5 things that surprised me about Saguaro National Park
Over the past year, I've had my fair share of outdoor adventures.
Like many others, I shifted my international travel plans to open-air domestic experiences a bit closer to home. That meant visiting national parks throughout the West Coast (as well as Everglades National Park in Florida).
One of the parks that I visited is often seen as a visual embodiment of the U.S. desert region. The destination? Saguaro National Park. With its massive, human-like arms, the saguaro cactus is certainly striking in appearance besides being synonymous with the region.
Saguaro is a 90,000-acre desert oasis located in southeast Arizona's Sonoran Desert, straddling the city of Tucson. I drove and hiked through Saguaro during my 10-day road trip, an incredible 2,000-mile journey that spanned four national parks and four states.
Here are five things that surprised me about Saguaro National Park (pronounced suh-waa-row).
It's actually split in half by the city of Tucson
The first surprise is that Saguaro is two parks in one. That is, the city of Tucson -- and its 1 million residents -- actually separates the two sections (called "districts") of the park.
Related: 8 national parks that are spectacular in spring
On one side is the western Tucson Mountain District and on the other is the eastern Rincon Mountain District.
The sections are separated by about 30 miles, and depending on Tucson traffic (which can get very busy), it should take you about an hour to get from one district to the other.
Both districts became what is now known as Saguaro National Park in 1994. However, Saguaro was designated as a national monument way back in 1933.
Initially, Saguaro National Monument consisted only of what is today Saguaro east (the Rincon Mountain District). However, Saguaro west (the Tucson Mountain District) was added in 1964 by President Kennedy.
These two districts might be only 30 miles apart, but...
The two districts are very different
While you only have to pay one park entrance fee, the two districts that form Saguaro National Park each have their own unique vibe.
On the western side, you have the Tucson Mountain District, the smaller of the two areas that also boasts denser saguaro forests, more scenic drives and a lower elevation that make it ideal if you're short on time. (It also happens to be the more popular district.)
Related: 5 epic road trips across America
For instance, you can drive along the unpaved six-mile-long Bajada Loop that offers magnificent views of the foothills and numerous opportunities for fantastic photos while still providing easy trailhead access for short- to medium-length hikes.
Meanwhile, the eastern Rincon Mountain District is the more rugged, remote section that offers even more hiking and is the only area that allows backcountry camping. Of note, there are no campgrounds accessible by road in the park at all. The nearest campground to a road is a 5.9-mile trek to Douglas Spring in the eastern district.
Regardless of which section you choose, Saguaro is somewhat of a hiker's paradise with over 165 miles of trails and sweeping views in almost every direction.
Saguaros are old...and only grow in the Sonoran desert
The first thing you should know is that saguaros are old. Like, really old.
A saguaro won't grow any flowers until it turns 35 and it won't get one of its first iconic "arms" until it reaches 50 to 75 years of age. In fact, a saguaro can live for 200 years or more.
And although these famous cacti with arms are the largest in the U.S., they're actually not found everywhere. Many people (myself included) may conjure up an image of a saguaro when they think of any cactus that lives in the western U.S.
However, the saguaro is really only found in a small fraction of the continental U.S.'s desert landscapes.
That includes a small sliver of Arizona, New Mexico and California, where the Sonoran Desert lies. And even within the Sonoran Desert, the saguaro needs very specific conditions to thrive, including up to 4,000 feet of elevation and temperatures that won't dip below freezing.
Related: How 2,000 miles, 4 national parks and a $10 rental car made me love the great American road trip
In addition to the saguaro, the park has wildlife galore
While the park is obviously best known for its namesake cactus, there are also more than 3,000 other species of plants between the Rincon Mountain District and Tucson Mountain District. This was another big surprise.
Many of these plants may normally appear lifeless but are very well adapted to long, dry periods and drought. In fact, many plants will flower within just 48 hours after a rainfall.
One such plant is the ocotillo which transforms from the appearance of dead sticks into a blossoming shrub with green branches and new leaves.
With a wide range of elevation, there are also a huge variety of animal species that make Saguaro National Park their home. That includes unusual animals, some of which are only found in southern Arizona and the Sonoran Desert, such as roadrunners, horned lizards and Gila monsters.
You can visit the park in just one full day
As long as you plan ahead, it is actually possible to visit both sections of the park in one day to get a quick taste of both districts.
A good bet is to split your day between the two sections of the park and focus on longer hikes in the morning (before the afternoon heat arrives). Then, have lunch in between. In the afternoon, it may be wiser to do a scenic drive with stops for shorter walks or hikes along the way.
For the more adventurous, one option is to do Wasson Peak, a strenuous eight-mile-hike and the highest point in Saguaro National Park's west district. Later in the afternoon, you can have a more leisurely drive along the Cactus Forest Loop in Saguaro East.
Bottom line
While impressive in and of itself, Saguaro National Park is about much more than just the majestic saguaro. It's full of interesting surprises from incredible hikes, vistas and scenic drives to a diversity of plant and animal life spread throughout the two park districts.
It's no wonder this national park that bisects Tucson is getting busier by the year. More than one million visitors entered Saguaro in 2019 for the first time in the park's history.
If you plan to make a visit on your own, bring hiking shoes, lots of water and an appetite for adventure.
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.