Saguaro National Park is open year-round. About Saguaro National Park: Saguaro National Park is open 365 days per year. Turn left onto Kinney Road. In the afternoon, we drove back to Phoenix. Together, the area covers 91,716 acres with 165 miles of trails. It was an innocuous opening salvo: On May 5, an Instagram post boasted that Saguaro National Park has "the best sunsets in the world . 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. The combination of location and luxury makes it among the most luxurious hotels close to Saguaro National Park East. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots 1. Never put your hands or feet under rocks or in hidden places. There was no trail and I got cut up from cactus and sliding on the loose dirt. Saguaro National Park is unique in that its 92,000 acres are actually two different units separated by the city of Tucson. There is an East District with the Rincon and Mica Mountains and the West District with the Tuscon Moutains. It is located just outside of Saguaro West and he says you get great views of the cacti. Take a hike along the Desert Ecology Trail. more. 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. The Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park ranges from an elevation of 2,670 ft to 8,666 ft and contains 6 biotic communities. Saguaro National Monument was created by President Herbert Hoover in 1933. Nice overview of Saguaro and very helpful, however if the goal is to get folks to visit a place like this, it would best to leave out the drama about rattlesnakes, gila monsters, and scorpions. But the desert is home to some of the most adaptive and interesting plants and animals on our planet. . The loops start point is either McKellips Road or Signal Hill Road. One of our awesome readers recommends Gilbert Ray Campground. Really appreciate your informative descriptions. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It was also a destination hike, which is rare in this national park. Saguaro Sundown Pano. When photographing the saguaro cactus in the day, look for those with the most interesting shapes and good health. To help you plan your time, check out our One Day in Sedona Itinerary and Sedona Itinerary Ideas for 1 to 6 days. 1. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. The Tucson Mountain District (west) is open sunrise to sunset daily for vehicles, and open to foot and bike traffic 24 hours a day, 356 days a year. This forum is excellent. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. 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. November through March is the high season for Saguaro National Park thanks to the moderate temperatures and occasional surprise snowfall. It was short, flat, and easy. From the scenic Tumacacori National Historical Park to informative museums like Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Sonoran Desert Museum, there are plenty of opportunities to learn about this areas rich history. The Cowboy Hideaway is also an irresistible option. Along the way, youll get up close to giant Saguaro cacti and have nice views of the Rincon Mountains and Tucson. But we also checked out a few smaller sites, events, and hikes in the park that are worth mentioning. The loops start point is either McKellips Road or Signal Hill Road. 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. . If it has rained, or if rainfall is in the forecast, check conditions on the national park website or at the visitor center to see if the road is open. A heavily-trafficked albeit, difficult trail in Saguaro National Park is Tanque Verde Ridge Trail in Rincon Mountain District. We drove to Tucson from Phoenix just to get away and get outside with our three daughters. Saguaro National Park is a beautiful, desert preserve in southern Arizona. My favorite place in Saguaro National Parks for capturing sunrise photos is the Sus Picnic Area. 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. A. is also recommended for capturing those breathtaking night and sunset photographs. Afternoon thunderstorms bring much needed rain and help to cool off the area, at least a little bit. From sunrise to sunset, this tour will take you to areas away from the crowds, giving you a chance to capture iconic images of these cacti. Check the parks website for up to date hours and notices. . Budget: Hotel McCoy. The local bee and bird populations will agree. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 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. East Saguaro is known as the Rincon Mountain District (RMD). This trail intersects the Hugh Norris Trail. To reserve your spot call the visitor center at 520-733-5158. From here it is a 30-minute drive to both Saguaro West and Saguaro East. If you reserve a spot but then cannot make the scheduled hike, call to cancel your reservations by 9 a.m. the day of the hike. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent . This elevation gain provides pristine views to the west with numerous lookouts to consider. 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. ANTELOPE CANYON: Journey through Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon in photos. If you're open to suggestions, I've always thought the best place to see the sunrise in town was A Mountain. Thanks for writing in! 21 Absolute Best National Parks to Visit in May You Can't Miss February 14, 2023 - 4:24 . As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Time: 1.5 hours. Day 3: Petrified Forest National Park. Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive: Best Stops, Hikes & Permit Info. Cost: $25 per vehicle. To make it a loop, add on the Hugh Norris Trail for a 7.9-mile trip with 1,863 feet of elevation change. Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort; 8. The most easily accessible trail is the Mica View Trail. Plan your visit with our guide to the Best Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-60132697', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Tucson are A Mountain or Gates Pass. Desert Discovery Trail A .4-mile trail west of the Red Hills Visitor Center. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Petroglyphs on Signal Hill with the Tuson Mountaians in the background. Keep checking for updates as we are constantly updating our content. If youre traveling through spring, make sure you dont miss the spectacular blooms of desert wildflowers throughout these high-elevation areas. Is that a decent time to go? Hugh Norris Trail is one of the best photography spots in Saguaro National Park. Mid-Range: Cactus Cove Bed and Breakfast Inn. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Time to watch the beauty above us. 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. 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. The sunrise (or sunset) casts a beautiful light on the red rocks, making for an incredible sight. (Now, I live in Colorado, so saying scenery is beautiful is a big deal, because, you know, Colorado! Brooding sunset light surrounds a lone Joshua Tree from White Tank Campground. "The best" sunrise spots in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? One day is all you need to visit Saguaro National Park, unless you plan to go camping in the backcountry. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. 2/28/2023. You really have to watch where you step because if I hadnt been paying attention, I would have stepped right on this little guy. Disclosure: In order to keep providing you with free content, this post likely contains affiliate links. Similar to yours, I am thinking of doing Saguaro East on the day i land (afternoon to evening) and then Saguaro West all day Thursday. Saguaro National Park (East) is always on the list of places to go. Great horned owl perched on a dead tree with cactus in the background. Ask . The hotels comfort is superb and they have an outdoor pool that will help cool down after a day of heat within the Park. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Why you should camp here: Sleep among giant saguaro cacti with electrical hookups and views of Tucson Mountain Park. Take your pick, take your camera, and start scurrying for Tucson sunset spots. 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. There are several notable viewpoints along the way, which I will get to in just a minute. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. How could anything survive without water and in such high temperatures? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They grow at a very slow rate, only an inch per year. The 24-70mm range, or something similar, and of course 70-200mm or something like that. RV hookups: Yes, 30 amp. PETRIFIED FOREST: This small national park is an underrate gem. The Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East) opens at 6 am and closes at sunset. Javelina Rocks Overlook: climb up on top of the rocks for a view over Saguaro National Park and Tucson. 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'. Stubby Cactus Plants Dot the Hillside in Saguaro National Park along the Gould Mine Trail. Please heed the speed limit as road is narrow and twisty. The park is split into two sections on both the east and west sides of the city of Tuscon, and while it is possible to see many of the park's best spots in one day, I would recommend carving out more time than that to experience it. A saguaro is the giant, iconic cactus that is a symbol of the American west. Valley View Overlook Trail. On day 2, we visited Saguaro West, getting an early start to avoid the hot midday temperatures. For this reason, photographers hoping for a sunrise photoshoot should go to the West section. Saguaro National Park is comprised of two districts, East and West, that preserve thousands of acres of this region's most recognizable monarch of a cactus the saguaro. To start the drive, turn right from N Kinney Road onto Hohokam Road. . Distance: 3.8 miles. Best $15 we ever spent. The relatively innocuous caption read, "Did you know @saguaronationalpark has the best sunsets in the world?". Climbing, hiking, and exploring the Sonoran Desert is one of the best ways to experience its beauty. . This is a photo of the welcome sign in Saguaro National Park. Yuma's restored wetlands of cottonwood, willow and mesquite trees are a great spot for both sunrise and sunset. JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort and Spa. Your email address will not be published. This will help you have the perfect one day in Saguaro west. The road is well-maintained and is suitable for cars. If you are traveling with kids, this place is great. Looks cools though. The other trails take off into the wash. Saguaro Cactus at Sunset in Sonoran Desert. Saguaro National Park officially became a national park in 1994. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc. The low summer season sees a limited number of park tours that dont happen everyday. However, there are some places in Saguaro West that are spectacular for sunrise photography as well. A lot of people climb up onto the rocks for sunset. I give all the details in the post under the Bajada Loop Drive section. Check out StreetView of the road to see what you think. Sunrise is usually not nearly as good as sunsets. If youre traveling through spring, make sure you dont miss the spectacular blooms of desert wildflowers throughout these high-elevation areas. The Javelina Rocks are toward the last part of the loop road. Also don't forget to catch the sunrise (or sunset) at Delicate Arch. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. 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