Its one-way only, starting and ending at the visitor center. To get to Delicate Arch, take the Delicate Arch Trail. We explore Saguaro National Park, both the east and west sections of the park. This is a great spot to enjoy the sunset, but it's great any time of day. We drove a Toyota Camry and had no issues on this road. Super cheap - $15 for a weeks worth of enjoyment. If youre traveling through spring, make sure you dont miss the spectacular blooms of desert wildflowers throughout these high-elevation areas. It does not store any personal data. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. Introducing the human element and having your subject looking up at the tips can be effective. Each side of the park offers a prime sunset viewing spots so try to celebrate the sunset during your visit. Hugh Norris Trail is one of the best photography spots in Saguaro National Park. . However, note though that (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 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. Some Saguaros spend 10 years growing only two inches. Call the park's visitor center at 520-733-5158 for updates the day of the program. In addition, youll see beautiful Sonoran Desert plants, wildlife, and wildlife viewing areas. It would be very easy to spend at least half of a day here, to tour the entire property. 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. The loops start point is either McKellips Road or Signal Hill Road. You can see the full list here. We even saw a coyote on the Golden Gate Road towards the Sendero Esperanza trail. To do this, you will need a permit. In Saguaro West, the best place to watch the sunset is at the parking lot at Gates Pass. For sunset, what are the favorite areas in both the east and west sides? 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. LOVE THE NATIONAL PARKS?Discover 65+ Perfect Gifts for National Park Lovers. A few times a year we get the kind of sunrise where the whole sky is full of pink or orange clouds lit from below as the sun rises. If you plan on visiting a few National Parks this year, the best deal for most people is the Interagency Annual Pass, affectionately called the America the Beautiful pass. Saguaro Sundown Pano. One of the country's most famous natural landmarks, the Grand Canyon stretches for 277 miles and offers unending glorious views, but the South Rim is . We stayed at Hotel McCoy, per your recommendation. Besides the . Saguaros are often depicted as tall, prickly plants with two arms. The Hohokam Petroglyph site is a striking example of what can be seen while exploring Saguaro National Park. Specialty Museums, Art Galleries, Natural History Museums, Missions, Architectural Buildings, Sacred & Religious Sites. This is the more popular section of the park so expect to share the trails and roads with more people here. This drive offers incredible scenic views of the jagged ridges and crevices atop the east slopes of this mountain. Thanks so much for writing in with these updates and information! Through the years the amount of protected land has grown. Seeker is on a mission to connect and inspire the worlds travelers. 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. The . 4. Yuma's restored wetlands of cottonwood, willow and mesquite trees are a great spot for both sunrise and sunset. This area has the most Saguaro Cacti and dense . Beautiful scenery and great gift shop! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. It is a whimsical location, and the hike is around 5.6 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1200 ft. Take the trail that leads up to this scenic spot and hike along the cliffs to see some fantastic views. Youll need to purchase a pass to enter Saguaro National Park. This trail intersects the Hugh Norris Trail. 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. 1. To make it a loop, add on the Hugh Norris Trail for a 7.9-mile trip with 1,863 feet of elevation change. This is a self-guided nature trail, with lots of informative signs about the Saguaro cactus and the desert ecosystem. The Bajada Loop drive is a 6-mile graded dirt road. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. There are two separate sections to the park. Sunrise photography at Saguaro National Park can be challenging as the mountains often obstruct your views to the east. The best way to get around Tucson is to hire a car. 50 Spectacular Canyons in the US You Need to See to Believe! For this reason, photographers hoping for a sunrise photoshoot should go to the West section. While its known for its tall cacti, youll find some stunning views of mountain ranges, too. It is located just outside of Saguaro West and he says you get great views of the cacti. West Saguaro is known as the Tucson Mountain District (RMD). These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The Loma Verde Trail is a 3.8 mile loop that offers a terrific variety of scenery. To get between these two sections of the park, it is a one hour drive through the city of Tucson. From Phoenix, your trip will cover about 100 miles and should take around an hour and a half, depending on traffic. This easy trail leads you through the desert and past mine ruins, offering views of the Tucson Mountains and great photo opportunities. Looks cools though. sunset, mountain, canyon, national park, USA, landscape. Desert Ecology Trail. 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. Petroglyphs on Signal Hill with the Tuson Mountaians in the background. Most of the road is wide enough for two cars to pass. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Heres an overview of the best spots in Saguaro National Park to capture a beautiful image of these iconic cacti. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Next . Panther Peak Wash would be an almost definite no just because it's a wash and it's on the west side of the divide. 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. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Saguaro National Park is named for the Saguaro cactus, which grows only in the Sonoran Desert. Your email address will not be published. The hill is large and offers 360-degree views of the area: Tucson, Arizona in general, and Saguaro National Park. If you are traveling with kids, this place is great. A half day is all you need to see the highlights, but with more time you can tour the entire park, go on a day hike, or camp in the backcountry. Please heed the speed limit as road is narrow and twisty. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-60021876', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Tucson, so if the sign is still up, do take the warning seriously. Along the road are some partial mountain saddles. Wild Dog Trail A 1.8-mile in-and-out trail off of Hohokam Rd. Keep checking for updates as we are constantly updating our content. Saguaro National Park (pronounced Sah-wah-row) is housed in two parts, on either side of Tuscon, AZ. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. You get an unparalleled view of Downtown and the Rincons to the east. Brittney R. Indianapolis, IN. The local bee and bird populations will agree. Specialties: Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. If you enjoyed the information, please leave your feedback and suggest it to friends and acquaintances. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. More Things to Do in Saguaro National Park . So a HUGE thank you to you if you click one of these links . The best place to watch the sunset in Saguaro East is at the Javelina Rocks pullout. This investment is part of $103 million of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding that the Interior Department allocated earlier this year to reduce wildfire risk, mitigate impacts, and rehabilitate burned areas. Summer is also monsoon season. 7. The Red Hills Visitor Center is open 9am -5pm daily except December 25th. Viewing the lake rimmed by snow drifts is stunning! It's about 3.2 miles in total. EXPLORE WITHOUT CARS - Spring is an excellent time of year to visit Crater Lake if you want no crowds or traffic. It was an innocuous opening salvo: On May 5, an Instagram post boasted that Saguaro National Park has "the best sunsets in the world . It is a paved road with plenty of pull-outs and viewpoints along the way. The first morning I will be driving in to the west side from Wade Road and I see there are several trails in that section of the park (Ringtail, Ironwood, Panther Peak Wash), but I don't know if they are good for sunrise. Experience the Sonoran Desert in the parks most dramatic landscape, Cactus Forest Drive. Photograph by Hannah Schwalbe, National Park Service. The other trails take off into the wash. Saguaro Cactus at Sunset in Sonoran Desert. I've been there for sunrise a couple of times, and I've never found a better spot. The Ironwood Forest Trail is also west of the divide (I think I hiked this many years ago and it was all flat). Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. 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. The Cowboy Hideaway is also an irresistible option. The 0.4 mile Desert Discovery Trail is a flat, paved walkway that takes you through saguaros, as well as other desert plants, with signage that talks about the plants and wildlife in the area. If you dont have the lens you need, do not fret, the same lens should perform just fine. They can live 200 years. Best sunrises in Tucson. Day 3: Petrified Forest National Park. Saugaro National Park encompasses two separate sections: the Saguaro National Park West (Tucson Mountain District) and Saguaro National Park East (Rincon Mountain District). This park did not disappoint. Guess I can try that. Date of experience: December 2017. Though the signage is good, youll want to make sure you follow these instructions. On the first day we drove through the West Is Best: How To Make The Most Of One Day In Saguaro WestWest side of the park and did the Valley View Overlook Trail and just kind of enjoyed the area. 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