An excellent way to explore the park, especially for families with small children who require access to a trail that is accessible or have a limited amount of time, is to drive through a loop, stopping to take a walk that runs along the route. Super cheap - $15 for a weeks worth of enjoyment. Check out StreetView of the road to see what you think. Pay particular attention as you are going up to black rocks on top of the hill on your left (west?). Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. The monument was given official National Park status in 1994. : Located in the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park, Bajada Loop Drive is a scenic dirt road through the Sonoran Desert. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 8. . Wild Dog Trail A 1.8-mile in-and-out trail off of Hohokam Rd. I would definitely not recommend trying that, especially before sunrise. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson. LOVED it!! So you can find vegetation like oak, pine, and mixed conifer forest and even encounter wildlife like coati . In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Bajada Loop Drive offers the best opportunities to capture dramatic vistas of rugged rock formations, desert grasses, and cacti. There are two separate sections to the park. Cactus Forest Drive is a loop road in the Rincon Mountain District with stunning views of the desert landscape. The elevation gain for this trail is 291 feet, and it is located in the west district of Saguaro National Park. 1. LOVE the cactus!! Its a long one of the most popular and highest trails in the park, so youre guaranteed to see plenty of wildlife on this trail. And worst comes to worst, I sleep in and just catch the sunsets. Bajada Loop Drive: Located in the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park, Bajada Loop Drive is a scenic dirt road through the Sonoran Desert. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Just want to enjoy the beautiful sky with the awesome saguaros. Take the trail that leads up to this scenic spot and hike along the cliffs to see some fantastic views. As outdoor lovers and travel photographers, we created a store to share our joy for the natural world with affordable gifts and products. The combination of location and luxury makes it among the most luxurious hotels close to Saguaro National Park East. There are some low hills to the east, but nothing like the mountains along Ina. The best time to capture Saguaro National Park photos is typically sunset as the westerly views are more open than the easterly. Javelina Rocks Overlook: climb up on top of the rocks for a view over Saguaro National Park and Tucson. PLACES TO GO IN ARIZONA: Go hiking in Sedona, visitPetrified Forest National Park, explore Monument Valley, photograph Antelope Canyon, and visit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. SUBSCRIBE for more videos! Saguaro National Park Hiking At the Mica View - Cholla - Cactus Forest Loop Trail. Love the blog. 14-24mm or similar. The staff knew nothing about our travel blog (and we always book and pay for our hotel stays), so our upgrade had nothing to do with running this website. There was no trail and I got cut up from cactus and sliding on the loose dirt. Temperatures are still somewhat reasonable for the Arizona desert and the saguaro cactus begin their flower bloom. While its known for its tall cacti, youll find some stunning views of mountain ranges, too. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson. June and July are the hottest months to visit. . Drive to Key's Viewpoint overlook. Positioned correctly, you can likely get the sun as it breaches the horizon from here. This drive offers incredible scenic views of the jagged ridges and crevices atop the east slopes of this mountain. Traveling between the two sections of the park takes 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. Desert Discovery Trail A .4-mile trail west of the Red Hills Visitor Center. 2 /20. More than 800 miles of trails wind through cactus gardens and forests of saguaros, cholla, and prickly pear, as well as other desert plants. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This is a useful setting when shooting into the sun for sunrise and sunset photography. If you are driving SW-NE across West Saguaro with 1-1 1/2 hour for hiking, which road would you recomend (Hohokam or Golden Gate Road) and why? Really appreciate your informative descriptions. 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. To help plan the best national park trip ever, . Gaze Up at Mica Mountain (east) Turn off of the paved road and head towards the Mica View picnic area to see the park's highest peak, Mica Mountain. Your email address will not be published. NB: Downtown Tucson has the Sun Link Streetcar which covers 4 miles. Visit one section in the morning, have lunch, and in the afternoon, visit the other section of the park. I never would have known about that road. Everywhere you look is an amazing desert landscape with towering saguaro cactus posing for your photos. The trail spans around 2.2 miles, and it is an out and back trail type. Valley View Overlook Trail. Its easy to walk, educational, and great for all ages. But for sunset, I can go anywhere and will explore the area. Your email address will not be published. For a city-facing sunset, you would probably have to drive up the Catalina Highway to Windy Point, which has a great western-facing view and is at least 5000'. Situated just outside of Tucson, Saguaro National Park is a fantastic place to view the sunset. Wildflowers typically begin to bloom in mid-April, including sand verbena, Hartweg's sundrops, White Sands mustard, and yuccas. About Saguaro National Park: Saguaro National Park is open 365 days per year. If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our United States Travel Guide and our Arizona Travel Guide for more inspiration and travel planning tips. The local bee and bird populations will agree. But theres no pressure, so some of them dont grow any arms at all. It would be very easy to spend at least half of a day here, to tour the entire property. Moonlight Programs The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Total hiking amount so far: 1.4 miles, one . In fact, it was featured in our list of the best trails in all the national parks! There are many places to choose from in Tucson, with an abundance of chain hotels like Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, etc. Disclosure: In order to keep providing you with free content, this post likely contains affiliate links. Hours: The Tucson Mountain District (Saguaro West) is open from sunrise to sunset. The cacti absorb gallons and gallons of water in the summer monsoon season and use this stored water throughout the remainder of the year. Saguaro National Monument was created by President Herbert Hoover in 1933. There are many beautiful views but a lot of false peaks. Through the years the amount of protected land has grown. Take advantage of cooler morning temperatures while sipping coffee on your patio and then take a dip in the pool. March in Tucson is all about sunny skies and mild weather pleasant for enjoying exploring places outdoors like Saguaro National Park and other gems nearby. with only 49 feet of elevation gain. PRO TRAVEL TIP: Beware of rattlesnakes, gila monsters, and scorpions. This was high on our list do to but we skipped it due to high temperatures in the park. On the easy-to-access Desert Discovery Trail off of Kinney Road in the West District, catch sunset views through a forest of saguaros. Saguaro National Park: One great spot for Sunsets - See 1,227 traveler reviews, 1,418 candid photos, and great deals for Tucson, AZ, at Tripadvisor. This 20-mile Saguaro trail is an out and back and is only recommended for experienced adventurers. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots 1. At night you can see the lights of Tucson shining up on the hills. It is a whimsical location, and the hike is around 5.6 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1200 ft. The Red Hills Visitor Center is open 9am -5pm daily except December 25th. (Now, I live in Colorado, so saying scenery is beautiful is a big deal, because, you know, Colorado! Valley View Overlook Trail in the west section was one of some favorite hikes in Saguaro National Park. We drove to Tucson from Phoenix just to get away and get outside with our three daughters. There is a parking lot at . Part of the Bajada Loop Drive is one way only (the second half of Hohokam Road). The park is home to the only scenic drive, one for each district. Saguaro cactus by Arizona desert road. Set on two separate sides of the city of Tuscon, Saguaro National Park showcases the Sonoran Desert. There is an East District with the Rincon and Mica Mountains and the West District with the Tuscon Moutains. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. You have a much higher probability of getting struck by lightning. saguaro national park east. Aside from those spots, the Saguaro wont be found anywhere else in the world. and makes them easier to spot. June through September receives the lowest number of visitors. Nearby Resorts. To get to Delicate Arch, take the Delicate Arch Trail. It was also a destination hike, which is rare in this national park. 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. If you have never been to the park, you may want to begin by perusing our Ultimate Guide to Saguaro National Park which features all of the need-to-know information for visiting. Plan your visit with our guide to the Best Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park. Jan 11, 2015; Late January weather in Saguaro Nov 23, 2014; Best sunrise and sunset spots Jul 31, 2014; Cactus forest drive May 18 . Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots, Rustic Canopy At Overlook Arizona Sonora Desert Museum In Tucson. Otherwise you can shortchange yourself on the last miles of the loop, and the javelina rocks near the end offer great photo opportunities and some climbing.If you are a birder, turn left just before the end of the driving loop (a sign will alert you) and go to the picnic area. From Phoenix, your trip will cover about 100 miles and should take around an hour and a half, depending on traffic. Saguaro National Park West is rugged and sharp, beautiful cacti-clad mountains all around you. NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries. Gates Pass is what locals seem to favor as the top sunset spot. The Hazboy chillin' with the cactus at Saguaro National Park (the evening version) Old Tucson at Sunset. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Short walks at Hall of Horrors, Cap Rock. One warning -- last time I drove through there, a couple of months ago, there was a sign warning about reports of bee activity at the rocks. Monsoon season typically lasts through September. . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On day 1, we drove down from Sedona, arriving in Tucson in the late afternoon. Day 2: Saguaro National Park. The best place to photograph sunset in Saguaro National Park is from Valley View Overlook in the Tucson Mountain District (West Saguaro). But a lot of false peaks Viewpoint Overlook hills Visitor Center attention as you going. Best National Park: Saguaro National Monument was created by President Herbert Hoover in.... Order to keep providing you with free content, this post likely contains affiliate links and atop. But we skipped it due to high temperatures in the afternoon, visit other... 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