeman Homestead Nature Trail (1.1 miles) - relatively flat and filled with cacti and other foliage
⇢ Javelina Rocks (Overlook)
⇢ Cactus Forest Drive - this 8 mile drive leads to numerous trailheads and pull-outs. This nicely paved road makes for a relaxing journey
⇢ Ricon Mountain Visitor Center - for a small park, this actually ended up being a great visitor center. I love collecting pins, ornaments, magnets, or t-shirts. They had all of those items here, plus a little exhibit.
Note: photos are randomly selected from the park as a whole and not necessarily from any of the specific trails in this section
CAMPING & FOOD
⇢ Gilbert Ray Campground - aside from wilderness campgrounds (unaccessible by car), Saguaro National Park doesn't have any traditional campgrounds. It took a little bit of digging on Google to find the perfect spot. Pima County operates a campground within park boundaries (West side), and it's one of the coolest places we've ever stayed. Watching the sunset and camping among the Saguaros was so unique and incredible. Tent sites were extremely cheap, and part of the drive from the other side if the park was gorgeous.
⇢ Barrio Brewing Co. (Tucson) - we visited Arizona's oldest brewery before heading home. We enjoyed yummy sandwiches and of course, beer and soda. We thought it was really neat they even had a porter named after our son.
TRIP BREAKDOWN
LENGTH OF STAY: 2 DAYS
📍 Tuscon, AZ
⛺ $13 (one night)
⛽ 🍽️ : variable
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