saguaro east

Don't miss both section of this wonderful park. The visitor center here is smaller than the westside but well worth a visit, and offers an orientation film. There are several winding trails, a couple paved, and for the adventurous, trailheads to the top of the mountains. Beautiful and peacefu.

I am glad i was able to make it to the Park. Please remember, this Park, the Eastern Park is located basically in the Tucson. The West part, is located up on Rt10. Tip: be sure to save your receipt! The entrance fee is good for 7 (or possibly 10 days) and is good for both the East / West Parks. I hadnt been to Arizona in a good number of years. Loved the Saquaro Cacti! There are a great number of trails on the 8 mile loop. In addition, there are plenty of picnic areas. There is also a vistor center that would be great for the kids. The Visitor center is free - and is located right before you have to pay. Would I go back to the park - asbsolutely!

This is the Eastern Portion of the park and the best of a great experience. The 8 mile loop through the park is an experience I will never forget. Many walking trails and scenic vistas and just outside Tucson. Up the mountains it transports back to being a kid and watching all those old westerns. Great visitor center and wonder staff and volunteers. A must see.

A beautiful park with well maintained trails. One can also drive to sitesee. There are many places to pull off and take photos or let other cars go around you. Of course, we were there on a weekday in February so it was not busy. Many varieties of cactus to be seen and a nice ranger station with a lot of information.

We were lucky, I think, to visit after a minor snowfall. Great to see the cacti in the snow! A lovely sunny day made it even better! Took a couple of short walks on the trails, nice and quiet, well worth a trip.

We did two short hikes today - Mica Loop and Homestead Trail - both were about an hour long and doing two smaller hikes instead of one longer one was nice because it bade us a chance to get out of the sun and gave some lunch (pack your own). The Homestead Trail was well interpreted and lovely! In the afternoon we went to the Collossal Caves. All in all a lovely day.

Exceeded expectations. Drove the 8 mile loop. Fabulous Cactus Forest. Scenery unbelievable. Don't miss this National Park.

Having seen many of these as we've driven through the countryside, we weren't as awed as other reviewers. Even so, the number and size of the cactus are impressive. The drive is pleasant and there are many up close opportunities via trail hikes. The roads are dirt but are nicely graded and passable with passenger cars. There are two parks, generally east and west of Tucson. It's worth stopping at the visitor center for an intro and map. You'll also need to pay a modest fee there. There are no other pay stations that we noticed.

During our recent visit, the park was practically empty. We drive the 8-mile on a dirt road and were free to stop and admire the huge cactus. They even have a picnic area. The visitor center was informative. We were able to take a few short walks as well. Fascinating visit!

Today we had the opportunity to learn about these amazing giants, the Ranger we spoke to was able to clear up some Saguaro mysteries for us. Have you always wondered how old they are when they grow there first arm, or why they grow in abundance on one side of the road, and just a few on the other? A visit to the park will answer all of these and more.

I have never spent much time in this kind of desert and was really intrigued by the variety of cactus species and the geographic diversity that exists in this kind of ecosystem. Seeing the small stands of saguaro cactus and the many other varieties of cactus was of great interest. Exploring a wash and seeing the different kinds of vegetation that rely on it was also interesting. This is winter for this area, so many of the critters the area is known for were not out.There are two parts to the Saguaro NP, one on each side of Tucson, so be sure to invest time exploring each one, if you have the time.

This was our first visit to the East park, and it was delightful. We enjoyed a leisurely and scenic drive around the 8 mile loop drive, stopping at various overlooks and a picnic area. We did the 1/4 mile Desert Ecology Trail and the 1 mile Freeman Homestead loop. It was quite uncrowded, and we could really immerse ourselves in the experience.

Spend an hour or an entire day, but this is an incredible opportunity to step back in time. Stop frequently and get out of the car to view the scenery and listen to the sounds of the desert. Hike at least some of the trails (as short as 1/4 mile) and consider picking up a cactus identification guide in the gift shop before you get started. Take your time!! The more you rush the more you will miss.

We like both the West and East parks, but we prefer the east park. The 8-mile loop drive provides stunning views of both the Rincon and Catalina Mountains as well as numerous photo opportunities of this terrific cactus forest. Numerous hiking trails as well. The visitor center staff is wonderful - very friendly, welcoming and helpful.

So grateful that others decided to save this area for all of us to visit. Growing up in the Midwest, and not traveling much until retirement, I appreciate being able to go to places like this to see plants, animals, and vistas that I've only seen in books. We were passing through Tucson and stopped at the visitors center and drove the loop. So many beautiful plants going on and on. We walked one of the paths. What a treat. Thank you NPS for all your hard work and dedication.