Saguaro National Park

Explore the deserts of southern Arizona at this exquisite national park.

Saguaro National Park is located in southern Arizona. It is split into sections on either side of the city of Tucson. The park is named for its large saguaro cactus, native to its desert environment. For those of you who don't know, the word saguaro is pronounced sa-wah-ro. Head to the western Tucson Mountain District to explore the Signal Hill Trail, which leads to the petroglyphs of the ancient Hohokam people. In the eastern Rincon Mountain District, Cactus Forest Drive is a loop road with striking views of the desert landscape. The flowering season for the cactus plants occurs annually from late April through June. Saguaro cactus is only found in a small region of the United States, so bring your camera and capture the beauty of these desert plants.

If you want to enjoy a picnic in their picnic areas, please note that these are only available on a first-come, first-served basis. The west side has 5 picnic areas and the east side only has 2. On the east side, you will find the older saguaro forest which is located in a higher elevation than the west side. However, the west side features a denser cactus forest, so depending on what you want to see, you can determine which side of the park to visit if you're short on time. If you're anywhere near Tuscon, Arizona, it will be worth your time to see Saguaro National Park.