Saguaro National Park Active and Adventure Travel Guide

Saguaro National Park Active and Adventure Travel Guide

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Travel Guides Near Saguaro National Park

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Panoramic of cacti in Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Saguaro National Park, Arizona (J. Wallner/courtesy, National Park Service)
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Saguaro National Park Active and Adventure Travel Tips

By Bill Weir
  • Although the park's namesake cacti are its reason to be, the best reason to visit the park is to immerse yourself in this exemplary bit of the unusual Sonoran landscape. The Sonoran Desert is sometimes called the Green Desert, as it receives an average of 12 inches of rain each year and is considered one of the lushest, most biologically diverse deserts on earth.
  • The Cactus Forest Trail System in the park's Rincon Mountain District offers about 40 miles of interconnecting trails. Those in the west cross gentle terrain; farther east the hills become more rugged and scenic.
  • For road bikers, Cactus Forest Drive winds through the foothills of the Rincon Mountains with many fine views on an eight-mile paved loop. You can detour to Mica View Picnic Area in the north and Javelina Picnic Area in the south.
  • Mica Mountain at 8,666 feet is the highest summit in the Saguaro Wilderness. As it's far from trailheads, you need to plan on a multi-day trip, staying at one of the six designated campgrounds and obtaining a camping permit.

Saguaro National Park Overview

Ask a child to draw a picture of a cactus and chances are you'll get a reasonable facsimile of a saguaro cactus. These giants of the cactus world are the quintessential image of America's southwestern deserts and as such are familiar to one and all, young and old. However, what many people don't know is that saguaros, which can grow up to 50 feet tall and weigh more than eight tons, are native only to the hot lowland regions of the Sonoran Desert, a finger of which reaches from Mexico into southern Arizona. Read More

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  • I'm interested in campground information in and around Saguaro NP, particularly if there are any reservable campgrounds that I could use for a week in December
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Hotels

Arizona Inn

2200 East Elm Street
Tucson, AZ 85719 Map

Distance: 14.4 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 5 class stars
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
5.0

Tanque Verde Ranch

14301 East Speedway
Tucson, AZ 85748 Map

Distance: 28.8 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

Gilbert Ray Campground

McCain Loop Rd. (turns south from Kinney Rd.)
Tucson, AZ

Distance: 2.7 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
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Attractions

Bajada Loop Drive

expert favorite attraction
Tucson Mountain District
2700 North Kinney Rd.
Tucson, Arizona 85743

Distance: 2.0 mi. (from destination center)

Description: This six-mile scenic loop takes you past two picnic areas and several trailheads in the park's... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Wasson Peak Hike

expert favorite attraction
Tucson Mountain District
2700 North Kinney Rd.
Tucson, Arizona 85743

Distance: 2.1 mi. (from destination center)

Description: A series of trails in the park's Tucson Mountain District link together for an eight-mile loop hike... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Cactus Forest Drive

expert favorite attraction
Rincon Mountain District
3693 South Old Spanish Trail
Tucson, Arizona 85730-5601

Distance: 26.9 mi. (from destination center)

Description: This eight-mile paved loop weaves among giant saguaro cactus in the foothills of the Rincon... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
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Airports

Major Airports near Saguaro National Park

Distance (mi.)
Tucson International Airport 17.6 map
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 93.3 map
El Paso International Airport 283.3 map

Other Smaller Airports near Saguaro National Park

Distance (mi.)
Fort Huachuca/Sierra Vista Libby AAF/Municipal Airport 69.3 map
Silver City Grant County Airport 177.7 map
Grand Canyon Pulliam Field 199.5 map

Flight Deals to Saguaro National Park

Originating From
Portland, OR (PDX) to Tucson (TUS) $285
Sacramento (SAC) to Tucson (TUS) $315

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