Our next stop was Saguaro National Park. It's a short drive from Tucson and has 2 areas divided by the city--Saguaro East: Rincon Mountain District and Saguaro West: Tucson Mountain District.
The eastern section is larger and more mountainous, with more hiking trails. The western section has a denser concentration of saguaro and is the better choice if time is limited. Admission is $25 and covers both parks for 7 days. Or, use your National Park pass.
We visited the Saguaro East section.
In the distance, when we visited at the end of June, we could see the Bighorn Fire, which was started by lightening 6/5/2020.
The saguaro is the nation's largest cacti and is symbolic of the American West. It may be 70 years before they sprout arms and 150 years before reaching their full height of 40-50 feet.
We drove the Cactus Forest Loop. Open sunrise to sunset, the paved 8-mile road starts at the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center and winds through a saguaro forest. Follow the one-way signs. Stop at the Desert Ecology Trail and take the paved 0.25 mile wheelchair-accessible path to explore desert life.
The Cristate is an unusual mutation which results in growth of a large fan-shaped crest at the growing tip of a saguaro. See if you can find examples.
I like the mutation. It makes the saguaro prettier.
At the southern end of the Cactus Forest Loop, you can hike the Freeman Homestead Nature Trail. It's a 1-mile flat hike to the former Freeman Homestead--only 3 corners of the foundation remain.
On the trail, you can find Foothill Palo Verde--"green stick." In droughts, the palo verde sheds leaves and smaller branches to conserve water.
And, of course, more saguaros.
2020 06 29
Comments