favorite itinerary: 2 days in saguaro national park; 1 day in saguaro national park
kiddo hikes a trail in saguaro national park
we all know i love a desert park and saguaro national park did not disappoint! this park is unusual in that it has two different sides that are completely separated by the city of tucson, az - though they’re a much shorter drive apart than the two sides of pinnacles national park!
both sides of the park have scenic drives that provide lots of options for exploration and enjoyment. the tucson mountain district, or west saguaro, is the most popular because it has a higher density of saguaros. the rincon mountain district, or east saguaro, on the other hand, is more mountainous - but still boasts plenty saguaros! both have a variety of longer hikes (over 5 miles) and shorter hikes (under 2 miles), but limited options for those medium distance hikes between 2 and 5 miles.
view of west saguaro national park with mountains in the distance
the land presently known as saguaro national park has been the homeland of indigenous peoples since time immemorial. tribal nations who have inhabited this area include Zuni, Hopi, Yaqui, Akimel O'odham, Tahono O’odham, and others.
the Tahono O’odham Nation shares: “on countless occasions, the U.S. border patrol has detained and deported members of the Tohono O’odham Nation who were simply traveling through their own traditional lands, practicing migratory traditions essential to their religion, economy and culture. similarly, on many occasions U.S. customs have prevented Tohono O’odham from transporting raw materials and goods essential for their spirituality, economy and traditional culture. border officials are also reported to have confiscated cultural and religious items, such as feathers of common birds, pine leaves or sweet grass.
the division of O’odham lands has resulted in an artificial division of O’odham society. O’odham bands are now broken up into 4 federally recognized tribes: the Tohono O’odham Nation, the Gila River Indian Community, the Ak-Chin Indian Community and the Salt River (Pima Maricopa) Indian community. each band is now politically and geographically distinct and separate.”
view from cactus wren trail in west saguaro national park
you could easily visit both sides over a weekend in saguaro national park. we like to take our time in parks, where possible, so we did two days in saguaro national park, one (shorter) day for each side. however, because the parks aren’t too far apart (a 1 hour drive), you could certainly do one day in saguaro national park and get to both sides. here’s what we recommend seeing and doing on your visit!
day 1 in saguaro national park: west/tucson mountain district
hike the scenic/packrat/passey loop: this 1.7 mile hike is off-the-beaten path disconnected (by road) to the rest of west saguaro. however, we found it to be the perfect intro to the park as a low-key loop full of diverse desert flora - including saguaros, of course! you can also shorten or lengthen this hike by taking different variations of the three trails.
kiddo hikes through the cholla on the scenic/passey/packrat loop trail
2. head into the park and stop at the red hills visitor center for maps and information. make sure to ask about the hike for health challenge. if you hike 3 miles, you get a special pin! this challenge can also be done at five other national park sites, though details vary.
3. start the bajada loop drive. this 6 mile scenic drive offers pullouts, hikes and picnic spots. be advised that the loop is unpaved and while some of the loop is two-way, not all of it is. it’s best to do the full loop counter clockwise so you don’t end up having to backtrack to get to the following stops.
4. hike the valley view and wild dog trails. this 2.6 miles out and back combo starts from the same trailhead and will likely be your first stop on the bajada loop. you could also do the 0.6 mile valley view overlook trail and then continue on the bajada loop to signal hill. you can do the 1.9 mile out and back wild dog trail from signal hill. because there are several other trails at signal hill, i recommend knocking out wild dog while doing valley view. be advised, the parking at this trailhead is extremely limited. another reason to combine trails and make this your first stop on the loop.
5. continue on the bajada loop to the signal hill picnic area. enjoy lunch with a view before setting off to view the signal hill petroglyphs. the petroglyphs, which are 0.5 mile hike from the picnic area, were created by the hohokam people between 500 and 1500 years ago. the petroglyphs are a *do not miss! from here, you have the option to connect to manville, cactus wren and encinas trails. we did the cactus wren trail, and really enjoyed the views. a great way to wrap up one day in west saguaro national park!
petroglyphs at signal hill
day 2 in saguaro national park: east/rincon mountain district
1. start off the day at rincon mountain visitor center if you need any additional maps or updated information specific to this side of the park.
2. set off on the cactus forest scenic loop. this 8 mile scenic drive is paved and has a number of scenic pullouts, in addition to trail access for hiking, biking and horseback riding.
3. though we stopped at all the pullouts along the way, our first excursion was the mica view/cholla/cactus forest loop. this 3.7 mile trail is a great option for exploring deeper into the park beyond the scenic drive. you can also shorten to 1.9 miles via the mica view/cactus forest loop. or, if you are able to do a day hike, i’d highly recommend the 10 mile cactus forest trail. it’s less traversed than the shorter trails and takes you through diverse areas of the park. any section of the cactus forest trail is a *do not miss!
landscape from the mica view trail
4. continue on the scenic drive to the desert ecology trail. this 0.3 mile accessible trail was one of our favorites! the interpretive signs are full of great information about how the flora and fauna work together to create a thriving desert ecosystem. this is a *do not miss learning opportunity!
5. continue around the loop, stopping at the various viewing pullouts and choosing one for a picnic with a view. we especially loved the javelina rocks stop, which offers the opportunity to get out and explore. just a bit further is the javelina picnic area. we stopped here to complete the junior ranger book, stretch our legs, and use the restroom. from here, wrap up the loop and return to the visitor as needed for junior ranger badges or hike for health pins. congrats on completing your visit to another beautiful national park!
one day itinerary: 1 day in saguaro national park
if you only have one day to explore saguaro national park, i’d still recommend traveling to both sides of the park. most blogs will tell you to stick to the west side but the east side was my favorite and brings a little more of an off-the-beaten-path experience. here are the top spots to include for one day in saguaro national park.
start at west saguaro national park
red hills visitor center
bajada loop drive (counterclockwise)
signal hill petroglyphs
drive to east saguaro national park
cactus forest scenic loop drive
mica view/cactus forest loop trail
desert ecology trail
rincon mountain visitor center, if needed
trail at the javelina rocks pullout in east saguaro national park
i hope this saguaro national park itinerary helps you plan a successful trip. may you enjoy another opportunity to go opportunity to go out wild!
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