13 Amazing Hikes in Saguaro National Park

SEARCHING FOR THE BEST HIKES IN SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK?

We’ve got all the details you need! We spent a warm month in Arizona and fell in love with the cacti. We’ve visited over 30 national parks and can confirm that there is no better place to view the towering saguaro cacti than a visit to Saguaro National Park in Arizona.

The hikes in Saguaro National Park are also amazing! They extend for miles and are the best way to see the park. We’ll share hike details as well as insights on how to best enjoy the park!

Table of Contents

Saguaro National Park West Trails
Saguaro National Park East Trails
What is Saguaro National Park Known For?
Best Time to Go Hiking in Saguaro National Park
How Many Days Do You Need to Hike in Saguaro National Park?
Which Part of Saguaro National Park is Better?
Best Things to Do in Saguaro National Park
Scenic Drives in Saguaro National Park
What to Bring on Hikes in Saguaro National Park
Camping In Saguaro National Park

Rincon Mountain District vs. Tucson Mountain District

Saguaro National Park is split into two geographical areas on each side of the city of Tucson in southern Arizona. It is about a 45-minute drive between the two parts of the park.

Saguaro National Park East is bigger and more mountainous. Saguaro National Park West has a denser concentration of the saguaro forest. The Saguaro National Park West trails are shorter and have more educational trails.

If you have limited time to explore the park, we recommend the west. The eastern side does allow backpacking and the Saguaro National Park East trails are longer.

Saguaro National Park West Trails (Tucson Mountain District)

Valley View Overlook Trail

• Length: 0.8 miles
• Elevation Gain: 49 feet
• Route Type: Out & Back
• Difficulty: Easy

The Valley View Overlook Trail in Saguaro National Park Arizona is a heavily trafficked trail that will get you up close and personal with wildflowers and cacti in the park. We saw a variety of birds on the trail and enjoyed exploring the park on foot.

There are nice benches and interpretive signs along the path but there is little shade so be prepared with water and sunscreen. This is a great Saguaro National Park West trail for non-hikers, kids, and people wanting a quick hike to explore the park.

Petroglyphs at King Canyon

• Length: 2.2 miles
• Elevation Gain: 291 feet
• Route Type: Out & Back
• Difficulty: Moderate

This is a Saguaro National Park trail filled with history. Your hike will take you past an old stone building built in the 1930s as well as petroglyphs believed to date back to 300 and 1450 AD.

The trailhead starts along Kinney Road and the trail follows an old road closed to traffic. Along the hike, you will enjoy beautiful views of the desert floor, picnic areas, and historical sites. There are no signs pointing out the petroglyphs so keep an eye out for them.

This was one of my kids’ favorite Saguaro National Park west trails. There were lots of beautiful plants and fun historical artifacts to see along the way.

If you have limited time in the park, this is one of the best hikes in Saguaro National Park.

Gould Mine

• Length: 2.3 miles
• Elevation Gain: 380 feet
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate

This Saguaro National Park trail will take you through a ravine to the remnants of Gould Mine. The mine was used around 1900 to excavate copper. Around the mine, you will find wooden relics of the work done there in the past.

The Gould Mine trail forms a loop with parts of the Sendero Esparanza and King Canyon trails. If you want a shorter trail, you can just hike the Gould Mine Trail in and out which is about half a mile shorter.

Signal Hill Petroglyphs

• Length: 0.3 miles
• Elevation Gain: 26 feet
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy

This was an easy hike for our family with some interesting petroglyphs at the end of this Saguaro National Park trail. It was fun taking the opportunity to explain to Rowen and Raven what petroglyphs were and show them the markings on the rocks. You can also enjoy lunch at the Signal Hill Picnic Area.

There are a handful of petroglyphs that are very visible on the rocks. This was one of our favorite things to see in Saguaro National Park.

Desert Discovery Nature Trail

• Length: 0.4 miles
• Elevation Gain: 16 feet
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Easy

This is another great hike to explore more of Saguaro National Park. We walked this path at sunset, and it was just spectacular. Arizona knows how to do sunsets. We enjoyed the interpretive signs, plants, and wildlife.

You can bring your dog on the trail, but it must be kept on a leash. The trail is paved making it suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. There are also some covered benches which were perfect for watching the sunset.

Bajada Wash  

• Length: 5.2 miles
• Elevation Gain: 426 feet
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Easy

The Bajada Wash Trail starts at the Sus picnic area and takes hikers through a dry stream bed. There are lots of opportunities to view the cacti along this trail but you do hike through a valley so there aren’t very many opportunities for distal views.

Hugh Norris Trail

• Length: 8.9 miles
• Elevation Gain: 2,398 feet
• Route Type: Out & Back
• Difficulty: Moderate

This Saguaro National Park trail will take you up a sort but steep canyon to the top of Wasson Peak. The first mile or so has rock steps every two to three feet. From the top, there are beautiful views of the desert floor as well as the nearby mountains.

The trail is easy to follow with lots of wildflowers along the path. Like most Saguaro National Park trails, there is no shade. Make sure to bring proper sun protection and plenty of water.

Saguaro National Park East Trails (Rincon Mountain District)

Mica View Loop Trail

• Length: 3.7 miles
• Elevation Gain: 121 Feet
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Easy

The Mica View Loop starts at the Mica View Picnic Area by the north part of the Cactus Forest Loop. Along the trail are many saguaros, cholla, and other cacti. This is a great place to hike in Saguaro East.

From the Mica View Loop Trail, head right on the Shantz Trail and then back south on the Cactus Forest Trail which joins back up with the beginning of the Mica View Trail.

If you are looking for a shorter hike, simply do not take the right turn on the Shantz Trail. Just turn around and head back to the trailhead. The shorter version of the Mica View Trail is 1 mile.

Garwood Trail

• Length: 3.3 miles
• Elevation Gain: 203 feet
• Route Type: Out & Back
• Difficulty: Easy

This Saguaro National Park East trail has a mixture of rock and sand. There are some moderately difficult areas but overall it is an easy hike. On this trail, there are a variety of saguaros in different shapes and sizes.

douglas spring trail

• Length: 17.6 miles
• Elevation Gain: 3,550 feet
• Route Type: Out & Back
• Difficulty: Moderate

The Douglas Spring Trail will take you to forested land above 6,000 feet which is very different than the terrain of the lower elevations. Along the Saguaro National Park East trail, there are several small streams and Bridal Wreath Falls.

There are also a large variety of wildflowers, and cacti including yucca, ocotillo, and sotol. Once you get above about 5,000 feet there is oak woodland. This is one of the very diverse hikes in Saguaro National Park.

At the top of the Douglas Spring Trail is Cowhead Saddle. It is a beautiful end to the hike, but it is a long way. You can just hike part of the trail if you are not up for the whole 17.6 miles. Consider hiking to Bridal Wreath Falls and back instead.

Bridal Wreath Falls via Douglas Spring Trail

• Length: 5.8 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,000
• Route Type: Out & Back
• Difficulty: Moderate

Also starting at the Douglas Spring Trailhead is the trail to Bridal Wreath Falls. It is a seasonal waterfall above a short section of wooded canyon. Normally it is not more than a trickle but can be a large waterfall at times.

There is a 0.3-mile side path that goes to Bridal Wreath Falls off of the main hiking trail.

Tanque Verde Ridge Trail

• Length: 20 miles
• Elevation Gain: 5,597
• Route Type: Out & Back
• Difficulty: Hard

The Tanque Verd Ridge Trail starts at the Javelina picnic area. It is the main route into the Rincon Mountain District and a beautiful place to hike in Saguaro East.

The trail follows the ridgeline most of the way so you will get to enjoy beautiful panoramic views of Saguaro National Park and Tucson. The first peak is about a mile into the hike and is a great section of the trail to hike without making the 20-mile journey.

The first campsite along this trail is at around 7 miles at Juniper Basin.

Desert Ecology Trail

• Length: 0.3 miles
• Elevation Gain: 9 feet
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Easy

This is a very easy, paved trail that the entire family can enjoy. There isn’t anything special about this hike, but you will get a good knowledge of the local ecology.  There is labeled vegetation along the path and a variety of beautiful saguaros.

If your kids are working on the junior ranger packet in Saguaro National Park Arizona, this is a great trail to explore. My kids loved exploring Saguaro National Park and we’d consider it one of the best outdoor things to do with kids in Phoenix.

What is Saguaro National Park known for?

Saguaro National Park is home to the nation’s largest cacti – the saguaro. The saguaro cactus is found in only a small part of the United States and is an iconic symbol of the west. The Cactus Forest Trail is a great place to see the saguaro cactus.

In addition to the towering Saguaro cactus, Saguaro National Park is home to more than 1,1600 species of plants. In the lower elevations, you will find saguaro cacti as well as ocotillo and creosote. The higher elevations in the Rincon Mountains have ponderosa pine, oak, and Douglas fir trees.

Along with the desert vegetation, Saguaro National Park is home to numerous birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. The Sonoran Desert Museum is a great place to see the animals native to Saguaro National park.

Plan a Trip to Saguaro National Park

Coupling a trip to Saguaro National Park works well with spending time in nearby Tucson or Phoenix. Phoenix is about 1.75 hours from Saguaro National Park. A day trip to Saguaro National park is one of the fun things to do in Phoenix. The park is also only about 3.5 hours from Sedona, Arizona.

Best Time to Go Hiking in Saguaro National Park

Deciding when to go to Saguaro National Park will be heavily based on the weather. Arizona is very hot in the summer and hiking in such hot temperatures can be dangerous. If you are going to be visiting during the summer, consider the scenic drives and a short walk.

The best time to go hiking in Saguaro National Park is in the winter, especially between October and April.

How much does it cost to get into Saguaro National Park?

Like most of the other national parks, you can purchase a weekly pass for $25 per vehicle. A weekly pass for motorcycles is $20. If you are coming in on foot or on a bike, there is a charge of $15 per person however kids 15 and younger are free.

The America the Beautiful Pass will also save you money in Sedona as it is accepted in place of their parking pass at places like Cathedral Rock. If you are traveling up to the Grand Canyon as well you will easily get your money out of the pass.

How to Get to Saguaro National Park

 The closest airport to fly into for Saguaro national Park is Tucson International Airport. The Phoenix International Airport is about 2 hours away.

When navigating to the park, it is best to type in the physical address of where you want to go because mobile map apps often confuse the two parts of the park.

Rincon Mountain District (East): 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, Arizona 85730
Tucson Mountain District (West): 2700 N Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona 85743

How many days do you need to hike in Saguaro National Park?

How many days you need in Saguaro National Park will depend on how much hiking you want to do. You could pretty easily see the highlights of both halves in a long day. We recommend spending 1-2 days in Saguaro National Park. There are so many fun places to explore and things to do in Saguaro National Park.

If you want to go at a slower pace, you can take an extra day to explore the park and add in a stop at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It is a great place to learn more about the native wildlife and vegetation.

Can you hike in Saguaro National Park?

Yes, you can hike in Saguaro National Park. There are a number of great hiking trails in Saguaro National Park ranging from short nature walks to hard, overnight backpacking trails. No matter what hiking experience you are looking for, you will find a suitable Saguaro National Parks trail.

Where can I hike in Saguaro National Park?  

Hiking is available in both Saguaro National Park West and East. The longer, overnight backpacking trails are in the Saguaro National Park East. The majority of the shorter and more educational trails are in the western side of the park.

Which part of Saguaro National Park is better?

Unless you are looking to camp in the park, I would recommend Saguaro West – especially if you only have a day to explore the park. Saguaro West has the biggest population of the Saguaro cacti which is the highlight of the park.

Map of the Best hikes in Saguaro National Park

How to Use This Map: Click on the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.

If you click the star next to the title of the map, this will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps. Then click on the menu button, go to “Your Place” and click on Maps. You will see this map added to your list.

Best Easy Hikes in Saguaro National Park

• Garwood Trail
• Mica View Loop Trail
• Valley View Overlook Trail
• Signal Hill Petroglyphs
• Bajada Wash

Best Moderate Hikes in Saguaro National Park

• Petroglyphs at King Canyon
• Bridal Wreath Falls Trail
• Gould Mine

Best Difficult Hikes in Saguaro National Park

• Tanque Verde Ridge Trail
• Turkey Creek

Best Sunset Spot in Saguaro National Park

We quickly learned that the desert puts on a show at sunset. Sunsets are dramatic and beautiful in the desert. The best place to watch the sunset in Saguaro East is at the Javelina Rocks pullout. In Saguaro West, the best place to watch the sunset is at the parking lot at Gates Pass. 

Best Things to Do in Saguaro National Park

Along with hiking in Saguaro National park, there are lots of fun things to do. If you are visiting when it is too hot for hiking, here are some ideas of things to do.

Saguaro National Park Visitor Center      

The Saguaro National Park Visitor Center is a great place to stop as you are coming into the park. You can pick up a map as well as visit the bookstore and learn more about the area from the information displays.

There are also a few short trails that start at the visitor center as well as the scenic auto/bike tour around the Cactus Forest Loop Drive.

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is one of the best things to do in Saguaro National Park. The museum has a separate entrance fee but it is well worth a visit. It is a 98-acre zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, and natural history museum. We loved seeing all the animals native to the area including a mountain lion, mule deer, wolves, javelinas, lizards, bobcats, snakes, and more.

They also have presentations throughout the day. We attended a raptor presentation and got to see and learn about a variety of endangered raptors. Rowen and Raven enjoyed the different educational booths found throughout the museum and even got to learn about different shaped skulls.

Scenic Drives in Saguaro National Park

Bajada Loop Drive (Saguaro West)

The Bajada Loop Drive is a 5.2-mile drive through Saguaro National Park Arizona. This is a great way to take in the scenery of the park if you don’t want to do a lot of hiking in the park. The road is a graded dirt road making it suitable for low clearance vehicles.

We started the drive 1.5 miles away from the Red Hills Visitor Center at Hohokam Road. While on the drive, make sure to stop at the Valley View Overlook Trail and Signal Hill.

Cactus Forest Drive (Saguaro East)

The Cactus Forest Drive is a one-way loop that takes you through the heart of the saguaro forest. It is a paved road although vehicles longer than 35 feet are not permitted. The loop has several trailheads and scenic viewpoints.

What to Bring on hikes in Saguaro National Park

The sun is always shining in Saguaro National Park so the first thing you need to prepare for is heat and sun, especially if you are visiting outside of the winter months.

Sunscreen: Having a bad sunburn is the worst. Getting reliable and good sunscreen will help protect you from the hot Arizona sun.

Hiking Backpack: We love the backpacks with the water bladders inside. It is very easy and convenient to get a drink of water as you hike.

Check Prices for Hiking Backpacks on Amazon Here!

Wide Hat: A wide-brimmed hat will further protect your face and neck from the sun. It will also help keep you cooler.

Check Prices for Hats on Amazon Here!

Sturdy Shoes: If you are hiking on some of the longer trails, you will want proper sturdy footwear. Having boots that go up to your ankles with help protect your ankles but will also help protect again potential snake bites. I have the Keen winter boots as well and love them! They are made really well and last.

Check Prices for Hiking Shoes on Amazon Here!

Camping in Saguaro National Park

Backcountry camping is available by permit in Saguaro National Park. You can get your permit online at recreation.gov.

There are six campgrounds in Saguaro Wilderness Area where camping is allowed. The campsite fee is $8 per night, and you have to hike to them. They are not accessible by car.

The closest campsite from a trailhead is Happy Valley Saddle. It is 4.1 miles from the Miller Creek Trailhead. Here are the other campsites and distance from the nearest trailhead –

• Manning Camp – 7.5 miles from Turkey Creek
• Spud Rock Spring – 5.3 miles from Turkey Creek
• Juniper Basin – 6.9 miles from Tanque Verde Ridge
• Grass Shack – 10 miles from Loma Alta/Hope Camp
• Douglas Spring – 6.3 miles from Douglas Spring

There are no accommodations for vehicle or RV camping in Saguaro National Park.

RV Parks Near Saguaro National Park

There are a ton of different Saguaro National Park RV camping options. Here is a list of some of the RV parks near Saguaro National Park:

• Western Way RV Resort
• Desert Trails RV Park
• Justin’s Diamond J RV Park
• Rincon Country West RV Park

All these RV parks are part of Passport America, a 50% discount camping club. It offers discounts at over 1,450 campgrounds including a bunch in Arizona. The membership is $44 per year but this easily pays for itself with just a few nights of camping.

For example, Western Way RV Resort has a nightly fee of $57 without the membership. With the Passport America membership, you save $28.50 per night. In just a weekend camping trip, you have saved enough money to cover the cost of the entire membership for the year.

Discount camping memberships are one of our favorite ways to save money on RVing!

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