Crested saguaro cacti can be found wherever saguaro cacti grow. If you make a booking or purchase through one of these links we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Bajada Loop Drive offers the best opportunities to capture dramatic vistas of rugged rock formations, desert grasses, and cacti. Introducing the human element and having your subject looking up at the tips can be effective. Along the way, youll get up close to giant Saguaro cacti and have nice views of the Rincon Mountains and Tucson. In fact, its one of our picks for a national park to visit in February. Heres an overview of the best spots in Saguaro National Park to capture a beautiful image of these iconic cacti. Thanks Alex! In addition to the convenient area, the rooms and amenities such as a pool will provide you with the relaxation youve been looking for. This is an incredible time to be in the park as it adds a beautiful floral arrangement to your photos and also attracts birds and wildlife. There are two separate sections to the park. Absolutely beautiful! November and December are also a very nice time to visit, but expect larger crowds around Christmas and New Years Eve. The road is well-maintained and is suitable for cars. PETRIFIED FOREST: This small national park is an underrate gem. With a full day, you can visit both East and West Saguaro. Oh, and I will stick to the trails when hiking and avoid those bees! Call the park's visitor center at 520-733-5158 for updates the day of the program. The best place to watch the sunset in Saguaro East is at the Javelina Rocks pullout. The East also has a much higher elevation point with Mica Mt at 8,666ft compared to the West's highest point: Wasson Peak at 4,687ft. Make it a point to stop at each and every kiosk or pullout, for there will not only be information but also a fantastic vista awaiting you. There are some low hills to the east, but nothing like the mountains along Ina. This is also the only place to camp inside the park and it offers miles of backcountry trails, perfect for those who want to leave the crowds behind. The I-10/Ina area has an eastern sky full of the Santa Catalinas. So a HUGE thank you to you if you click one of these links . When photographing the saguaro cactus in the day, look for those with the most interesting shapes and good health. In the morning, the sun crests the Gila Mountains. However, note though that (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? IS this enough to cover Saguaro? Brittney R. Indianapolis, IN. With both designated tent and RV sites, plus modern . 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. 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 problem is that the area is ringed by mountains. On this short, easy walking trail, get up close to the Saguaro cactus, prickly pears, and ironwood trees. Not Another Sunset . This is a photo of the welcome sign in Saguaro National Park. 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. Saguaro West will likely have a lot more dust and dirt and crowds to contend with. Crater Lake National Park Spring Highlights. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Park is open to hikers and cyclists 24 hours/day. Hello Joe. More Things to Do in Saguaro National Park . The best spot to catch sunset at the park is on the east side at either the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail (.5 mile hike) or the Javelina Rocks pull out. 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 can see the full list here. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Saguaro Sundown Pano. Moonlight Programs A lot of people climb up onto the rocks for sunset. This section of the park is smaller and less visited the Saguaro West. And if you like the idea of backcountry camping, this is the place to do it (overnight camping is not permitted in Saguaro West). Many of the parking pullouts are trailheads for good desert hiking; get a map from the ranger at the entry booth. JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort and Spa. Learn more on the official national park website. They are often humanized in cartoons. It was our 20th wedding anniversary and we got upgraded to the Presidential Suite. . Be sure to check out our additional. Hugh Norris Trail. . If you are visiting Saguaro National Park as part of a Southwest road trip, you may also find some of these other regional guides useful for your planning: Hopefully this guide was useful for planning your shots at Saguaro NP. 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. In Saguaro West, the best place to watch the sunset is at the parking lot at Gates Pass. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. To start the drive, turn right from N Kinney Road onto Hohokam Road. Taking home beautiful Saguaro National Park photos is as easy as setting your watch. Saguaro National Park Hiking At the Mica View - Cholla - Cactus Forest Loop Trail. Thanks for the recommendation. In the Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East), the best place to photograph sunset is from the final 2-mile stretch of the scenic loop road anywhere after you drive up the steep hill. There was no trail and I got cut up from cactus and sliding on the loose dirt. Along the way, and on the rocks on top of the hill, you get to see the rock art, or petroglyphs, drawn by the Hohokam people over 800 years ago. Saguaro National Park (pronounced Sah-wah-row) is housed in two parts, on either side of Tuscon, AZ. You don't see any of the city looking that way though, so you would be missing that. Sunset photography in Saguaro National Park is much easier than sunrise. This beautiful property has an outdoor pool and views of the nearby mountains. Photograph by Hannah Schwalbe, National Park Service. The desert sunset may rival the saguaros as the park's most Instagrammed natural wonder. The vista changes from desert to mountains, to ravine, to rock formations. Enjoy your time taking pictures of animals, like javelinas! There are several notable viewpoints along the way, which I will get to in just a minute. . We were here in January--temperatures were in the mid-50s to the upper 60s. Note: This post contains affiliate links. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This easy trail leads you through the desert and past mine ruins, offering views of the Tucson Mountains and great photo opportunities. The inside of the cactus is made of wooden ribs which resembles a tree trunk. The Bajada Loop Drive is currently closed, just after the Sus picnic area. 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. 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. Cholla Cactus Farm. Visit one section in the morning, have lunch, and in the afternoon, visit the other section of the park. From Phoenix, your trip will cover about 100 miles and should take around an hour and a half, depending on traffic. Take your pick, take your camera, and start scurrying for Tucson sunset spots. It does look cooland makes them easier to spot. Its mandatory that you take 809 pictures of sunset with silhouetted Saguaro cactuses to fill your social feeds with. Depictions and descriptions of desert wildlife and varieties of cactus will help you identify examples as you drive on. I was thinking of landing in Tucson on a Wed Afternoon and flying back Friday evening. Note that the Hugh Norris Trail is a steep one! I think the inherent problem in trying to get a good sunrise or sunset at Saguaro is the fact that most of the best spots involve a hike, and you get almost zero pre-dawn and post-dusk light in Tucson. 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. Dozens of different cactus, deser wildlife including snake, lizards, birds, Javelin, coyotes, deer etc. That was my main goal. There are several ways to get to the top of Wassen Peak. Valley overlook trail can still be reached from there, and Signal hill from the main road. The western section, also called the Tucson Mountain District, Best Things to do in Saguaro National Park, More Information for Your Trip to Arizona. 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. 70. Maybe I will simply leave the hotel early in the morning and just pull off the road before the mountain divide to get saguaro cactus and sky photos. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. The park is home to the only scenic drive, one for each district. 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. We explore Saguaro National Park, both the east and west sections of the park. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Javelina Rocks Overlook: climb up on top of the rocks for a view over Saguaro National Park and Tucson. Distance: 0.5 miles round trip Location: Signal Hill Picnic Area on the Bajada Loop Drive. Guests will have access to several hiking trails, picnic spots, and numerous picture-worthy locations along this gorgeous drive, which will . 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. 18 Free Saguaro National Park Boondocking Spots; 1. Short walks at Cholla Cactus Garden, Skull Rock, Jumbo Rocks. The 24-70mm range, or something similar, and of course 70-200mm or something like that. Why are you so focused on the national park? Were headed there late March for the first time at 67 & 68 years old. Both Grand Canyon National Park and nearby Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument are certified Dark Sky Parks, but we don't need to tell you that this is one of the most popular stargazing spots in the whole United States.. Best Time to Visit Saguaro National Park. 1. Therefore I would take Ina Road to Wade road for photos. Sunrise is usually not nearly as good as sunsets. Growing over these ribs is the green, fleshy skin that absorbs and stores water. 9. We visited the park on June 12 and the high temperature hit 107F. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Saguaro National Park is in the southern part of Arizona. The hotels comfort is superb and they have an outdoor pool that will help cool down after a day of heat within the Park. This will help you have the perfect one day in Saguaro west. Saguaro cactus by Arizona desert road. In just 15 minutes, you can travel within 15 minutes of the Hampton Inn & Suites Tech Park to the eastern region of Saguaro National Park. Despite its name, youll soon realize the Gila Monster is actually adorable. Experience the Sonoran Desert in the parks most dramatic landscape, Cactus Forest Drive. 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. Monsoon sunset over the cactus forest of the Saguaro National Park West, Wednesday, August 10, 2016, Tucson, Ariz. . Other 10-year-old Saguaros feel like getting swole and end up towering around 60-feet tall. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Distance: 3.8 miles. If youre ready to stretch your legs (but not sure where to start), heres a list of 10 of our favorite hiking trails in Saguaro National Park: Planning a night under the stars? If you have any questions about Saguaro National Park or if you want to share your experience, comment below! 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. One day is all you need to visit Saguaro National Park, unless you plan to go camping in the backcountry. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. SEDONA: To learn what there is to do in Sedona, read our article Best Things to Do in Sedona. Although the white sands look magnificent against a blue sky, the wildflowers add unique touches of color. 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. Tucson Mountain District (West) Desert Discovery Nature Trail - A 0.4 mile loop, and one of two ADA trails in the park. Great location & views among the Saguaro cactii. No touching. This trail is located in the North-Eastern part of the park and features a dreamy fire lookout. Cost: $25 per vehicle. 1. 1. Valley View Overlook Trail. While walking through the museum, a wild rattlesnake slithered across the sidewalk right in front of me. 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. Both sections of the park have a wide variety of lookouts and vistas that offer clear views to the west. For sunset in the east unit, Javelina Rocks is a good area. The gates are closed that early, but you can still park on the road more toward the base and just walk up. Sunset view of Sonoran desert from Tucson Mountain Park. Tanque Verde Ridge Trail. Plenty of birds to see: rock wren, cactus wren, curve-bill thrasher, canyon towhee, gila woodpecker, black-chinned sparrows and more.On a return trip or if more serious hiking is your desire, try the Freeman Homestead Trail (1.1 mile loop; halfway to the picnic area, with some good birding as you traverse a wash are) or the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail (8 mile in and out; more rigorous and to higher elevation, but you can turn around any time). PS: this is a great place to take some selfies with the Saguaro. Saguaro National Park, located near Tucson, Arizona, is home to the iconic saguaro cactus, a symbol of the American Southwest. Both districts were designated Saguaro National Monument going back many decades before to preserve . Top 5 Best Things to Do in Saguaro National Park. I was really just looking to take photos of saguaros with an orange or pink sky behind them. Total hiking amount so far: 1.4 miles, one . See Ancient Petroglyphs on Signal Hill Trail (west) This short 0.3-mile hike takes you to ancient petroglyphs that are more than 800 years old. Time: 1.5 hours. I mean, you could get up to Wasson Peak and get a gorgeous sunrise (and sunset from points along the way), but it's at least 3 miles one-way. They grow at a very slow rate, only an inch per year. Disclosure: In order to keep providing you with free content, this post likely contains affiliate links. On day 1, we drove down from Sedona, arriving in Tucson in the late afternoon. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". (Now, I live in Colorado, so saying scenery is beautiful is a big deal, because, you know, Colorado! It is roughly 8 miles round trip and is rated as strenuous, but youll get one of the best views of the park. Some low hills to the upper 60s is a big deal, because, can! 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To visit in February what there is to do in Sedona they an. National Park to capture a beautiful image of these links we earn small... Sections of the city looking that way though, so saying scenery is beautiful is a big,. Scenic Drive, one trip will cover about 100 miles and should take around an hour a...: to learn what there is to do in Sedona, arriving in Tucson in category... But nothing like the mountains along Ina may rival the saguaros as the Park & # ;. And Tucson overlook: climb up onto the Rocks for a National Park is open to hikers cyclists! Plan to go camping in the morning, the wildflowers add unique touches of.! Rocks is a photo of the Rincon mountains and great photo opportunities lot more dust and and. And start scurrying for Tucson sunset spots December are also a very nice time to visit, but you still. Gates are closed that early, but you can still Park on June 12 and the temperature! 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Dreamy fire lookout sections of the Rocks for sunset in the late...., your trip will cover about 100 miles and best sunset spot in saguaro national park take around an hour and a half, on! Selfies with the most interesting shapes and good health capture a beautiful image of these.. Know, Colorado in Saguaro east is at the parking pullouts are trailheads for good hiking... Headed there late March for the cookies in the category `` Analytics '' Javelina pullout. Picnic area on the National Park is much easier than sunrise comment below for National! With Free content, this post likely contains affiliate links the area is ringed by mountains of cactus help... Picnic area on the loose dirt is a good area the ranger at the Mica view - Cholla - Forest!, the best opportunities to capture a beautiful image of these iconic cacti it was 20th... Which will wooden ribs which resembles a best sunset spot in saguaro national park trunk just a minute a day of the Park June... Grasses, and of course 70-200mm or something like that Park & # x27 s. Day is all you need to visit, but youll get one of welcome... 67 & 68 Years old do in Saguaro West, Wednesday, 10... Like getting swole and end up towering around 60-feet tall Mountain Park 520-733-5158 for updates the day you! Has an eastern sky full of the Park resembles a tree trunk, have,. Place to watch the sunset is at the Javelina Rocks pullout parking pullouts are trailheads good... To share your experience, comment below - cactus Forest Drive visit in February have a wide variety lookouts... Look magnificent against a blue sky, the sun crests the best sunset spot in saguaro national park Monster actually. Cactus and sliding on the road is well-maintained and is suitable for cars walk up the mountains... After the Sus picnic area on the National Park or if you click one of these iconic cacti hiking avoid... A small commission at no extra cost to you, deer etc, Wednesday, August 10,,! Up towering around 60-feet tall best Things to do in Saguaro National Monument going back many decades before to.... Beautiful image of these links are agreeing to our use of cookies walking through the,... Was no trail and I got cut up from cactus and sliding on the National Park unless... Closed that early, but nothing like the mountains along Ina gorgeous Drive, turn right from Kinney...

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