This Southwestern U.S. National Park Is Located in the World’s Wettest Desert — and It’s Home to Over 2 Million Giant Cacti

While the Grand Canyon may be Arizona’s most well-known national park, it’s not the only one worth a visit. With 22 total National Park Service monuments, parks, recreation areas, historic sites, and memorials, the southwestern state is filled with incredible wonders — one of which is Saguaro National Park.

Saguaro National Park, named for the country’s largest cacti, is made up of two distinct districts on either side of Tucson. Located within the Sonoran Desert, Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East) and Tucson Mountain District (Saguaro West) are nearly an hour’s drive apart. According to Stephen Romero, the operations manager at Trail Dust Jeep Tours, each district has its “own unique beauty and advantages.” If you’re searching for the famous saguaro cacti, head west, where the saguaro forest is denser. To access a plethora of mountainous backcountry trails, go east.

No matter how you plan to split your time between the two districts, you’ll want to come prepared with a game plan — plus comfortable hiking shoes and sunscreen. So to help guide your trip, we tapped Romero, as well as James Lorentzen of Tucson E-Bike Adventures, to share their best advice on visiting Saguaro National Park.

• James Lorentzen is the owner and manager of Tucson E-Bike Adventures, and he specializes in the Rincon Mountain District.

• Stephen Romero is the operations manager at Trail Dust Jeep Tours.

Related: The Best National Parks in Arizona

How to Get There

Tucson International Airport (TUS) is the closest airport to both sections of Saguaro National Park. It’s served by seven major airlines — including Delta, United, and Southwest — and has direct flights to and from 20 airports across the U.S. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is another option for travelers, although it’s about a 90-minute drive from Tucson.

When driving to either district, heed the National Park Service’s official navigation recommendation: Don’t rely on the Google Maps locations. Instead, you’ll want to type in specific addresses for each district. For Rincon Mountain District, the address is 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, Arizona 85730. Tucson Mountain District is found at 2700 N. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona 85743.

Know Before You Go

To access Saguaro National Park, you’ll either need the America the Beautiful — the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, an annual pass, or a standard entrance pass. The latter ranges from $15 to $25, depending on your method of transportation, and can be used for seven days in both districts. Whether entering by car, motorcycle, bike, or foot, be sure you’re armed with water and food; there are no restaurants, snack machines, or concession stands in either park district.

One of the first things you should do upon arrival, or even beforehand, is familiarize yourself with the history, nature, and landscape of the Sonoran Desert, which Lorentzen describes as “one of the most ecologically diverse wilderness areas anywhere on Earth.” There are an estimated two million saguaro cacti within the national park, so they aren’t too difficult to find — but, Lorentzen also notes that the “‘world’s wettest desert’ is home to numerous varieties of cacti such as cholla, prickly pear, and barrel cactus, as well as the rare cristate or crested saguaro cactus,” which grows into a fan or semi-circle shape at the top. Per the NPS, it’s best practice to travel with the right devices (tweezers, a large pick comb, and a multi-tool) to remove any cactus spines or segments that attach to you.

“I also encourage visitors to keep an eye out for the smaller residents, as we have an incredible variety of reptiles, including snakes, Gila monsters, and lizards,” says Romero.”They're beautiful and fascinating to observe from a safe distance.” Lorentzen also shares there are “over 350 species of birds that call the Sonoran Desert home, including hawks (red-tailed and Cooper’s), Gila woodpecker, cactus wren (the Arizona state bird), and Gambel’s quail.”

Best Time to Visit

Saguaro National Park is open year-round, but it’s the busiest from November through March. To see cacti put on a real show, however, Romero recommends waiting to visit until April and May. “The best time to visit Saguaro National Park is during spring's cactus flower season. What makes this time truly special is the stunning display of cactus blooms, with their vibrant magentas, reds, whites, and yellows. Combined with the native trees and wildflowers in bloom, it can be breathtaking,” he says. Alternatively, travelers can consider the winter months, when temperatures typically fall between the high 50s and the mid-70s.

If possible, avoid planning your trip for July, as the monsoon season is known to bring flash floods to the desert.

Related: 20 Beautiful Places to Visit in Arizona — From Stunning National Parks to an Underground Restaurant

Best Things to Do

Go on a guided tour.

Whether you go by jeep, e-bike, or foot, a guided tour will elevate your overall experience in Saguaro National Park. The park also offers free ranger-led programs throughout the year, and the programming includes short garden walks, sunset hikes, and lengthier treks through the cactus forest.

Bike one of the park’s scenic loops.

Lorentzen notes that one of his favorite things to do is “cruise down the hills of the eight-mile Cactus Forest Drive, a paved one-way loop within the foothills of Saguaro National Park East.” You can also ride in the West District, where the Bajada Loop Drive, a six-mile gravel loop, is open to bikers. Visitors can rent e-bikes, road bikes, and pedal hybrids from Tucson Mountain Bike Tours & Rentals.

Watch a sunset.

According to Lorentzen, “seeing one of Tucson’s famous desert sunsets at Javelina Rocks, Future Generations Overlook, or the start of Tanque Verde Ridge Trail” should be on every traveler’s to-do list. Romero is in the same boat, noting that the sunset at the Javelina Rocks Overlook is particularly “spectacular.”

Hike among the saguaros.

To fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the park, Lorentzen’s instructions are simple: “Get outside during late afternoon or sunset, hike on a variety of trails within the park, and]walk among the saguaros, the ‘giants’ of the desert.” He also suggests bringing your camera to both districts to photograph the “spectacular plants, cacti, and desert vistas, unlike any you’ve seen before.”

Best Hikes

Signal Hill Trail

“Signal Hill is one of my go-to recommendations,” says Romero. “It's accessible for most visitors and, for a short hike, the payoff is huge. You'll see Hohokam petroglyphs carved into the landscape's boulders that date back to the 13th century.” On AllTrails, the West District hike is recorded as just 0.3 miles, but hikers can also choose to continue on the longer Cactus Wren Trail.

Freeman Homestead Nature Trail

Another relatively easy trail to tackle is the Freeman Homestead Nature Trail. The one-mile loop is located in the East District and features educational signs informing visitors about the area’s history and its flora, an old homestead foundation, and a saguaro grove.

Cactus Forest Trail

Lorentzen describes the Cactus Forest Trail as a “relatively flat, 2.5-mile trail that bisects the park [and is] open to hikers, bikes, and horses.” Notably, this East District trail is just one segment of the longer 10-mile Cactus Forest Trail, but it’s the only part of the route that is designated for bicycle use.

Sendero Esperanza Trail

For a more moderate hike, start at the Sendero Esperanza trailhead in the West District of the park. You can choose to hike up to the ridge, where you’re rewarded with panoramic vistas, or continue toward Wasson Peak, the highest point on this side of the park. Depending on how far you hike, you’ll cover between 3.4 and eight miles.

Places to Stay

Dude Ranches, Hotels, and Rentals

You won’t find traditional accommodations within either park district, but there are more than a handful of options in and around Tucson. “For a truly unique experience, I’d recommend staying at one of Tucson's historic dude ranches,” says Romero. “Tanque Verde Guest Ranch near the East District and White Stallion Ranch near the West District both offer unforgettable stays.” For traditional hotels, Lorentzen names Loews Ventana Canyon and Hilton Tucson East as two good options that are “within a short drive” of the park. Travelers who prefer rental properties — and plan to spend a lot of time in the East District — can check out the Solana Spanish Villas; the dog-friendly property has eight fully furnished villas and casitas and a pool.

Campgrounds and RV Parks

If you’re hoping to camp inside Saguaro National Park, note that there are six wilderness campgrounds within the East District. There are no showers or running water, and campers must hike in all of their supplies. Permits are required and run $8 per night. Anyone traveling by RV will need to make camp outside of the park; Lorentzen recommends Voyager RV Resort and Tucson/Lazydays KOA Resort.

Places to Eat

Saguaro Corners

“Tucson has a UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation, so if you’re a foodie, you’ll be in heaven,” says Lorentzen. His top pick? Saguaro Corners, a longstanding (since 1956) spot near the East District. Romero agrees, noting that they have “great food and an excellent patio.” He’s particularly fond of the carne asada fries.

El Charro Café

El Charro Café claims the title of the “oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson,” and its founder, Tia Monica Flin, is also said to be the creator of the chimichanga. Open since 1922, the restaurant has a few different locations in the area, and its Northern Mexico and Tucson-style Mexican menu features enchiladas, tamales, tacos, margaritas, and more.

Tanias 33

For a quick breakfast before hiking through the West District, stop at Tanias 33, where the team has been serving Sonoran and vegan Mexican food for several decades. The burrito-filled menu includes breakfast burritos and lunch burritos  — with homemade flour tortillas — that are perfect for on-the-go meals.

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