When you think of Arizona, does your mind’s eye see a tall cactus with many arms reaching up to the sky? Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona, contains an impressive forest of these desert icons, otherwise known as saguaros.

Did you know that the park comes with a split personality? Visit the Tucson Mountain District (Saguaro West) for rugged, but mostly accessible, desert landscape with excellent sunrise and sunset views. Thirty miles across Tucson to the east, meet The Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East), where the desert yields to grasslands before climbing to mountain vistas. Whichever side of the park you visit, I can almost guarantee that you’ll be purchasing one of those tiny cactus gift pots for sale in Tucson area gift shops before you return home.

Famous for: Saguaro cactus, desert hikes, photogenic sunrises and sunsets, spring wildflowers

Admission: $10 per vehicle, $5 if you’re on foot or riding a bicycle.  A $25 Saguaro National Park year’s pass is available. If you’ll be visiting several national parks in the same year, the $80 National Parks Pass is the best buy.

Families with young kids will like: A picnic lunch at the Signal Hill picnic area in Saguaro West after viewing the hundreds of petroglyphs located nearby.

Families with teenagers will like: Wasson Peak Moonlight Hike in Saguaro West. Begin the ranger-led hike (8-miles round-trip) in time to enjoy a sunset view atop Wasson Peak. The descent is by the light of the moon.

Other travelers will like: Hiking Douglas Springs Trail to Bridal Wreath Falls (6 mile-round-trip) for a climb through several biotic zones, including desert, grasslands and chaparral. Hardier hikers will want to continue to the Douglas Spring Campground (11.8-mile round-trip) before turning around for home.

Easy site seeing: Drive through a dense forest of saguaros on the paved 8-mile Cactus Forest Loop Drive, in Saguaro East. The mountain views are a bonus.

Best hotel in the park: No hotel lodging exists inside Saguaro National Park. On the west side, the pricey, J. W. Marriott Starr Pass Resort is located 9 miles from the park. Comfort Inn North (9.7 miles) on W. Ina Rd. is a more economical option. On the east side, Tanque Verde Ranch is almost around the corner, another pricey choice, or drive 5 miles to Comfort Suites at Sabino Canyon.

Best campground in the park: There are no campground facilities within the park, except for back-country hiking in Saguaro East (free permit required). Check out some of the campgrounds of the Coronado National Forest, which surrounds Saguaro East on the north, south and east.

Best months to visit for weather: November to May

Best months to visit to avoid crowds: Summer, if you can stand the heat. Late spring or early fall provide a better alternative to beat the crowds.

Nearest major cities: Tucson, Arizona

More info can be found at the always helpful NPS.gov site: http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm

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10 Things To Do in Tucson
Dillinger Days in Tucson
San Xavier Mission – Tucson, AZ

Photo courtesy of Donna L. Hull
Review by Donna L. Hull, My Itchy Travel Feet