Saguaro National Park
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation’s largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset.
Two unique districts.
The Tucson Mountain District, roughly 10 miles west of Tucson and the Rincon Mountain District, roughly 10 miles east of Tucson. Both of which preserve Sonoran Desert landscapes, fauna and flora, including the famous giant saguaro cactus.
Tucson Mountain District entrance.
One of my my main draws to Saguaro National Park besides seeing the famous cacti was the dark sky’s. The city of Tucson has made a lot of progress towards reducing light pollution and I was looking forward to shooting some astro photography.
Things don’t always go to plan. When I arrived the weather forecast had abruptly changed and was now projected to have 100% cloud cover. So much for seeing any stars, but I was still happy to be exploring my 20th National Park!
Making the best out of a cloudy day!
The Saguaro cacti really caught me off guard when I reached the first trail and begin to get a closer look. Some of them were 35+ feet tall!
Small when compared to a Redwood but massive compared to any cacti I have ever seen.
Watch where you step when you hit the trails!
Both park districts offer plenty of hiking trails and also allow mountain biking and horse back riding on certain trails.
Each district offers a wide variety of ranger lead programs throughout the year. Any of which can be a fun and educational way to spend your visit.
The only camping available in either district is back-country/primitive camping. There are no amenities for RV or drive-up sites.
There are plenty of hotels outside of Tucson, right outside the park. You shouldn’t have any issue finding a room close by, I always use booking.com for my last minute reservations.
Overall,
The ruggedness of Saguaro National Park and the size of the cacti really surprised me. I wish the weather would have cooperated better so I could have explored the Rincon Mountain District but I know I will be back to capture photos of our night sky with the mighty Saguaro in the foreground.
Due to the close proximity to Tucson this is an easy park to visit and has plenty to offer for the whole family.
