16 Unbelievable Saguaro National Park hikes
Saguaro National Park is one of three national parks found within Arizona.
Saguaro is one of the three national parks found in Arizona and the southernmost national park within the state. It is found in the Sonoran Desert and split into two sections by the city of Tucson. It has so many unique and interesting things to do and see so here are 16 Unbelievable Saguaro National Park hikes.
If you have a favorite trail in Saguaro National Park or have any tips to share with those interested in visiting the park, please leave a comment below!
Table of Contents
Things to know about Saguaro National Park
Is Saguaro National Park worth visiting?
16 Unbelievable Saguaro National Park Hikes
What is the best time to visit Saguaro National Park?
How much does it cost to enter Saguaro National Park?
Which Saguaro National Park area is better?
How many days do you need in Saguaro National Park?
What should you bring on hikes in Saguaro National Park?
How to get to Saguaro National Park?
Where to stay in Saguaro National Park?
Things to do in Saguaro National Park?
Top tip
Bonus attraction – Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
The Wrap-Up: 16 Unbelievable Saguaro National Park hikes
Things to know about Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National park is a very large saguaro cactus forest home to nearly 2 million saguaro cacti. Saguaro cacti can only be found within the Sonoran desert which covers portions of Arizona, California, and Mexico. Saguaro cacti can be as tall as 50 feet (15 meters) and live for up to 200 years. Isn’t that crazy?
At first, the current Saguaro national park was designated as a national moment, until 1994 when the US congress redesignated the national monument as Saguaro National Park. Within the park, you can find mountain regions that reach up to 8000 feet (2439 meters) above sea level. This variation in altitude allows for many different types of flora and fauna to be found within the park. Some unique animals that can be found within the park are roadrunners, Gila monsters, kangaroo rats, and horned lizards.
Is Saguaro National Park worth visiting?
To be completely transparent with you, it depends.
If you are passionate about cacti (specifically Saguaro cacti), the desert, or southwestern landscapes in general then yes, it’s absolutely worth it. You’ll be able to see all of them in one place and even feel like you are in a western movie.
If you aren’t as interested in the southwestern US or Saguaro cacti then visiting Saguaro may not be for you. For example, Nick absolutely loves desert landscapes and is really interested in desert flora and fauna so he loved Saguaro but Laura is not as interested in the desert so she didn’t enjoy it as much.
16 Unbelievable Saguaro National Park Hikes
1. Bridal Wreath Falls Trail
- Distance: 5.7 miles
- Type of Trail: Out & Back
- Elevation Gain: 1095ft
- Rated: moderate
Bridal Wreath Falls Trail is one of the most beautiful Saguaro national park hikes because it features 7 waterfalls and the views are absolutely amazing. It is heavily trafficked so make sure that you get there early if you decide to go in the season. The first 1.5 miles are the hardest because it’s all uphill but the rest of the trail is not as difficult.
2. Mica View Loop Trail
- Distance: 3.7 miles
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Elevation Gain: 121ft
- Rated: easy
Mica View Loop Trails is accessible all year round and it features beautiful wildflowers. Because of its length and elevation gain, it is good for all skill levels but make sure to take your time and bring water.
The North part of The Mica View Trail is wheelchair – accessible and it’s a great out and back hike
3. Valley View Overlook Trail
- Distance: 0.8 miles
- Type of Trail: Out & Back
- Elevation Gain: 49ft
- Rated: easy
Very similar to Mica View Loop Trail, Valley View Overlook Trail is a short hike with a small elevation gain, great for everyone who wants to see wildflowers, and birds all year around.
4. Signal Hill Petroglyphs Trail
- Distance: 0.3 miles
- Type of Trail: Out & Back
- Elevation Gain: 26ft
- Rated: easy
Very similar to Mica View Loop Trail and Valley View Overlook Trail, Signal Hill Trail is a very short hike with almost no elevation gain, perfect for when it is too hot for longer hikes. It has beautiful flowers and petroglyphs that are very easy to see.
5. Freeman Homestead Nature Trail
- Distance: 1.1 miles
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Elevation Gain: 108ft
- Rated: easy
Freeman Homestead Nature Trail is an almost flat hike full of cactus and prickly pears. You could also read information about the Sonora desert posted throughout the hike. If you continue on the road after the picnic area you will be able to see a crested Saguaro which looks like a broccoli top. Pretty cool, right?
6. The Bajada Loop Drive (West side of the Park)
- Distance: 6 miles
- Type of Trail: Loop
The Bajada Loop Drive is a dirt road that is suitable for low clearance vehicles. We went with a Honda Civic and it went really well. Just go a little slower if you don’t have an SUV. Going on this road you’ll be able to see different species of cactus that are very unique to the area. They also have picnic areas with tables, trash cans, and toilets.
7. Desert Discovery Nature Trail
- Distance: 0.4 miles
- Type of trail: Loop
- Elevation Gain: 16ft
- Rated: easy
This is a self-guided nature trail that provides a lot of information about the Saguaro cactus and the desert ecosystem. It’s easy to walk, educational, and great for all ages. We had fun learning a lot about plants, animals, and the ecosystem of the park.
8. King Canyon Trail to Wasson peak
- Distance: 6.7 miles
- Type of trail: Out and back
- Elevation Gain: 1833 ft
- Rated: moderate
King Canyon Trail to Wasson Peak is a heavily trafficked out and back trail. It has beautiful flowers and it is ranked as moderate.
9. Hugh Norris Trail
- Distance: 8.9 miles
- Type of trail: Out and back
- Elevation Gain: 2398ft
- Rated: moderate
Hugh Norris is one of the longest trails in the park. The views are absolutely incredible because once you complete it you’ve seen both mountains and desert views.
10. Tanque Verde Ridge Trail
- Distance: 20 miles
- Type of trail: Out and back
- Elevation Gain: 5597ft
- Rated: hard
The hardest but very rewarding trail is Tanque Verde Ridge Trail that takes you to Tanque Verde Peak. The views are absolutely incredible but just a warning: you’ll go up the entire time so make sure that you’re prepared for this and bring a lot of water and sunscreen.
11. Tanque Verde Falls Trail
- Distance: 1.9 miles
- Type of trail: Out and back
- Elevation Gain: 462ft
- Rated: moderate
Tanque Verde Falls trail is a very beautiful hike that features waterfalls. It is not covered by any shade so if you decide to go in summer, use sunscreen and bring a lot of water. It’s a little bit challenging in some parts and it requires some climbing but don’t get intimidating, it’s not too difficult.
12. Garwood Trail
- Distance: 3.3 miles
- Type of trail: Out and back
- Elevation Gain: 203 ft
- Rated: easy
Garwood Trail will take you through so many beautiful shapes of saguaros and desert plans, so if you are interested in seeing them, this hike is for you. It is not a very well-known trail so you might get lucky and have it all for yourself.
13. Windhorse Trail
- Distance: 3.1 miles
- Type of trail: Out and back
- Elevation Gain: 301ft
- Rated: moderate
Similar to Garwood Trail, Windhorse Trail is a moderate hike that takes you to see multiple saguaros and a nice view of the city.
14. Ernie’s Falls
- Distance: 6.6 miles
- Type of trail: Out and back
- Elevation Gain: 1213 ft
- Rated: moderate
Ernie’s Falls is a pretty heavy trafficked trail that takes you to a waterfall. The waterfall runs seasonally which means that you’ll be able to see it only in the colder months and monsoon season when it rains more.
15. Molino Basin Trail
- Distance: 5 miles
- Type of trail: Out and back
- Elevation Gain: 780 ft
- Rated: moderate
Molino Basin Trail has a lot of beautiful flowers and other desert plants that you can see up close. The trail makes you feel like you are in a western movie and it’s also dog friendly but you must keep your dog on a leash.
16. Milagrosa Canyon Trail
- Distance: 8.6 miles
- Type of trail: Out and back
- Elevation Gain: 1833ft
- Rated: hard
Milagrosa Canyon Trail has incredible views of canyons and saguaros. The trail is uphill in the beginning and then it gets easier as you go. A small drawback is that you have to park half a mile away and walk to the trailhead. Dogs could do this trail.
What is the best time to visit Saguaro National Park?
The best time to visit Saguaro is between October and April. In the summer months, it can get up to as much as 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius), and believes us, you don’t want to walk around or hike in that heat.
How much does it cost to enter Saguaro National Park?
Here you have a couple of options. You can either buy a weekly pass which is going to cost $25/vehicle and $20/motorcycle or you can buy the America the Beautiful pass which we absolutely recommend if you’re planning to visit more than 2-3 national parks or monuments. It costs $80 and it allows you to enter all the national parks, monuments, recreation areas, and more for an entire year. For more information about the pass click here.
Which Saguaro National Park area is better?
The park is split into two sections, the eastern and the western section. As we mentioned earlier, Tucson Arizona splits the park into two chunks.
The west part of the park is called West Tucson Mountain District and it has an unpaved drive trail that is only about 6 miles and has amazing views of the saguaro desert as well as multiple trailheads.
The east part of saguaro national park is called East Rincon Mountain Desert and it has an 8-mile long drive loop called Cactus Forest which gives you great views of the Rincon Mountains. Off this road, there are a couple of hikes for all levels, including the Freeman Homestead Trail which is the best short hike to get close to the biggest saguaro in the park.
How many days do you need in Saguaro National Park?
It depends on how much you want to see, but in general, we recommend a day or two.
There are 2 different areas in the park and they are both worth seeing and have plenty of hikes to do. If you feel like you want something different to add to your park experience, you should visit Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum which is an indoor-outdoor museum that includes multiple rooms with animals in which you can learn more about them and their ecosystem.
What should you bring on hikes in Saguaro National Park?
Here is what we find to be essential to pack for a day of hiking in Saguaro National Park.
Reusable water bottle: Water is so essential especially if you go hiking in Saguaro National Park where you’ll be in the sun a lot. We always use our reusable Nalgene bottles because we are easily able to track how much water we are drinking and 50% of the bottle is made from plastic waste.
Hiking boots: We both swear by our Salomon hiking boots and they are an excellent choice for all terrains. They are very durable, good for holding your ankles. We took them everywhere and they performed perfectly! Click here to see Laura’s boots and here for Nick’s. If you aren’t a big fan of hiking boots, then we recommend using a pair of trail runners instead.
Hiking poles: They are essential when going down into steel inclines or over rocky terrain. We use them all the time to protect our knees and help throughout the trail. We recommend these ones as they are collapsible and they also come with other accessories.
Sun hat: It is very important to protect you head and your skin from sun while hiking in Saguaro National Park where there are almost no trees on a majority of hikes. Nick really likes this sun hat because of how breathable it is.
Sunscreen: It’s an absolute must and we swear by the ones that Le Roche Posay have. We usually use the 60 spf one but they have other options for more or less spf.
Clothing: It really makes a difference if you wear light-colored clothes, especially in summer. Another tip that we have is to wear lightweight and breathable long pants and long sleeve clothes to protect you from the sun. There are so many brands out there that make sun-protect clothes from really light materials.
Flashlight or headlamp: We like to have one in each daypack just in case we stay on a hike longer than we expected. We got the ones from GearLight and we like them.
Snacks: Always make sure to have enough snacks and then some more in case you get lost or a trail takes longer than you expect.
How to get to Saguaro National Park?
As we mentioned before, Saguaro National Park has two districts that are separated by Tucson.
On the east side, we have Rincon Mountain District and you can get there
From Tucson:
Drive on Broadway then turn right onto Freeman road. Then continue to drive south for 3 miles. Turn left on Old Spanish Trail and continue to drive for 0.25 miles to Old Spanish Trail to the park entrance.
From I10:
Take exit 275 on I10 and then drive north for 8 miles. Turn Right on Escalante Road and drive for another 2 miles. Turn left on Old Spanish Trail and drive for a little longer and you’ll see the visitor center.
On the west side, we have Tucson Mountain District and you can get there:
From the center of Tucson
Head west on Speedway Boulevard over Gates Pass to Kinney Road, then turn right on Kinney Road and drive for another 4 miles. At the intersection of Kinney with Mile Wide Roads turn right into Saguaro National Park. Continue on Kinney Road for another mile and you’ll get to the visitor center.
Below we included the distances and time it takes to get to Saguaro National Park from other relatively nearby locations:
From Phoenix, Arizona: 115 miles
From Sedona, Arizona: 230 miles
From El Paso, Texas: 320 miles
Tombstone, Arizona: 86 miles
Where to stay in Saguaro National Park?
Even though there are no hotels or any other accommodations inside Saguaro National Park, there are so many options in Tucson which is only a short drive from a majority of locations within the park. Lodging options within Tuscon include resorts and spas, middle-tier hotels, and budget options such as motels so you will have plenty of options to choose from.
Things to do in Saguaro National Park?
- See the beautiful flowers bloom in May-June. They are white, waxy flowers that are specific to Arizona.
- Go to the Visitor Center and talk to the rangers to find more out about the park and its many unique features
- Go to the Mica View picnic area to see the highest peak of the park called Mica Mountain
- See the ancient petroglyphs which are more than 800 years old by taking the Signal Hill Trail which is only a 0.3 miles hike in the west part of the park
- Visit the Arizona Sonora desert museum
- Do the bajada loop drive in West Tucson Mountain District
Top tip
Start the day early!
Even if you don’t plan to do one of the longer hikes it is still very good if you could start the day early. First, you won’t need to rush around, you will avoid the crowds and sun, which believe us, will make your trip more enjoyable. Also, if you can get there for sunrise, you’ll absolutely love the way the sunlight reflects on the saguaros making them shine beautifully. We absolutely can’t recommend this enough.
Bonus attraction – Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
Another amazing attraction that is near Saguaro National Park is Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.
The entrance fee is $24 for adults and $12 for kids but it’s totally worth it. It’s a pretty big indoor and outdoor museum where you could see native animals such as mountain lions, bobcats, wolves mule deers, and more. In the indoor museum, you could learn more about smaller animals and see a big collection of snakes, insects, and more.
We loved it there, especially because we got to see those wild animals so close to us.
Definitely worth going if you have a little more time to spend in the area.
The Wrap-Up: 16 Unbelievable Saguaro National Park hikes
If you’re planning a trip to the beautiful park, make sure to add one of these Saguaro National park hiking trails to your to-do list.
Whether you’re traveling with your family, as a solo adventurer, or a beginning hiker, there is a trail for everyone in Saguaro National Park!