And if you like the idea of backcountry camping, this is the place to do it (overnight camping is not permitted in Saguaro West). Traveling between the two sections of the park takes 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. Oh, and I will stick to the trails when hiking and avoid those bees! But I will go to Gates Pass for sure at least one evening. Like all desert locations, the weather in Saguaro National Park brings warm days and chilly nights. This is not part of the national park but if you want to learn more about the desert ecosystem, this is a great place to visit. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest. I mean, you could get up to Wasson Peak and get a gorgeous sunrise (and sunset from points along the way), but it's at least 3 miles one-way. Ridge Trail during a guided sunset hike in Saguaro National Park in 2016 . This is an incredible time to be in the park as it adds a beautiful floral arrangement to your photos and also attracts birds and wildlife. I have wanted to visit here for decades, and finally got the chance. Summer is also monsoon season. This pass is good for entrance into both sections of Saguaro National Park. With a full day, you can visit both East and West Saguaro. Saguaro Attractions and things to do and see in Saguaro - There are so many things to do in Saguaro National Park you will not want to miss! A heavily-trafficked albeit, difficult trail in Saguaro National Park is Tanque Verde Ridge Trail in Rincon Mountain District. If youre ready to stretch your legs (but not sure where to start), heres a list of 10 of our favorite hiking trails in Saguaro National Park: Planning a night under the stars? Here are some things to do along the drive: Desert Ecology Trail: short walking trail similar to the Desert Discovery Nature Trail in Saguaro West. In fact, it was featured in our list of the best trails in all the national parks! Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. 30 Best Photographic Spots In Lassen Volcanic National Park, 35 Best Photography Spots in Capitol Reef National Park. One of the most magical places to experience a sunset in Washington State is Fremont Lookout, located in Mount Rainier National Park. Sonoran Desert at Saguaro National Park. The accommodations are exquisite as well. Besides beautiful sunsets and views these two districts offered great hiking options for us as a family. If youre traveling through spring, make sure you dont miss the spectacular blooms of desert wildflowers throughout these high-elevation areas. Great location & views among the Saguaro cactii. Crested saguaro cacti can be found wherever saguaro cacti grow. In the Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East), the best place to photograph sunset is from the final 2-mile stretch of the scenic loop road anywhere after you drive up the steep hill. Ranger programs are available year round in Saguaro National Park, but the January through April high-season offers the largest availability and selection. You can click the check marks to hide or show layers. All rights reserved. Through the years the amount of protected land has grown. I give all the details in the post under the Bajada Loop Drive section. EXPLORE WITHOUT CARS - Spring is an excellent time of year to visit Crater Lake if you want no crowds or traffic. They can grow up to 49 arms. Saguaro National Park: always a great experience. There is a parking lot at . You will also get decent cell coverage in the area, which can sometimes be the . GRAND CANYON: Check out our guides to the Best Things to Do on the South Rim, how to spend one perfect day in the Grand Canyon, and which South Rim viewpoints are the best ones to visit. If you're open to suggestions, I've always thought the best place to see the sunrise in town was A Mountain. Our website uses cookies. This Tucson Mountain adventure will show you some of the best photography spots in Saguaro National Park. The Loma Verde Trail is a 3.8 mile loop that offers a terrific variety of scenery. IMPORTANT! Take your pick, take your camera, and start scurrying for Tucson sunset spots. Perfect :). Desert Ecology Trail. The loops start point is either McKellips Road or Signal Hill Road. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Why are you so focused on the national park? If you are spending significant time in the American Southwest, we also have a collection of travel & photography guides to some of the best destinations in the region. We stayed at Hotel McCoy, per your recommendation. Signal Hill is a great place to get some fantastic park views. Is that a decent time to go? Distance: 0.8 miles round trip Location: Bajada Loop Drive, Hohokam Road. Specialties: Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. They also provide an opportunity to learn about the diverse flora and fauna in the park. Here are the best things to do in Saguaro National Park, organized by location. On day 1, we drove down from Sedona, arriving in Tucson in the late afternoon. The western section, also called the Tucson Mountain District, Best Things to do in Saguaro National Park, More Information for Your Trip to Arizona. Saguaro National Park is comprised of two districts, East and West, that preserve thousands of acres of this region's most recognizable monarch of a cactus the saguaro. Then, that afternoon, we made the trek over to the east side of the park to check it out. The Saguaro National Park, nearby the city of Tucson, Arizona, protects part of the Sonoran Desert landscapes, fauna and flora, including the giant saguaro c. Cactus Forest Loop Drive: The Cactus Forest Loop Drive is a scenic adventure that skirts the west side of Saguaro National Park and visits the base of Sentinel Peak, this gigantic mountain that rises to 4,392 feet. Sunset at Saguaro National Park, Tucson, Arizona, US. Saguaro National Park. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Privacy Policy Terms of Use, Cactus Garden strolls at either visitor center, Central and Stylish Midcentury Pool House, Marvel at Petroglyphs on the Signal Hill Trail, Bicycle the Cactus Forest Loop Drive in the Rincon Mountain District, Catch Sunset for Epic Pictures in Saguaro National Park, Take an Air-Conditioned Drive on the Scenic Bajada Loop, Walk in the Dark During the Two-Hour Ranger-Led Night Hike, Visit in April through June to Catch the Saguaros in Bloom. Take a hike along the Desert Ecology Trail. The eastern section, also called the Rincon Mountain District, has a lower concentration of cacti. Hello Joe. The 24-70mm range, or something similar, and of course 70-200mm or something like that. Park is open to hikers and cyclists 24 hours/day. With their stunning white flowers, Saguaros in bloom are certainly a sight to see. The two districts, Rincon Mountain and Tucson Mountain, offer stunning desert landscapes, petroglyphs of the ancient Hohokam people, and an abundance of cacti. Saguaro West will likely have a lot more dust and dirt and crowds to contend with. This park did not disappoint. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Best Sunset Spot in Tucson/Saguaro National park I'm going to be driving through Tucson/Saguaro NP as part of a larger road trip and I was wondering if anyone new a spot that is great for viewing the sunsets with lots of saguaros and not a lot of people. While its known for its tall cacti, youll find some stunning views of mountain ranges, too. : The Cactus Forest Loop Drive is a scenic adventure that skirts the west side of Saguaro National Park and visits the base of Sentinel Peak, this gigantic mountain that rises to 4,392 feet. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. There are two separate sections to the park. You can spend the night in a Saguaro-studded canyon, watch giant clouds of milling bats, or simply connect with nature at the foot of the magnificent Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. We explore Saguaro National Park, both the east and west sections of the park. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Be advised: the park is split into an east side and a west side, with Tucson in between. This is a self-guided nature trail, with lots of informative signs about the Saguaro cactus and the desert ecosystem. They grow at a very slow rate, only an inch per year. Gilbert Ray Campground. The hotel is located close to Saguaro National Park. To start the drive, turn right from N Kinney Road onto Hohokam Road. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. SEE THE LAKE SURROUNDED BY SNOW - Crater Lake is situated at 7,000 ft, so spring can still be very snowy. The park offers many possibilities for exploration, from easy walks in the desert to rugged mountain hikes. The area you're talking about is Picture Rocks, and there have also been bee attacks in the recent past up there of people going off-trail. Date of experience: December 2017. We also drive up most of the way to Mount Lemmon to get a good view of the city from above.One night, we watch an amazing sunset from the mountain pass in the Tucson Mountain Park, and the next night we watch it from Saguaro National Park West. . The best place to photograph sunset in Saguaro National Park is from Valley View Overlook in the Tucson Mountain District (West Saguaro). The Javelina Rocks are toward the last part of the loop road. We do have the Africanized honey bees ( "killer bees")here in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort; 8. Someone must have previously captured that rattlesnake, turquoise in the tail in not found in nature. The monument was given official National Park status in 1994. Mar 17, 2016; Hiking with a toddler Oct 28, 2015; Afternoon and morning in Saguaro-which part when? Besides the . To get to Delicate Arch, take the Delicate Arch Trail. The road is well-maintained and is suitable for cars. LOVE the cactus!! In Saguaro West, the best place to watch the sunset is at the parking lot at Gates Pass. . Looks cools though. Super cheap - $15 for a weeks worth of enjoyment. This area has the most Saguaro Cacti and dense . Thanks for the recommendation. If youre lucky enough to be in Saguaro National Park on a clear night, dont miss the opportunity to experience an excellent view of the Milky Way. Specialty Museums, Art Galleries, Natural History Museums, Missions, Architectural Buildings, Sacred & Religious Sites. If you dont have the lens you need, do not fret, the same lens should perform just fine. Sunset view of Sonoran desert from Tucson Mountain Park. Your email address will not be published. Discover those in our Southwest Guides section. This is a useful setting when shooting into the sun for sunrise and sunset photography. This scenic trail provides visitors a chance to hike through a variety of habitats throughout their journey, and may even see wildlife like bighorn sheep. Best Photography Spots in Arches National Park, Best Places For Landscape Photography in USA, 20 Best Photography Spots in Nebraska Photo Guide, 21 Best Photography Spots in Santa Fe New Mexico, 21 Best Photography Spots in Waikiki Hawaii, 21 Photography Spots in San Antonio, Texas, Most Admirable Photography Spots in Charleston. Delicate Arch seems to ignite with the flare and fire of the desert sun at sunset in Utah's Arches National Park. Learn more on the official national park website. 8. A wide-angle lens. Loma Verde Trail. . Continue to the end of the trail for a great viewpoint of the park. Therefore I would take Ina Road to Wade road for photos. Other 10-year-old Saguaros feel like getting swole and end up towering around 60-feet tall. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. The Hazboy chillin' with the cactus at Saguaro National Park (the evening version) Old Tucson at Sunset. If you do get close enough to be in danger, they do this amazing thing.they typically warn you with a rattle which means back off!. Day 1: Arrive in Phoenix, Saguaro National Park. Set on two separate sides of the city of Tuscon, Saguaro National Park showcases the Sonoran Desert. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Best $15 we ever spent. PRO TRAVEL TIP: Beware of rattlesnakes, gila monsters, and scorpions. This was one of our favorite walks in the park since we walked through one of the densest populations of cacti. Youre even less likely to see scorpions, unless youre digging through woody plant material or specifically looking for them at night (with a UV light). Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Go on Some Epic Hikes. with only 49 feet of elevation gain. There hundreds of miles of trails in Saguaro East, ranging from short, easy walks to multi-day backpacking trips. Most of the road is wide enough for two cars to pass. The loops start point is either McKellips Road or Signal Hill Road. The best time to visit Saguaro National Park for photography is in the spring, typically in May. Saguaro National Park was definitely the highlight. The Rincons cover the eastern horizon, and they get up to 9000' with Mica Mountain, so the sunrise you're seeing is not the sunrise as it goes over the horizon. From here it is a 30-minute drive to both Saguaro West and Saguaro East. Day 4: Monument Valley. Breakfast at White Tank Campground. Take the trail that leads up to this scenic spot and hike along the cliffs to see some fantastic views. During our visit on June 12, all of the cacti had already finished blooming. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. The morning sun in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Always look before you step and stay on the trail. Its two sections lie on opposite sides of the Tucson metropolitan area. Sunset over Javelina Rocks. PS: this is a great place to take some selfies with the Saguaro. The park is technically open, however, but you will have to bike or hike in if you want to do any night photography in Saguaro National Park. more. Moonlight Programs NB: Downtown Tucson has the Sun Link Streetcar which covers 4 miles. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. More than 800 miles of trails wind through cactus gardens and forests of saguaros, cholla, and prickly pear, as well as other desert plants. The Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East) opens at 6 am and closes at sunset. For a big adventure, hike to the top of Wassen Peak. April, however, sees relatively moderate temperatures and while the crowds have died down, the Saguaro cactuses begin to bloom. The standard fee for this is $80, but is discounted for seniors and free for active duty military, those with disabilities, and kids in the 4th grade. This is where we stayed. Here are the best things to do in Saguaro National Park, plus when to go, where to stay, how to plan your time, and what it is like in June. It was an innocuous opening salvo: On May 5, an Instagram post boasted that Saguaro National Park has "the best sunsets in the world . Saguaro is a fantastic place to wander dry washes and winding trails, smelling the sweet scented air and stopping to admire cacti and scurrying wildlife. East Saguaro is known as the Rincon Mountain District (RMD). The best I can think to do is actually drive north on I-10, to Park Link Road. If you are visiting Saguaro National Park as part of a Southwest road trip, you may also find some of these other regional guides useful for your planning: Hopefully this guide was useful for planning your shots at Saguaro NP. Saguaro National Park Hiking At the Mica View - Cholla - Cactus Forest Loop Trail. This drive offers incredible scenic views of the jagged ridges and crevices atop the east slopes of this mountain. We Dream of Travel is also a participant with the Booking.com and Get Your Guide affiliate programs. It was short, flat, and easy. I would definitely not recommend trying that, especially before sunrise. Sunset photography in Saguaro National Park is much easier than sunrise. . Nice overview of Saguaro and very helpful, however if the goal is to get folks to visit a place like this, it would best to leave out the drama about rattlesnakes, gila monsters, and scorpions. This is often dubbed one of the best hikes in Saguaro National Park. Make sure to cross the wash and continue forward to the overlook. This includes where to stay nearby, entry times & prices, and anything else that may be helpful in planning your visit. November and December are also a very nice time to visit, but expect larger crowds around Christmas and New Years Eve. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc. Day 6: Grand Canyon. We generally only post about places we visit for a longer amount of time. Here are driving distances and times from nearby destinations: There are no accommodations inside Saguaro National Park, unless you plan to camp in Saguaro East. . They are often humanized in cartoons. If you only have half of a day, we recommend visiting Saguaro West. The best time to capture Saguaro National Park photos is typically sunset as the westerly views are more open than the easterly. On our visit on June 12, the blooming season had just ended, so we just missed out. Estimates calculate that roughly 1.8 million Saguaros grow within the parks borders. However, there are some places in Saguaro West that are spectacular for sunrise photography as well. Start at the trail sign and follow the signs. Guess I can try that. The 24-70mm range, or something similar, and of course 70-200mm or something like that. One of our awesome readers recommends Gilbert Ray Campground. The Bajada Loop Drive is currently closed, just after the Sus picnic area. Ever seeing a gila monster unless you live in the desert would be even more rare and being close enough to get bit would likelyrequire you to harass one, as theyre not particularly fast creatures. . Hours: Vehicles, Saguaro East-5:00 am to 8:00 pm in summer, 5:00 am to 6:00 pm in winter; Saguaro West-sunrise to sunset, year-round. (Now, I live in Colorado, so saying scenery is beautiful is a big deal, because, you know, Colorado! . The Ironwood Forest Trail is also west of the divide (I think I hiked this many years ago and it was all flat). ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-60041637', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Tucson doesn't have the most spectacular sunrises. :). . Disclosure: In order to keep providing you with free content, this post likely contains affiliate links. This is the more popular section of the park so expect to share the trails and roads with more people here. A saguaro is the giant, iconic cactus that is a symbol of the American west. This 2-mile round trip trail is flat and easy to walk. Upscale: JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort and Spa. Fremont Lookout, located in Mount Rainier National Park: JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort and.! 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