Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Entrance of Saguaro National Park, Rincon District
Location	Pima County, Arizona, USA
Nearest city	TucsonNearest city: Tucson
Coordinates	32°15′0″N 110°30′0″W / 32.25°N 110.5°W / 32.25; -110.5Coordinates: 32°15′0″N 110°30′0″W / 32.25°N 110.5°W / 32.25; -110.5
Area	91,440 acres (37,000 ha)
Established	October 14, 1994 Established: October 14, 1994
Visitors	619,983 (in 2006)
Governing body	National Park Service
Official website

Saguaro National Park, located in the state of Arizona, is part of the United States national park system.

Saguaro National Park is divided into two sections, lying approximately 20 miles (32 km) east and 15 miles (24 km) west of the center of the city of Tucson, Arizona. Total area in 2009 was 91,440 acres (37,000 ha) of which 70,905 acres (28,694 ha) is designated wilderness. There is a visitor center in each section. Both are easily reached by car from Tucson, but there is no public transport into either section. Both sections conserve fine tracts of the Sonoran Desert, including ranges of significant hills, the Tucson Mountains in the west and the Rincon Mountains in the east. The park gets its name from the saguaro cactus which is native to the region. Many other kinds of cactus, including barrel cactus, cholla cactus, and prickly pear, are also abundant in the park. One endangered animal, the Lesser Long-nosed Bat, lives in the park part of the year during its migration, together with one threatened species, the Mexican Spotted Owl.

The park was established as Saguaro National Monument on March 1, 1933, and changed to a national park on October 14, 1994.

Facilities in the park include 150 miles (240 km) of well marked and maintained hiking trails, and shorter walking trails with interpretative information available. Hiking is not advisable during the hot summer months.

Rincon Mountain District

The Rincon Mountain District is located at the eastern edge of Tucson, Arizona; the east side of the park was the original National Monument. What is unique about this park is that it starts off in the Sonoran Desert and gradually gives way to a montane coniferous forest of the Rincon Mountains. The highest peak in this range is Mica Mountain, at an elevation of 8,666 feet (2,641 m). While this side of the park has fewer Saguaros than its counterpart they remain larger in size, due to higher amounts of rainfall and run off from the Rincon Mountains.

Saguaro National Park, Rincon Mountain District

The key feature of this district is its 8.3-mile (13.4 km) loop, which connects its two picnic areas and central trails. Recently after a lengthy road improvement project, and refurbishment of the Visitor Center, the Rincon District is fully open once more.

Hiking on this side of the park is readily accessible to visitors. There are trail heads present at the east end of Speedway and Broadway, but these trail heads are commonly used by horses and get heavy usage on the weekends. Off the park's loop road there are several additional trail heads. Each Visitor Center will supply a map of hiking trails on request.

Saguaro National Park scene

And at the southern boundary of the park is the Hope Camp Trails which are also commonly used for horses. Access to the Hope Camp Trails is found at the end of Camino Loma Alta, however the road is no longer paved for the last couple hundred yards. This section of the park was added in 1991 when Congress authroized the purchase of 4,011 acres (1,623 ha).

The East Unit is open to camping, but camping is confined to backcountry sites, the shortest hike to one is 5.9 miles (9.5 km) to Douglas Springs Campground. Fees for campsites are $6.00 a night. While there are not spots for RV’s overnight in the park, Colossal Cave Mountain Park which is ten miles (16 km) down Old Spanish Trail from the park can provide such space.

Be aware that dogs are restricted to roadways and picnic areas and must be on a leash at all times. Bicycles are confined to the loop road and the center section of the Cactus Forest Trail.

Panorama, Saguaro National Park

See also

• List of areas in the National Park System of the United States

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Saguaro National Park

• Official site: Saguaro National Park
• Photo collection from USGS
• Friends of Saguaro National Park
• Earthgoers Guide: Saguaro National Park

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