Saguaro National Park is located on the edges of Tucson, Arizona. With it close proximity to town and easy access roads, Saguaro National Park is one of the easiest National Parks to visit. You can dip your toe in the metaphorical Saguaro pool in just a few hours. However, if you are willing to dedicate one full day to Saguaro National Park, you’ll leave feeling like you really got to experience the full wonder of the park. Keep reading to see how we spent one full day in Saguaro National Park and use our itinerary as inspiration for your future Arizona travel plans.
Where is Saguaro National Park?
Before we jump into vacation planning, we should let you know that Saguaro National Park sandwiches Tucson and is divided into two separate sections. This park was created to protect the Saguaro cactus. The saguaro cactus only grows here in the Sonoran Desert and is the largest cactus species in the United States.
The eastern section of the park is called the Rincon Mountain District and has fewer cacti to see, yet has some amazing hiking trails, a campsite and is the perfect area to visit if you’re looking to experience fewer crowds.
Saguaro west is called the Tucson Mountain District. This is a smaller section of the park that is more densely populated with cacti. This is the perfect starting point for your day in Saguaro as it’s easy to visit and definitely packs a punch with cacti everywhere.
These two sections of park are separated by the town of Tucson. It takes about one hour to drive between the two park sections. If you’re looking to add some activities to your Saguaro itinerary, check out our favorite things to do in Tucson here.
Saguaro National Park Itinerary
Morning – Tucson Mountain District
Start your day at the Tucson Mountain District Visitor Center and complete the short informational walk through Cactus Garden Trail around the center. Leave the center and hike the Desert Discovery Nature trail on your way to the Bajada Loop.
Next, drive the Bajada Loop in a counter clockwise direction. Stop to hike the .8 mile Valley View Trail and get some great shots up close and personal with those saguaro cacti.
Make sure to take the short detour to the top of Signal Hill to see the petroglyphs. The etchings here are unknown in meaning but are estimated to be between 550-1550 years old.
Leave the western section of the park and start the one hour drive through Tucson. Stop somewhere delicious for lunch.
Afternoon – Rincon Mountain District
Next, head to the Rincon Mountain District and start driving the Cactus Forest Loop in the clockwise direction. Make sure to pull out on all of the beautiful viewpoints.
Next, hike the 3.7 mile Mica View Trail. This is one of the best trails to hike in the park due to the diverse cacti here.
Next, hike the Desert Ecology Trail as you continue your drive. This short trail is less impressive than others but has tons of informational signs that will help you become an expert in the desert life around you.
Leave the park and head back to your accommodations.
Want to Adjust the Itinerary
If you only have a half day or less, choose a section, east or west, and stick to it. You can easily drive either section’s scenic loop in just 2 hours. If you have a bit more time add a few short hikes to fill your half day.
If you have more than a full day, consider doing a few of the longer hikes the park has to offer. Or if extended desert hiking isn’t your thing, check out some of the fun things to do in Tucson and fill your day with some of those nice air conditioned attractions.
What to Pack
For this Saguaro itinerary, here are some of the things that we think you’ll need in addition to the usual packing essentials.
First, we think you’ll want to pack a hydration pack. We love our Camelbaks but if you’re looking for more recommendations, check out our buying guide here. You’ll also want some salty snacks like trail mix to help you retain all that water you’re drinking.
Next, you’ll want to pack you camera bag. We had our standard lens and a good closeup lens for those shots of cactus detail.
For shoes, we hiked in our tennis shoes with good soles. We chose not to take our hiking boots because we wanted the breathability of the shoes. And the trails weren’t rough so it turned out to be a good decision.
For clothes, pack for warm weather. However, the morning and evening air can get chilly so make sure you have layers to add if you need them. Also, make sure to pack some sun protection gear like a hat or long sleeved shirt as a full day hiking in the sun can be rough on your skin.
Safety
Surprisingly, cell reception in this park is better than any National Park we’ve visited. Or perhaps this shouldn’t be surprising considering the close proximity to Tucson. However, we love our paper maps. Make sure to grab one at the Visitor Center or download one from the park app prior to leaving for any hikes as you never know when you’ll loose service.
Also, Saguaro National Park is in the middle of a desert. As such it’s hot and dry. Make sure to pack enough water to keep you hydrated through the day. It’s also a good idea to bring an electrolyte drink or salty snacks to help you retain the water. Both Visitor Centers have water bottle refill stations but the trails do not so make sure to fill up before leaving on hikes.
Additionally, avoid hiking Saguaro in a storm or just after a large rainfall. As Saguaro National Park is a desert, you’ll find yourself more exposed to lightening strikes and flash flooding that you would be in other habitats.
We hope this Saguaro National Park itinerary has helped you to plan you Arizona vacation. We hope you’ll enjoy this beautiful and unique National Park. Please leave us any comments or questions you may have in the comments section below because we’d love to hear from you!
