who'd of thought that driving through a desert full of cati that it would actually be cool??!! A rugged beauty to see and believe. Even saw a huge rattler taking their time crossing a trail...

The signs to the Park are well marked...for some reason my GPS had a little trouble finding it. The interior of the (Red Hills) Visitor Center is a little cramped...it could benefit from more room for additional displays. The introductory movie they offered was well done an informative. The guided tour (of local plant life) was enjoyable...the guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. Finding the trails away from the Visitor Center was easy. Parking is somewhat limited both at the Visitor Center and the various trail entrances. Although the admission fee ($25) might seem a bit steep to some, it is good for a week and also allows for admission to the Eastern part of the Park (which I wasn't able to visit). Overall an excellent experience.

Saguaro NP is a single-feature national park separated into two units. There are young saguaros, old saguaros, dead saguaros, saguaros with unusual “arms,” etc. But that’s about it. As the saguaros apparently have a limited range, it makes sense to have a park to protect them. But Saguaro NP lacks the variety I associate with the flagship park units. There are different kinds of cacti besides saguaros. And the Eastern unit has younger saguaro with more shrubs, while the western has the older “classic appearance” saguaros with the arms. But if you drive the park roads, do one hike in each unit and see the petroglyphs on the short trail in the western unit, you’ve pretty much visited this Park. There are also a lot of interesting animals in this Park, but they all hide - I saw little more than a rabbit and a squirrel - even though there were plentiful signs of them (burrows, scat). It is an easy Park to visit as it is just outside Tucson, but the two units are on opposite sides of the city, so it will take most of a day to see both Park units.

We had two hours to explore Saguaro West Park, but even before that we had a great opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the mountains and saguaros along the curvy and treacherous Gates Pass, which has several lookouts with breathtaking views. We parked at the Red Hills Visitor Center and, with the help of the most welcoming and knowledgeable park ranger, figured out what we can do in two hours before the park closure at 5pm. We drove on the gravel road of the Bajada Loop Drive in Saguaro West Park, which has some hiking trails along the way. The road is not in perfect shape: a lot of protruding sharp stones could easily damage the tires, but the drive is gorgeous and the views from the Valley Trail are jaw dropping. Saguaro West is a magical forest of young saguaros, which we thoroughly enjoyed on the short Discovery Loop and on the out and back Valley Trail. Driving the 8 miles loop In Saguaro East was much easier than in Saguaro West because the road is paved and the only difficulty was overtaking the cyclists we shared the narrow road with. We also took a short gravel road to the Mica View picnic area and trailhead, easily found parking and embarked on the 2 miles Mica View Trail and part of the Cactus Trail loop. Very straightforward well marked path and more of a walk than a hike - the advantage is is that you are hiking very close to the foot of the mountains and stunning views are everywhere along the way. There are benches to rest for those who need them. It took us about an hour to finish the hike and get back to the Mica View Trail parking lot. We continued along the gorgeous road, did short Nature Discovery Trail and then continued on the loop stopping at every vista point. The orange cliffs close to the Javelina Picnic Area were especially impressive and we did a short climb up for the views of the valley. We had our lunch with us at the Javelina Picnic Area - it was lovely on such a beautiful warm day. After our late lunch, we still had some time left for the Freeman Homestead Trail, an easy picturesque 1.1 mile walk in the cacti valley on the well groomed path.

Great day at the park. Bill the volunteer guide was knowledgeable and funny on the nature walk at the visitor centre. Suggest pulling over and walking around a trail or two in the park to get a feel for the area.

This park is amazing, with many great hiking trails and of course, the famous saguaro cacti. The Echo Canyon Loop is very popular so we found another trail with less people that involved a larger elevation change. We did not complete it but got some wonderful photos and views.

Driving through the vast desert landscape with those towering saguaro cacti reaching for the sky was like stepping into a surreal painting. The sheer beauty and serenity of the park are unmatched. I hiked some of the trails, soaking in the breathtaking views of the desert plains and rugged mountains. And let me tell you, catching the sunset over those iconic cacti is a memory I'll cherish forever. Whether you're a nature enthusiast or just looking for some tranquility, Saguaro National Park is an absolute must-visit.

This is a must see if you’re visiting or live around Tucson. We had a great time driving around the park, getting out and walking around. The drive is only 8 miles, but recommend you drive slow, relax, and enjoy the surroundings.

Beautiful and unique setting. Catch sunset at West Gates Pass Road - put Golden Gates in your GPS. See the ancient petroglyphs- easy hike. Desert Museum - zoo with desert animals.

My son and I visited Saguaro National Park recently. We loved the park. The Saguaro cacti around the park are magnificent and are such an iconic symbol of the American West. Of course the Saguaro are not the only plants in the park there are plenty of other desert plants to see. The park is easy to navigate (both east and west units) and has plenty of explanatory signs that helped us to understand what we were seeing. We did do some hiking and we enjoyed that very much as well. The park offers a lot whether you like to hike or drive around the park. I highly recommend a visit to Saguaro National Park.