5 surprising discoveries I made at Saguaro National Park

Throughout the past year, I've enjoyed a variety of outdoor escapades.

Like many people, I adjusted my international travel plans to embrace local outdoor experiences a bit closer to home. This led me to explore national parks across the West Coast, along with Everglades National Park in Florida.

Among the parks I explored, one stands out as a quintessential representation of the U.S. desert landscape. The location? Saguaro National Park. The towering saguaro cactus, with its impressive, human-like arms, is not only visually stunning but also emblematic of the region.

Saguaro spans 90,000 acres of desert paradise in the Sonoran Desert of southeastern Arizona, bordering the city of Tucson. During my 10-day road trip, I drove and hiked through Saguaro, part of an amazing 2,000-mile adventure that covered four national parks and four states.

Here are five surprising facts about Saguaro National Park (pronounced suh-waa-row).

The park is actually divided by the city of Tucson.

The first revelation is that Saguaro consists of two parks combined. The bustling city of Tucson—home to 1 million people—effectively divides the park into two distinct sections, known as "districts."

On one side lies the western Tucson Mountain District, while on the opposite side is the eastern Rincon Mountain District.

The two sections are approximately 30 miles apart, and depending on the traffic in Tucson—which can become quite congested—it takes about an hour to travel between the districts.

Both districts were officially designated as Saguaro National Park in 1994. However, Saguaro first received national monument status all the way back in 1933.

Initially, Saguaro National Monument included only the area known today as Saguaro East (the Rincon Mountain District). In 1964, President Kennedy expanded it to include Saguaro West (the Tucson Mountain District).

Although these two districts are just 30 miles apart, ...

The two districts are quite distinct from one another.

You only need to pay one park entrance fee, but each district within Saguaro National Park offers its own unique atmosphere.

On the western side lies the Tucson Mountain District, the smaller of the two areas, known for its denser saguaro forests, more picturesque drives, and lower elevation—making it a great option if you’re short on time. (It’s also the more frequented district.)

For example, you can take a drive along the unpaved six-mile-long Bajada Loop, which provides stunning views of the foothills and plenty of chances to capture amazing photos, all while granting easy access to trailheads for short to medium hikes.

On the other hand, the eastern Rincon Mountain District is the more rugged and isolated area, offering even more hiking opportunities and being the only section that permits backcountry camping. It’s worth noting that there are no campgrounds accessible by road in the park whatsoever. The closest campground to a road is a 5.9-mile hike to Douglas Spring in the eastern district.

Whichever section you choose, Saguaro is truly a hiker's paradise, boasting over 165 miles of trails and breathtaking views in nearly every direction.

Saguaros are ancient...and they only thrive in the Sonoran Desert.

The first thing you should know is that saguaros are very old—like, really old.

A saguaro won’t produce any flowers until it reaches 35 years old, and it won’t grow its first iconic "arms" until it’s between 50 and 75 years old. In fact, these cacti can live for 200 years or even longer.

While these iconic arm-bearing cacti are the largest in the U.S., they aren’t found everywhere. Many people (myself included) tend to picture a saguaro when thinking of any cactus that grows in the western U.S.

However, the saguaro is really limited to a small portion of the desert landscapes in the continental U.S.

This includes a narrow stretch of Arizona, New Mexico, and California, where the Sonoran Desert is located. Even within the Sonoran Desert, the saguaro requires very specific conditions to thrive, including elevations of up to 4,000 feet and temperatures that don’t fall below freezing.

Alongside the saguaro, the park is teeming with wildlife.

While the park is famously recognized for its iconic cactus, it also boasts over 3,000 other plant species across the Rincon Mountain District and Tucson Mountain District. This was another surprising discovery.

Many of these plants might seem lifeless at first glance, but they are incredibly adapted to endure long dry spells and drought conditions. In fact, numerous plants will bloom within just 48 hours following rainfall.

One such plant is the ocotillo, which changes from looking like dead sticks to a vibrant shrub with green branches and fresh leaves.

Thanks to its diverse elevations, Saguaro National Park is home to a wide variety of animal species. This includes some unique creatures that can only be found in southern Arizona and the Sonoran Desert, such as roadrunners, horned lizards, and Gila monsters.

You can explore the park in just one full day.

If you plan ahead, it’s feasible to visit both sections of the park in a single day for a quick glimpse of both districts.

A great approach is to divide your day between the two areas of the park, focusing on longer hikes in the morning (before the afternoon heat sets in). Then, enjoy lunch in between. In the afternoon, it’s advisable to take a scenic drive, making stops for shorter walks or hikes along the way.

For those seeking adventure, one option is to tackle Wasson Peak, a challenging eight-mile hike that stands as the highest point in the western district of Saguaro National Park. Later in the afternoon, you can enjoy a more relaxed drive along the Cactus Forest Loop in Saguaro East.

In summary

While the majestic saguaro is certainly impressive on its own, Saguaro National Park offers much more than just its iconic cactus. It is filled with delightful surprises, including stunning hikes, breathtaking vistas, scenic drives, and a rich diversity of plant and animal life across its two districts.

It's no surprise that this national park, which divides Tucson, is becoming increasingly popular each year. In 2019, Saguaro welcomed over one million visitors for the first time in its history.

If you’re planning to visit on your own, make sure to bring sturdy hiking shoes, plenty of water, and a sense of adventure.