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Exploring Saguaro National Park
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Overview |
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Saguaro National Park is divided into two sections, or districts, lying approximately 20 miles east and 15 miles west of the centre of the city of Tucson, Arizona . There is a visitor center in each district. 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. Below you will find information reguarding the East and West Districts and detailed maps showing what they have to offer. |
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East District |
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The eastern section, 20 miles east of Tucson, is surrounded by mountains to the north, and the Rincons and Tanque Verde Ridge to the east. The park provides excellent examples of the desert scrub community of the Sonora Desert environment. There are many opportunities for sightnseeing in the Eastern District of the park, including the eight-mile Cactus Forest Drive and the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail. The Tanque Verde Ridge Trail provides access to the backcountry areas of Saguaro East. It is a strenuous, multi-day trek that passes by the 7,049 foot Tanque Verde peak. Inquire at the visitor center for more information. |
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West District |
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Saguaro's other section, known as the Tucson Mountain or Western Distric, contains 104 square miles of mountain and desert and is located 15 miles to the west of Tucson. This is a drier and lower section than the Eastern District. One of the major distinguishing features of the western section is the thicker stands of saguaro cactus. These saguaro stands are the densest in the world. This section was not subject to the pressures of grazing and other factors which caused a decline in the saguaro population in the eastern district. |
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