Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Valley View Overlook Trail. The I-10/Ina area has an eastern sky full of the Santa Catalinas. Lunch at Live Oak Picnic Area. Take a hike along the Desert Ecology Trail. Signal Hill is a great place to get some fantastic park views. Saguaro National Park: always a great experience. . Brittney R. Indianapolis, IN. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. According to the National Park Service, there are about 75 known crested saguaro cacti located within the boundaries of the two sections of the National Park. While in Saguaro National Park, please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife. 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 . Unfortunately, the Saguaro East section closes its gate at night to road traffic. 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 cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. 14-24mm or similar. The Grand Canyon draws astrotourists all year long, especially in the month of June when they host their annual star party. Here are the best things to do in Saguaro National Park, organized by location. 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. I will check it out. Take full advantage of the naturalist-led programs here to learn all about the types of cacti in the park, how traditional medicine utilized desert plant life, and how incredible creatures reside in the sand. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 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. The Visitor Center provides a good overview of the Sonoran Desert and its inhabitants, but (in case you get an early start before it opens) the kiosks spread along the 8-mile driving loop also provide valuable background information. Hohokam Road ends at Golden Gate Road. . East and West park are different but both have impressive desert scenes. Take advantage of cooler morning temperatures while sipping coffee on your patio and then take a dip in the pool. The 24-70mm range, or something similar, and of course 70-200mm or something like that. . On day 1, we drove down from Sedona, arriving in Tucson in the late afternoon. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. I was really just looking to take photos of saguaros with an orange or pink sky behind them. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots 1. On this short trail you will walk uphill to a nice little viewpoint over the park. If you stay on the trail though, you're generally fine. They also provide an opportunity to learn about the diverse flora and fauna in the park. 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. Website: Visit the official website for updated pricing and a full listing of their hours of operation. Drive the Bajada Loop drive and hike to Valley View Overlook and Signal Hill and do the Desert Discovery Walk. In mid-June, monsoon season begins. Saguaro Cactus at Sunset in Sonoran Desert. Peak season for the park is January through March, when temperatures are pleasant (with high temperatures in the 60s) and rainfall is low. Learn more on the official national park website. row, these tree-like blossoming desert cacti are kind of hard to define. Saguaro National Park officially became a national park in 1994. Desert Discovery Trail A .4-mile trail west of the Red Hills Visitor Center. For those interested in what we use as professional landscape photographers, you can find out more about our equipment and why we use it below. It was short, flat, and easy. Saguaro National Park is named for the Saguaro cactus, which grows only in the Sonoran Desert. sunset, mountain, canyon, national park, USA, landscape. After only encompassing the Rincon Mountain District, the monument grew to include the Tucson Mountain District in 1961. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Day 7: Grand Canyon. Some Saguaros spend 10 years growing only two inches. PS: this is a great place to take some selfies with the Saguaro. A heavily-trafficked albeit, difficult trail in Saguaro National Park is Tanque Verde Ridge Trail in Rincon Mountain District. Visitors will want to stay in the left lane when turning onto Bajada Loop Drive from Signal Hill Road or Leisure Lane in case cars come from behind. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. If you are traveling with kids, a visit to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is worthwhile, as long as you have several hours to spend here to make it worth the cost. Although its good to be aware that there are rattlesnakes around, theyre nothing to fear and the typical visitor is not going to come into close contact with one. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Discover those in our Southwest Guides section. I was thinking of landing in Tucson on a Wed Afternoon and flying back Friday evening. Both sections of the park have a wide variety of lookouts and vistas that offer clear views to the west. Sunset view of Sonoran desert from Tucson Mountain Park. 4. Saguaro National Park - Tucson, Arizona. Best Campgrounds Near Saguaro National Park. saguaro national park east. The elevation gain for this trail is 291 feet, and it is located in the west district of Saguaro National Park. Going on an epic hike is the best things to do at Saguaro National Park. Hi, I was wondering if anyone has favorite sunrise and sunset locations in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Required fields are marked *. The trail spans around 2.2 miles, and it is an out and back trail type. Best Photography Spots in Arches National Park, Best Places For Landscape Photography in USA, 20 Best Photography Spots in Nebraska Photo Guide, 21 Best Photography Spots in Santa Fe New Mexico, 21 Best Photography Spots in Waikiki Hawaii, 21 Photography Spots in San Antonio, Texas, Most Admirable Photography Spots in Charleston. That road has an eastern view that is not of mountains, and it's lined with open desert. A saguaro is the giant, iconic cactus that is a symbol of the American west. Call the park's visitor center at 520-733-5158 for updates the day of the program. Temperatures are still somewhat reasonable for the Arizona desert and the saguaro cactus begin their flower bloom. However, if you have the time, its still worth the visit. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. The other plant and animal life just adds to the drama and beauty. The hill is large and offers 360-degree views of the area: Tucson, Arizona in general, and Saguaro National Park. . November and December are also a very nice time to visit, but expect larger crowds around Christmas and New Years Eve. JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort and Spa. That was my main goal. Delicate Arch Traila 1.5-mile hike from Wolfe Ranch to . . This section of the park is smaller and less visited the Saguaro West. Took the road over Gates Pass into the west park entrance. Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. 531. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Besides beautiful sunsets and views these two districts offered great hiking options for us as a family. 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. For sunset in the east unit, Javelina Rocks is a good area. This is a useful setting when shooting into the sun for sunrise and sunset photography. Like all desert locations, the weather in Saguaro National Park brings warm days and chilly nights. If you are spending significant time in the American Southwest, we also have a collection of travel & photography guides to some of the best destinations in the region. How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers. That all sounds great! All rights reserved. Climbing, hiking, and exploring the Sonoran Desert is one of the best ways to experience its beauty. Nearby Resorts. I recommend avoiding a visit in June through August unless you're well acclimated to the scorching desert heat. We drove a Toyota Camry and had no issues on this road. I would definitely not recommend trying that, especially before sunrise. Cost: $25 per vehicle. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent . Check the calendar for current offerings before you go. With their stunning white flowers, Saguaros in bloom are certainly a sight to see. Ridge Trail during a guided sunset hike in Saguaro National Park in 2016 . Specialties: Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. What makes this spot particularly appealing is the mix of close and distant saguaro cacti to fill your frame. We quickly learned that the desert puts on a show at sunset. Hohokam Petroglyphs at Signal Hill. To get to Delicate Arch, take the Delicate Arch Trail. You don't want to be walking a trail in the dark, even with a flashlight. Through the years the amount of protected land has grown. 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. Why visit White Sands National Park in April. This pass is good for entrance into both sections of Saguaro National Park. But I will go to Gates Pass for sure at least one evening. 9. Petroglyphs on Signal Hill with the Tuson Mountaians in the background. The whole thing began, as these things often do, on social media. The Hazboy chillin' with the cactus at Saguaro National Park (the evening version) Old Tucson at Sunset. The best place to view the sunset on the east side is either the Tanque Verde Ridge trail (.5 mile hike) or the Javelina Rocks pull out. Enjoy your time taking pictures of animals, like javelinas! In addition, youll see beautiful Sonoran Desert plants, wildlife, and wildlife viewing areas. Thanks so much! A wide-angle lens. The Loma Verde Trail is a 3.8 mile loop that offers a terrific variety of scenery. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Afternoon thunderstorms bring much needed rain and help to cool off the area, at least a little bit. In point #3, we talked about finding the best sunset spots in the park and this was without a doubt one of them. Distance: 3.8 miles. There are several pools, a lazy river, and corn hole, so theres a lot to keep kids busy and happy. You will still have to plan carefully as you will be dealing with the Tucson Mountains, but there are some spots where views are clear. It is a whimsical location, and the hike is around 5.6 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1200 ft. The park is technically open, however, but you will have to bike or hike in if you want to do any night photography in Saguaro National Park. However, note though that (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? If you dont have the lens you need, do not fret, the same lens should perform just fine. This drive offers incredible scenic views of the jagged ridges and crevices atop the east slopes of this mountain. Visit the petroglyphs at Signal Hill [West] There's some fascinating history at Saguaro National Park with people who have inhabited the region hundreds of years ago. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. We explore Saguaro National Park, both the east and west sections of the park. Saguaro National Park released the following schedule: January 14 3:45 p.m. Moonlight Reflections Hike: 3 hours, 2 miles. 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. Sign up for early access to our community of travelers around the globe. You can spend the night in a Saguaro-studded canyon, watch giant clouds of milling bats, or simply connect with nature at the foot of the magnificent Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Saguaro National Park's two districts offer more than 165 miles (264 km) of hiking trails. If you only have time for one, dont miss our article Should You Visit Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon? I will be staying my first night off I-10 near Ina Road and so I thought I can get up early and get saguaro cactus pictures with the beautiful sky closest to that hotel area. The 24-70mm range, or something similar, and of course 70-200mm or something like that. Its not unusual for high temperatures to top out over 100+ degrees during these months. To do this, you will need a permit. 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. The park is located in southern Arizona near Tucson. Day 2: Saguaro 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This allows unlimited access to all Federal fee areas for one year from the date of purchase. This is more of a zoo than a museum, with animal exhibits, an aquarium, and botanical gardens, and it also has a natural history museum. When we have visitors, Saguaro National Park (East) is always on the list of places to go. 2 /20. Saguaro National Park is made for photography adventures with kids and grown-ups. Yuma's restored wetlands of cottonwood, willow and mesquite trees are a great spot for both sunrise and sunset. 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. Arches National Park. No touching. 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. The Cowboy Hideaway is also an irresistible option. 1. 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. Julie Last updated: January 24, 2023 United States 12 Comments. Flash floods and rain can make this road impassable, even if you have a 44. This includes where to stay nearby, entry times & prices, and anything else that may be helpful in planning your visit. It was short, flat, and easy. 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. The Cactus Forest Loop road in Saguaro East is paved and has a handful of trails available. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Keep checking for updates as we are constantly updating our content. Arizona desert landscape with Saguaro cactus at sunset. The Signal Hill Picnic Area give you the opportunity to take a short hike while viewing petroglyphs. The Valley View Overlook Trail takes you through some saguaro, cholla, prickly pear, and gently rolling slopes to a grand view overlooking the valley. 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