Best trails in Saguaro National Park
Set on either side of the city of Tucson, Saguaro National Park showcases the Sonoran Desert. The park has two separate districts, Rincon Mountain (East) and Tucson Mountain (West), both of which offer stunning desert landscapes and opportunities to explore. Highlights include prehistoric petroglyphs created by the Hohokam people, and an abundance of the iconic saguaro cacti for which the park is named.
Top trails
Visitor info
This fee is charged per-vehicle upon entrance, regardless of the number of riders. An Annual Pass will cover two motorcycles traveling together if the two people who signed that pass are on different motorcycles. A Lifetime Pass (such as the Access or Senior Pass) with one signature line will only cover one motorcycle.
Individuals entering the park by means other than a motor vehicle may purchase individual entrance passes. This includes hikers, horseback riders and bicyclists. The individual entrance fee is charged to anyone 16 years of age or older.
The vehicle entrance pass is sold in the form of a dated register receipt and admits one privately owned, non-commercial vehicle into Saguaro National Park. This includes passenger cars, trucks, vans, recreational vehicles, campers, or converted buses used for private, recreational purposes.
This pass covers up to 4 adults (anyone over the age of 16) or everyone in a single, non-commercial, vehicle. Is accepted in both districts of the park.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
The East and West Visitor Centers are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains. Orientation films include closed captioning.
Audio descriptions, tactile exhibits, and Braille and text materials are available.
Many ranger-led programs are wheelchair accessible; some are auto-caravans (where rangers speak near your vehicle).
Additional information about accessibility at Saguaro National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
The East and West Visitor Centers are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains. Orientation films include closed captioning.
The Mica View and Javelina Picnic Areas in Saguaro East and Sus, Signal Hill, Cam-Boh, and Ez-Kim-In-Zin Picnic Areas in Saguaro West are wheelchair accessible with packed, level paths and surfaces and accessible restrooms.
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
Guides
Trail reviews for Saguaro National Park
This trail traverses the width of the eastern section of Saguaro National Park. It is a beast of a hike but totally worth it. The saguaros are starting to bloom and it is lovely to see. As you climb the vegetation changes until at the top of the trail you are in a pine forest. I hiked in from the Pistol Road trailhead (about 4 miles) to the start of this passage. It was a steep climb to the Grass Shack campground. I camped there for the night and was able to filter water out of two small stagnant pools filled with leaves. The next morning I hiked up to Manning Camp and then out the other side. Again, very steep climb that just doesn’t stop until you reach the top (~8500 ft) but totally worth it. Manning Camp is super cool. All the views are spectacular. Well worth the effort it takes to do this hike! (Note: this is a 23 mile hike but AllTrails only shows my second day. )
Beautiful walk in Saguaro National Park we found a GILA MONSTER! Ended at 10:40!
Fantastic hike for views of Saguaro National Park West. Went with a group and we got there in the morning at around 7:30 and parking lot was mostly empty. Came in under 5 hours total.
This was my first trail at Saguaro National Park and it was awesome! It was peaceful and serene with beautiful majestic Saguaros as far as the eye can see. There was even a cool crested Saguaro right along the trail, about 1.5 miles in. The trail was 3.4 miles total, I lost service for a bit. We saw a deer and lots of colorful birds. It was a great way to spend a Monday morning!
Inclines! Bring a stick or 2. Watch your footing, lots of loose rock. Not much shade so sunblock hats long sleeves and LOTS of water. Wildlife was active, saw deer, lizards, birds, ground squirrels. Saguaros were fruiting. Great morning.
Saguaros are in fruit and early morning temperatures are nice.
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Frequently asked questions
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Suitability
Points of interest
- Wasson Peak
- Douglas Camp Spring
- Mica Mountain
- Italian Spring
- Grass Shack Spring
- Manning Camp
- Prehistoric Rock Art
- Douglas Spring
- Grass Shack
- Juniper Basin
- Future Generations Overlook
- Cactus Forest Overlook
- Turkey Spring
- Mam-a-Gah Picnic Area
- Desert Living Overlook
- Rincon Mountains Overlook
- Garwood Dam
- Deer Head Spring
- Tanque Verde Peak
- Desert Plants Garden