Visitor Center (Saguaro East) Rincon Mountain District . I just noticed that there are two of them, a West and an East one. The TMD (west) boasts large stands of saguaro cactus creating a breathtaking saguaro forest, whereas the RMD (east) hosts a magnificent sky island, where you can find bears, cougars and … The Bajada Loop drive is a five mile loop unpaved road that leads to some great trails with views of the valley. Japan’s National Parks – Focused on Increasing …, The Narrow Path of Angels Landing in Zion NP, Japan’s National Parks – Focused on Increasing Overseas Visitors. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. We went in December, so it wasn’t that warm (I actually needed a sweater). We traveled here the first day. I found it very helpful so don’t forget to grab one of those at the visitor center. Since there are no pay fee booths in the east, you’ll have to go to the Red Hills Visitor Center to pick up your pass. The West area actually has more picnic areas (five) versus the East (two). Average annual precipitation is … Since becoming a national park, this unique location provides a unique perspective into desert landscape, with mountains at its east called the Rincon. The Desert Discovery Trail is a fun walkable and paved trail. A great and easy hike to consider is the Overlook Trail which is only about .8 miles there and back. There are little hills on the road and it's not that wide so make sure to lookout for people walking or riding their bikes. I am usually not a big fan of the desert since there is very little shade to be had and playing around in sand makes me thirsty. This loop drive is shorter than the one above and feels less developed. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. Having just traveled to Saguaro National Park for the first time in 2018, I had no idea the park was split in 2 (East and West). The east has a nice loop drive. The park is divided into two districts: one that lies about 20 miles east of the center of Tucson, and another that lies about 15 miles west of … UponArriving and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Because so much rain poured the previous day, the weather was cold enough to snow on the upper elevation of the Rincon Mountains. It’s not as clear-cut as to where to go since there are multiple roads, but just follow Hohokam Road to Golden Gate Road and then turn left and you’ll be fine. Take a right (West) onto Escalante Road and go about 2 miles to dead end into Old Spanish Trail on the boundary with Saguaro National Park East. Overall, both scenic drives are worth doing because they each have a little bit of something different to offer. The Tucson Mountain District (WEST) Visitor Center is located at 2700 N. Kinney Rd and is approximately 15 miles west of the center of the … The Loop Drive of the West District (Bajada Loop Drive) is on a five-mile graded dirt road and is mostly one-way. East or West Saguaro National Park – Which Should You Visit? One of the biggest choices was which side to see first. The biotic communities (starting from the lowest elevation) … Thanks Dan how did u get to the west side of the park off of I 10 again Thank You I you have only one day to visit sights in Tucson, I would recommend the west unit of Saguaro NP because you could also go to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, a world-renowned zoo with native … The Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park ranges from an elevation of 2,180 ft to 4,687 ft and contains 2 biotic communities, desert scrub, and desert grassland. The cactus is known for its towering arms. For folks who may not get the opportunity to visit either park, and want to see a huge amount of Saguaro Cactus plants, just take a scenic drive towards Yuma, Arizona and they’ll be growing in the wild off Interstate 8. Read more about hiking here. Traveling from the city of Tucson - Saguaro National Park … Both sides of the park have a loop drive but the West (Tucson) side has unpaved roads that lead around it. I heard before that it was desert setting, so my expectations weren’t really high. Entrance fee paid for admission to Saguaro National Park is good for seven days and includes both the Tucson Mountain District (West) and the Rincon Mountain District (East) Saguaro National Park … UponArriving has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. This is great because as much as I love the desert, desert scenery only does so much for me after a while and it’s great to have the option to escape to higher altitudes where pine trees abound. NPS Photo Hiking in Saguaro National Park west . Both have a lot to offer but also have some unique pros and cons. Traveling between the two sections of the park … Both the East and West district both have scenic loop drives but there are some big differences. I’m not sure why that is but if you know drop a note in the comments below. In this article, I will give you a detailed comparison between the two Saguaro National Park districts and highlight some of the strong points of each park. A crested saguaro (at mile 2.5) is a unique view, … The Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park ranges from an elevation of 2,670 ft to 8,666 ft and contains 6 biotic communities. Speaking of the visitor center, both visitor centers were closed when I visited so I was not able to compare those. The East also has a much higher elevation point with Mica Mt at 8,666ft compared to the West’s highest point: Wasson Peak at 4,687ft. Enjoy your hiking! About 2 miles down the road from the Desert Museum is the Saguaro National Park Visitors Center. Hike, bike, walk, or drive through the forest of saguaros. Many washes along trails hold potential flash flood dangers when rain comes, so you’ll want to be prepared in case rains come.Enter your text here... On the second day, after a great stay at a local hotel, my family visited the East Side. This day in the picture above started with sunshine and large clouds, however, it wasn’t long before darker clouds covered the area and rain started pouring down. Also note that if you get admission into one park, it will be good for the other as well. Together, the area covers 91,716 acres with 165 miles of trails. The Visitors' Center at Saguaro National Park West. This trail is not for the faint …. In 1933 Saguaro National Monument was created. The loop will likely take you around 25 minutes but again you will want to allocate more time if you’d like to stop and check out the views. The visitor center at Saguaro East is open all year from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm everyday except Christmas. Saguaro National Park protects 91,400 acres of Arizona desert. Not only is it around 6,000 feet in elevation, but the panorama views from the trail are spectacular. Cactus Forest Drive (east) The east district has an 8-mile paved loop that gives you a chance to see … A weekly pass for a vehicle will cost you $25 although you can always buy an annual pass for Saguaro National Park ($45) or for all national parks ($80). Saguaro National Park, Tucson: Address, Phone Number, Saguaro National Park Reviews: 4.5/5. For directions to the Red Hills Visitor Center in Saguaro West go to my Maps and Directions page. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I know this is odd, but there are two Saguaro National Parks - East & West. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. 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