Video Guide

Travis’ Top 3 in Saguaro National Park

1. Backpacking to Manning Camp – What an adventure. Going all the way to the top of the park, from the lower desert elevation to a high elevation conifer forest. It was strenuous, difficult, and a blast. I would return to the park just to do this trip again, and we definitely will someday. I feel we didn’t get enough time to really explore it with only a 3-day backpacking trip.

   

2. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum – This is outside the park, but only barely. It taught us so much about the desert ecosystem. It was tremendously important for understanding the plants and animals that live here. Highly recommended.

   

3. Saguaro Cacti – Seeing the namesake of the park, the saguaro, was a highlight. Especially when we saw it blooming! Obviously they are prevalent in many areas of the park, but some trails, like Wasson Peak, have particularly nice views. Others, like Garwood Trail, had unique sights like a cristate version, and a cluster of 11 saguaros.

   

Kristin’s Top 3 in Saguaro National Park

1. Manning Camp – Our three-day backpacking trip took up almost half of our time in the park, and it was well worth it. The route took us through a variety of biomes. The weather was a nice escape from the desert heat, and there are many trails up there to explore. The spring at Manning Camp is breathtaking; it can’t be captured in a photo (believe me, we tried). Plus, as far as I’m aware, it’s the only backcountry campground in the park where the pit toilets are fully enclosed.

   

2. Wasson Peak – This was my favorite day hike in the Tucson Mountain district. The views are gorgeous, the terrain is varied, and there are some cool landmarks along the route that speak to the park’s history. And the breeze at the peak provided a refreshing respite from the desert heat.

   

3. Signal Hill Petroglyphs – The largest petroglyph site in the park and the reason to drive the Bajada Loop. A brief walk up a rocky hill takes you to a series of petroglyphs that were created between 550 and 1550 years ago by the Hohokam Native Americans. The views are nice for such a short hike, and it’s a good spot for photography, too.

Honorable mention: Tucson food scene. Much like we experienced in Saguaro National Park itself, I was pleasantly surprised – this time by the amount of high-quality and different varieties of cuisine we were able to try during our trip. If you go to Saguaro, take advantage of Tucson’s proximity to the park.

Things we wish we did (“Things to do next time”)

• Hike to Rincon Peak – This hike is near Happy Valley Campground, but we just didn’t have enough time (or extra potable water) to make the trip. Next time, we’ll either do it as a day hike or extend our backpacking trip by one day.
• Other backcountry trails – We only saw a bit of the backcountry on the eastern side of Manning Camp. We’d love to check out trails on the western side of Manning Camp like Tanque Verde or Douglas Spring. We would also like to spend two nights at Manning Camp to explore the trails and beautiful scenery up there. This is doable since Manning Camp has a spring that flows year-round.
• More time in the Cactus Forest – This is located in the northwest corner of the Rincon Mountain (east) District. We got to do a short hike to Garwood Dam there, but there are so many intersecting trails. We were tired from our backpacking trip, otherwise we would have explored more.
• Riding horses – I’m not sure if we’d be interested in this, but we’d investigate the possibility for our next trip.

Mini Adventures

We generally only post about places we visit for a longer amount of time. But we also checked out a few smaller sites, events, and hikes in the park that are worth mentioning.

• Tucson Mountain District (West)
  • Desert Discovery Nature Trail – A 0.4 mile loop, and one of two ADA trails in the park. We stopped here while trying to get a sunset photo and found this short loop with interpretive signs. We were lucky enough to see a woodpecker fly into its nest in a saguaro!

    

• Rincon Mountain District (East)
  • Cactus Forest Loop Drive – This is the paved driving loop in the east district. We found that we liked it more than the Bajada Loop Drive in the west district. There were some overlooks, views, and trails along the way. We enjoyed driving it at sunset.
  • Desert Ecology Trail – The second short ADA trail in the park, which is along the Cactus Forest Loop Drive. It’s only 0.3 miles, so it’s a nice quick walk with some more interpretive signs along the way.

    

  • Freeman Homestead Trail – A short 0.9 mile trail, this was the last hike we did in the park. I really wanted to see a Gila monster and a ranger mentioned they had seen one along this trail. Gila monsters come out more in the early morning or late afternoon, so we went in the late afternoon hoping to see one, but no luck. The trail itself was an easy hike with some history about the area before it become a park.
  • Star Party – An astronomy event held in the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center. A ranger-led presentation discussed Tucson’s dark skies and detailed the history of the park. Afterward, visitors got a chance to stargaze in the parking lot, where members of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association had set up 5-6 telescopes. The volunteers were knowledgeable and friendly, and it was quite an experience to stargaze this close to an urban area. We signed up for this event ahead of time, and we’re guessing it filled to capacity, so sign up early if you’re interested! Offered October through April, highly recommended.
  • Tanque Verde Trail – We had originally planned to take this trail to Manning Camp, but started at Miller Creek instead. We decided to do an out-and-back hike on Tanque Verde. We were only on the trail for about an hour, and it was similar to other hikes we had done, so we weren’t super impressed with it. But this was at the end of our trip, and we were exhausted, so your opinion might differ. It would be interesting to take the trail further into the backcountry and experience the changing ecosystems as you ascend. This trail is lacking in shade, so we recommend checking it out in cooler weather.

    

• Sunset – We drove around looking for the best place to capture a beautiful orange sunset with saguaros in the foreground. But we missed our opportunity to find the spot that had been recommended to us. Lesson learned – if you see a gorgeous sunset, just stop and enjoy it while you can.

Our Saguaro NP Tips

• Like any desert hiking, start as early as possible. We did the best we could, but still ended up hiking during the hottest time of day.
• Bring more water and snacks than you think you’ll need.
• Go during spring or fall, avoid the summer heat. Winter might be nice too, especially if you see the rare snow on the saguaro cacti.
• Gilbert Ray Campground is a great place to stay to explore the Tucson Mountain District. Grab a tent-only spot if you can.
• Get a high-clearance vehicle, especially if going to the Miller Creek or Turkey Creek trailheads.
• If you only have a couple days, explore the Tucson Mountain District. If you have more time, add a backpacking trip in Rincon Mountain District. Another option: skip Tucson Mountain District entirely and plan a 3-plus-day backpacking trip in the Rincon Mountain District.
• Give yourself enough time to explore Manning Camp and the surrounding area. We recommend at least one full day.
• Tucson is right there – great restaurants and more places to explore.
• Stay alert. This park is wild, and we ran into a western diamondback rattlesnake in the middle of Garwood Trail.

Map of Everything We Did in Saguaro NP

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Tex-Mex

Tex-Mex cuisine is seriously lacking in DC, so we were excited to try some in the southwest. Tucson Tamale is a local institution that I had read about before our trip. We visited during the week and at an off-time, so we had the place mostly to ourselves. I ordered two tamales: the red chile beef and the vegan blue corn & veggie. T got verde pork & cheese and spicy chorizo beef tamales. The employee who took our order was friendly, and the food came out fast.

At the small topping bar, I grabbed some pico de gallo, which I mixed with my rice and beans, elevating the flavor. Then we got to unwrapping our tamales. All the tamales were moist, and the red chili beef was the biggest hit flavor-wise. It had some green olives (I think) which complemented the pork and chili. Even T liked it, and he’s not a fan of olives. We would have gone back if our trip had been longer than a week. Apparently you can place online orders for frozen tamales, which we definitely plan to do!

In researching Tucson’s food scene, we came across a relatively recent regional creation: the Sonoran hotdog. It’s a hot dog wrapped in bacon, with beans, salsa, mustard, mayo, and other southwest-style toppings, inside a crispy boat-like bun. This was at the top of my list, and we had two during our trip. The first was at el Guero Canelo, a fast casual type chain. We stopped there after a 3-day backpacking trip to Manning Camp when we were deliriously hungry after descending 4000 feet over about 10 miles in a day.

Since we hadn’t showered in three days, we decided to take our food to go (for the benefit of other guests). We each ordered a Sonoran hotdog, and added marinated onions (which were just okay), lime, and salsa from the topping bar. The flavors did not disappoint, but the bun wasn’t crispy by the time we got our food back to the hotel. I assume that’s because we got takeout, and would recommend eating it at the restaurant. Also, since we had just returned from a 3-day trek, I wished I had ordered two.

We later grabbed a second Sonoran hotdog (and other goodies) at Calle Tepa. We walked past their huge, colorful menu painted on the wall, and ordered at the counter. They have a large selection, so it was difficult to choose. The staff was friendly, and our total came to about $20. After ordering, we went to grab a seat. Since it was pretty frigid inside, we chose to eat on the patio, which, thankfully, was shaded.

Service was super fast. I got a carnitas taco, which tasted good, but wasn’t anything special (tacos are one thing we do have back home. If you’re in Northern VA or DC, I suggest a trip to Taco Bamba). We each got a Sonoran hotdog, which had an amazingly crispy bun. The toppings were tasty, and it was slightly spicier than el Guero Canelo’s. It’s tough to compare the two Sonoran hotdogs we had on our trip; I would happily check out both places again.

T also got an order of mini chimichangas, which came with guacamole and sour cream. T’s take: they were very crispy, but he wished they had more of a sauce and maybe some cheese on top. Also, it was too much for him to finish with all the other food we had ordered, so he took the leftovers to go.

We also went to a Mexican place called Los Nopales, which is a short drive from Saguaro’s Tuscon Mountain (west) District. It has great reviews on Yelp (4.5 stars) and the space has a no-frills vibe which I definitely appreciate. There were complimentary chips and salsa, which I enjoyed and ate plenty of. I ordered shrimp tacos and T got the chimichanga. It was a large plate of food, and we agree it tasted decent, but there was nothing special about it. I might revisit, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to do it.

Not Tex-Mex

Ramen may not be what Tucson is known for, but since we love it, we decided to look for a local Ramen joint. Ikkyu is a relatively highly rated, mostly takeout place. We arrived with the lunchtime crowd, but a random guy was nice enough to share his table with us. The tonkotsu (pork bone) broth was the star of the show with its deep umami, almost buttery, flavor. They made mine not spicy at my request. The noodles were thick, which we prefer, and they had a decent bite. The pork on top was flavorful, but dry. T liked the ground pork that was added. It had a few slices of bamboo shoots, scallions, a small portion of bean sprouts, and a fish cake. The toppings tasted decent, but we wanted more of them – and maybe a marinated egg. Note: ramen is only available Thursday through Saturday.

After hiking in the Rincon Mountain District one day, we needed to refuel. We had passed on a place called Saguaro Corners a few times already, thinking it looked kitch and noticing the Yelp rating was only so-so. But we were curious, and decided to stop in for dinner since it’s located right outside the park boundary. The place was packed, much larger than we thought, and a musician was playing in their outdoor seating area. After a short wait, which gave T an opportunity to check out the beer list on the chalkboard, a table opened up inside.

We followed the hostess back to our table, which was next to a small (man-made) outdoor waterfall. I ordered the ribs with fries and potato salad. The meal was good, and the potato salad in particular was delicious. I also tried Cider Boys Strawberry Magic which was sweet, fruity, and probably the best cider I’ve had in life. Too bad they don’t have it back home. T got a flight, of which he enjoyed most of his selections.

While not in Tucson, Farm House Bakery Restaurant was the only place open on Easter Sunday in a town called Benson, AZ. It was the eve of a 3-day backpacking trip to Manning Camp. I recommend their home-cooked food, quirky decor, and old-school country tunes. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with barley vegetable soup, and T got the avocado bacon burger. The food was basic, but filling with a home-style quality.

If you need a quick burger fix, check out In-N-Out Burger. We have Five Guys on the east coast, but I had never been to In-N-Out. Even though it’s fast food, I recommend a visit for the solid burgers and fries.

Since I’m sensitive to dairy, T always searches for places to get dairy-free “ice cream” when we travel. He’s pretty awesome like that. This time, he found a shop called Cashew Cow, a name I thought was punny and cute. We stopped by, and each ordered a cup of ice cream. I got chocolate chip cookie dough, and T thinks he got something with cinnamon. It was tasty, but didn’t “wow” us. The portions were small, and it was pricey (about $14 for two ice cream cups). Also, not sure why they cram the ice cream into those tiny cups which makes it hard to eat. But gotta love that there’s a non-dairy option! 

It was so rewarding trying out some of the dining options Tuscon has to offer. Let us know if you’ve scoped out any good eats around Tucson. What did we miss?

Places:
Tucson Tamale | 7159 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, AZ 85715 (multiple locations) | Tex-Mex
el Guero Canelo | 5802 E 22nd St, Tucson, AZ 85711 (multiple locations) | Sonoran Hotdogs
Calle Tepa | 6151 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85711 | Tex-Mex, Sonoran Hotdogs
Los Nopales Restaurant | 3051 S Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85713 | Tex-Mex
In-N-Out Burger | 4620 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85705 (multiple locations) | Fast Food, Burgers, Fries
Ikkyu | 2040 W Orange Grove Rd # 180, Tucson, AZ 85704 | Ramen, Sushi, Japanese Food
Saguaro Corners Restaurant & Bar | 3750 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85730 | American Food, Beer
Farmhouse Bakery Restaurant (no website) | 811 W 4th St, Benson, AZ 85602 | American Food
Cashew Cow | 16 S Eastbourne Ave, Tucson, AZ 85716 | Vegan ice cream

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Typically, staff and volunteers go out of their way to help visitors, but that wasn’t our experience here.  It seems neither was even interested in hiking, nor were they that willing to look up information.  Slightly perturbed, we decided to look elsewhere.  On our way out, we noticed a poster listing good hikes to do that season.  Clearly someone at the VC does care enough to post the info.  After perusing the list, we decided on Ringtail Trail, since it claimed to feature wildflowers in spring.  Perfect.  We also discovered that a ringtail is a mammal, similar to a raccoon, that lives in the southwestern United States.

Before we left the visitor center, we decided to watch their video, “Voices of the Desert.”  The video had some photos of cacti and other plants.  It discussed the geography and biology of the region, and presented a poignant perspective from the indigenous Tohono O’odham Native American tribe.  There’s even a surprise at the end of the video.  I won’t spoil it for you, but it’s definitely worth the time if you visit!

“If you throw trash on this earth, you throw trash on your relatives because they are back into the earth.”

– Member of the Tohono O’odham Native American Tribe

Ringtail Trail

The following day, we drove to the trailhead.  It’s in the northern part of the West District, and took some time to get to.  We drove through the southern part of the park, past the visitor center, past the Bajada Loop, past a small gas station with a Subway, and (finally) onto Picture Rocks Road.  The road cuts right through the park, and it seems a lot of people just use the road to do just that.  As we drove, we passed the Cam-boh picnic area on the right, which has the closest restroom to Ringtail Trail.  On our left, we saw Panther Peak.  There’s no trail that goes up to it, though a ranger had mentioned a social trail – but the park discourages its use.  It’s too bad, because it looks like a fun hike.

The map indicated that we should park at Box Canyon parking lot, but it isn’t well-marked.  We initially pulled onto the shoulder, thinking we found it, but saw no signs or trailhead markers.  We continued driving, and found the lot a bit further up, on the left if you’re driving east, where the road curves.  The hike begins in a wash across the street.  We started hiking at 11am (we’re not early risers), but would recommend starting much earlier, because it was HOT.

This 3.4 mile loop includes several named connector trails.  We weren’t sure what to expect – possibly a hot, over-exposed walk in deep sand – but we were pleasantly surprised.  The hike begins in a wash on the titular Ringtail Trail, but we were treated to very nice views of Pictured Rocks on the left.  In a short 0.1 miles, the trail splits. Cam-Boh Trail goes to the right; we turned left to continue on Ringtail trail, which becomes a true trail rather than a wash.

As we hiked, we kept an eye out for wildlife and wildflowers, and we were soon rewarded with both.  First, we saw some pretty yellow wildflowers on a shrub beside the trail.  I’m not up to date on my western flowers, but I looked it up when we got home and found out it was a Whitestem Paper Flower.  Nearby, we spotted a rabbit weaving in and around the saguaro and cholla as we passed by.  As with most of the trails in Saguaro, we also spotted plenty of lizards skittering across the path.

We hiked on Ringtail Trail for 0.9 mi before turning right onto Picture Rocks Wash Trail.  Given the name “Picture Rocks,” I imagine there are (or were) petroglyphs somewhere, but we didn’t see any.  Walking in sand takes more effort than other types of terrain, and this loop continually switches between a trail and a wash.  The wash was hot, but thankfully there were a few trees, like Palo Verde, that provided momentary shade.  As we continued, we found an optimal place to stop for a break – a small rocky outcropping that looked like a tiny canyon.  This would have made a great lunch spot, too.

Soon after the canyon, we reached Ironwood Forest Trail, the final segment of our hike.  Once again, we were on a path rather than a wash.  It is an enjoyable trail, with good views of mountains and cacti.  We also found a Saguaro with a single blooming flower off the trail.  Saguaro typically bloom from April to June, and we visited at the start of the season.  We only saw a few blooming saguaros during our trip.  I wish we had seen many more, particularly flowers that were lower to the ground to photograph.  The ones we saw were at the top of the saguaros, though perhaps there is a reason for this.

Ironwood Forest trail leads to Cam Boh trail, which goes for 0.2 miles, back to the start of the loop.  And then it was only a 0.1 mile walk back to the Box Canyon parking lot.  We were tired, and ready for some lunch.  We headed back to the Subway we had spotted earlier to grab a quick bite.  As we ate, we agreed this hike was surprisingly interesting, with a variety of scenery and wildlife.

Signal Hill Trail

After our lunch & AC break, there was one more thing we wanted to do before saying goodbye to the Tucson Mountain District.  We wanted to drive the Scenic Bajada Loop, and hike the short Signal Hill Trail to some petroglyphs.  Research told us the drive is unpaved, but provides great views of the desert landscape.  We had also read that the road is bumpy, but 4-wheel drive is optional.  Since we had rented a higher-clearance SUV, we figured that would do.

Since some sections are one-way, we started the loop in a clockwise direction.  The dusty drive seemed…a bit underwhelming.  The wildlife and views were similar to what we’d just seen on our hike; it might be meant for visitors who are short on time or not into hiking.

The real reason to drive the Bajada Loop though?  It leads to Signal Hill Trail, the largest petroglyph site in the Tucson Mountain District.  The trail is only 0.5 mi round trip, and leads up a rocky hill.  There are dozens of petroglyphs, and some of the best are at the top.  The petroglyphs are estimated to be around 800 years old, and were created by the Hohokam people who inhabited the Sonoran Desert from around 450 A.D. to 1450 A.D (NPS Article).  The trail and petroglyphs are very interesting and well worth a visit.  The spiral petroglyph at the top was my favorite.

On our way out, we stopped at Red Hills Visitor Center one last time to fill up our water bottles (they have a nice bottle filler we recommend).  We spoke with another park ranger there, and found her to be more informed and helpful than the ranger from the previous day.  Confidence somewhat restored.  While there, we couldn’t resist buying some some prickly pear jellies.  They tasted like a combo of grapes and raspberry – when in Rome!  Then, on to our next adventure: Manning Camp.

Ringtail Loop Trail
Distance: 3.4 miles / 5.5 kilometers roundtrip
Time: 3 hours, including breaks and many photos
Type: Lollipop Loop
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 378 feet / 115 meters
Net Elevation Gain (top minus bottom): 194 feet / 59 meters
Difficulty: Easy, just watch out for the heat depending on the season
Crowds: None (we didn’t see anyone else)
Water: No water features, unless you’re here during monsoon season (Summer, June 15 to Sept 30)
Directions to Parking at Picture Rocks / Box Canyon Trailhead: Google Maps Directions
Trail Directions: 

• Mile 0.0 – After parking, cross the road to reach the trail.  You’ll start in a wash.
• Mile 0.1 – At the fork, keep left to continue on Ringtail Trail, and out of the wash.
• Mile 0.4 – Continue straight on Ringtail Trail (you’ll pass Mule Deer trail on the right).
• Mile 1.0 – You’ve reached the end of Ringtail trail; turn right onto Picture Rocks Wash Trail.
• Mile 1.7 – After passing through a canyon-like rock formation, you’ll turn right onto Ironwood Forest Trail.  You’ll head north, and out of the wash.
• Mile 3.0 – Ironwood Forest Trail ends; turn right onto Cam-Boh Trail.
• Mile 3.2 – You’re back at the intersection with Ringtail Trail.  Turn left to head back to the parking lot.
• Mile 3.3 – Done!  You’re back at the trailhead.

Highlights: Views, saguaro cacti, mountains
Date Visited: It took us awhile to blog about this trail.  Luckily we take detailed notes!  We visited Ringtail Trail and Signal Hill on April 16, 2017.

Links:
Signal Hill Petroglyphs Article (NPS)

Places:
Picture Rocks Trailhead / Box Canyon | 7768 W Picture Rocks Rd, Tucson, AZ 85745
Signal Hill Picnic Area | 32.28977, -111.2085897

Maps:
Ringtail Loop Trail Map (KTNP)
Tucson Mountain District Trail Map of Saguaro NP (NPS)

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After a short drive from Gilbert Ray Campground, we pulled into an unmarked parking lot just past the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  There were a few other cars already parked there.  If parking does become an issue, I guess you could park at the museum, though they probably frown on that.  It was a great day, if a little hot, to get a hike in.  I immediately saw my first Saguaro flower – in the parking lot.  Sadly, it would be the only blooming Saguaro I’d see that day (for reference, we were there on April 15).

As we walked toward the trailhead, we realized there were two trails: King Canyon trail on the right, and King Canyon Wash trail that goes to the left.  A wash, we learned, is a low, sandy trail that becomes a stream or river during monsoon season (June 15 – Sept 30).  We headed right to avoid the sand, though the two trails would later converge.

The trail initially is an old gravel road and as we hiked, we started to notice plants we had seen the day before at the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, like ocotillo.  Our experience at the museum helped us identify holes and scars in saguaros, the skeletons of dead cacti, and cactus boots caused by damage from woodpeckers that made their homes in saguaros.  The trail also had gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains.

Near the junction of King Canyon Wash Trail and King Canyon Trail, we came upon an old stone structure.  This defunct restroom was built by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) in the 1930s.  Nearby, and up a short trail, is the Mam-A-Gah Picnic Area.  There are grills, in case you want to cart in a few slabs of meat, as well as a sheltered picnic area lined with dead saguaro cacti.  We took the opportunity to rest in the shade of the picnic area while taking in the view.  It’s the only picnic area in the park that requires hiking to get to!  Like the old stone restroom, the picnic area was built by the CCC in the 1930s.  Mam-A-Gah picnic area was named after a Tohono O’odham Indian Chief.

Continuing on, we crossed paths with our first lizard.  These guys would be darting across the trail quite often as we hiked along, but it was novel the first time we came across one.  It was nice enough to let me take some photos of it.  At this point we were crossing a wash to continue onto the King Canyon Trail.  We didn’t know it, but there are also some petroglyphs nearby in the wash.  We wish we had known about it, instead of finding out after!

After our slight detour, we continued to gain elevation on King Canyon Trail.  Along the way we saw plenty of saguaros, great views, and some flowering cacti.  There weren’t many other hikers on the trails, but we saw a few other groups.  We passed the intersection with Sweetwater Trail, which is another route to Wasson Peak.

At this point, we were famished.  We ate our lunch of tuna and crackers in the shade of a single saguaro.  As the sun continued to rise, it threatened to take away even this tiny bit of shade.  Fortunately, we were able to finish our lunch without being completely exposed to the sun, and we continued on.  You know that saying, “it’s hot, but it’s a dry heat?”  Well, it’s not true.  In the Sonoran desert, there are virtually no trees to provide shade except maybe an occasional palo verde tree, so it’s really….just hot.  And since it is a dry heat, you need to carry a heavier load to accommodate extra water.

The landscape slowly changes as you ascend.  There are fewer saguaro, and we started seeing jojoba bushes, which we had learned about the previous day at the museum.  So we highly recommend you go beforehand!  It was fun to search out the different plants we had learned about.  Jojoba bushes are unique because they are dioecious – the plants are either male or female.  The male plant has yellowish-green flowers which pollinate the small acorn-shaped seeds that come from the flowers on the female plant.  The seeds contain Jojoba oil, which is used in personal care products.

This section of the King Canyon Trail was grueling, and we took breaks where we could find shade – either from saguaros or from a few rock outcroppings.  Our destination was in sight though – we could see Wasson Peak, more or less.  Our next intersection was with the Hugh Norris Trail, which leads to the top of Wasson Peak.  At this point, we only had 0.3 miles to go.  At the top, there was an amazing 360 degree view and a breeze which provided some relief from the heat.  Luckily we had stopped to reapply sunscreen, because we were still completely exposed to the sun.  We had the summit to ourselves, apart from one butterfly.  We took a break, ate a snack, snapped some photos, and headed back down.

We made a loop, so we didn’t go back down the King Canyon Trail.  Instead, we joined together the Hugh Norris, Sendero Esperanza, and Gould Mine (not a typo) trails.  The journey down from Wasson Peak was pretty similar to the way up, but was still a nice hike.  It was getting later in the day, so we played games with the sun as we sought shade every so often.  In the distance, we could see the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

The Gould Mine Trail was the last trail along our route.  Saguaro National Park was not left “untouched” before it became a park.  A lot of mining and grazing went on beforehand, and continued after it became a National Monument.  Evidence of the park’s history is scattered throughout the area.  We found several mines; most were just huge holes in the ground, with some remnants of stone buildings.  The Gould Mine was a copper mine founded in 1906, and then shut down in 1908.

When Gould Trail ends, it’s only a short uphill hike on the King Canyon Wash Trail, and then you’re back at the parking lot.  This turned out to be our favorite hike in the western section of Saguaro.  The views were incredible, and the breeze was nice too.  Perhaps partly because it was our first hike in the park, but I’d still love to hike it again someday.

We got back into our car, where we saw that we had made a fatal mistake – we had left two bananas in there.  They had baked and turned jet black due to the heat.  Just another reminder of how hot it can get here.  Our stomachs growling, and our bananas trashed, we set off in search of food.

Wasson Peak via King Canyon Trail
Distance: 7.8 miles / 12.6 kilometers roundtrip
Time: 7 hours, including lunch, breaks, and many photo ops
Type: Loop
Trail Markings: There are no blazes, but the trail is well defined.  You might see a couple cairns, and there are signs at intersections.
Overall Elevation Gain (Every gain): 2,494 feet / 760 meters
Net Elevation Gain (Top minus Bottom): 1,769 feet / 539 meters
Difficulty: Strenuous – not just the trail, but also the heat depending on the season
Crowds: A few groups in mid-April, but we saw maybe 25 people max
Water: No water features, unless you’re here during monsoon season (Summer, June 15 -Sept 30)
Directions to Parking on Picture Rocks Road: Google Maps Directions
Trail Directions: 

• Mile 0.0 – Continue to the back of the parking lot.  Keep right for King Canyon Trail.  To the left is the King Canyon Wash Trail – which you could also take, if you prefer walking in sand.
• Mile 0.9 – The trails are a bit messy here, but you’ll continue on the King Canyon trail.  Follow the signs.  The King Canyon Wash Trail merges with King Canyon Trail here, and there are side trails as well.  We recommend checking out the Mam-A-Gah picnic area while you’re here.
• Mile 2.3 – Sweetwater Trail intersects with King Canyon trail.  Make a left, and continue climbing on King Canyon Trail.
• Mile 3.2 – From here you can see the summit, so head right on Hugh Norris Trail.
• Mile 3.5 – You’re at the Wasson Peak Summit!  Enjoy the view!  Then continue back the way you came.
• Mile 3.8 – Back at the intersection of King Canyon and Hugh Norris trails.  Continue straight onto Hugh Norris Trail.
• Mile 5.7 – Take a left turn onto Sendero Esperanza Trail.
• Mile 6.7 – Turn right onto Gould Mine Trail.
• Mile 7.8 – Gould Mine Trail runs into King Canyon Wash Trail.  Hike up the sloped sandy hill, and you’re back at the parking lot!

Highlights: Views, Saguaro Cacti, History, Mountains

Date:
It takes us awhile to write a blog post.  We visited Wasson Peak on April 15, 2017.

Places:
Mam-A-Gah Picnic Area | 32.2564931,-111.1621568

Maps:
Wasson Peak via King Canyon Map (KTNP)
Trail Map of Saguaro NP (NPS)

Links:
History of Mining in the Tucson Mountain District (NPS)
2015 Arizona Daily Star Article about Gould Mine

The post Wasson Peak via King Canyon Trail appeared first on KTNPBlog.

When we flew in to Tucson, our first stop was Gilbert Ray.  Campers can’t reserve a site ahead of time – all sites are first-come, first-serve, and we wanted to make sure we got one (Update: As of 2024, reservations are now available at least 72 hours in advance).  Usually we’re paranoid and reserve whenever we can.  We drove up through the Tucson Mountain Park, along windy roads, past Old Tucson (an old wild west movie set, now a theme park), until we reached the campground.  Tucson Mountain Park is gorgeous, and there are plenty of saguaros and trails there as well.  Something to explore another time.

We arrived at the campground, and checked in at the registration building.  The building is closed part of the year, when the weather gets too hot.  In fact, a week after we arrived in late April, it would be closed.  If it’s closed, the campground is still open, but you have to self-register.  We talked to the nice attendant, who told us there were plenty of spots available.  We made sure to bring cash, as credit cards are not accepted.  Gilbert Ray is mainly an RV campground, but there are 5 tent-only sites in the B “loop” (of course you could pitch a tent at an RV site too, though tent-only loops tend to be quieter).  And luckily, we got site B1, a tent-only site.

With our campsite secured, we hopped back in the car and headed to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  Afterward, we surveyed our site and started setting up our tent.  B1 has a concrete picnic bench, a grill, and it shares a water faucet with two other campsites.  The neighbors were relatively close, but they were quiet.  Another nearby site had an RV, but they turned off their lights and generator around 9pm, so it didn’t bother us.  We didn’t have much shade at our site, but we wouldn’t be there much during the day anyway.  Tent-only site B3 did have shade, so we would recommend that to visitors.

The bathrooms were a few minutes walk away.  No showers, sadly.  Our site was surrounded by saguaros and other desert plants, and had a gorgeous mountain view.  That evening, we also had a clear view of the night sky.  Later in our trip, we would attend a Star Party, a ranger program about the night sky in the Tucson area (which we highly recommend).  We fell asleep in the peace and quiet of the desert.

On our second day in Saguaro, we woke up at 5:30 a.m. to an assortment of desert birds (and possibly other animals) making chirping sounds.  This was amusing to us, since it was like nothing we’d heard before.  This motivated us to get up a little earlier than usual, which was a good thing, because it gets hot FAST!  When we finally left our campsite, around 8:30 a.m., it had already gotten decently warm.  We only had one more full day of exploring the west district, so we should have left earlier.  The hike for that day was to Wasson Peak, and it was going to be a long one.

We highly recommend staying at Gilbert Ray.  It’s a quiet campground, with beautiful surroundings, good amenities, and it’s in a good location.  Just make sure you get an early start, so the heat doesn’t creep up on you (depending on the season, of course).  We’d recommend the tent sites too, if you can get one.

Gilbert Ray Campground | 5 Tent-Only Campsites | 136 RV, Trailer or Tent Sites
Location: Tucson Mountain Park, 3 miles south of the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro NP, 13 miles from Tucson (Google Maps Directions)
Amenities: Potable Water | Charcoal Grill | Picnic Table | Flush Toilets
Dates Open: Year-round (Registration building is only staffed January through March/April)
Prices: $10 per night for tents / $20 per night for trailers and RVs
Highlights: Close to Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Saguaro NP, and some trails
Notes: Reservations are not accepted; first-come, first served.  Seven day stay limit.  Busy season is November through April.  Check-out is 11:00 a.m.  Wood fires are prohibited.  Exact fees (cash or check) required, credit cards not accepted.  If available, we recommend tent-only site #3, since it has some shade.

Places:
Gilbert Ray Campground | 8451 W McCain Loop, Tucson, AZ 85735

Maps:
Gilbert Ray Campground Map

Links:
Tucson Mountain Park

The post Gilbert Ray Campground appeared first on KTNPBlog.

Desert Orientation

A visit to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum seemed like a good place to start our adventure. Travis had never been to southern AZ, and I hadn’t visited the area in almost 20 years, so we wanted to learn about the climate, wildlife, and landscape. As we drove through Tucson, we saw gorgeous views of the mountains in the distance. I wish we could see mountains like that just driving around at home! As we got closer to the museum, which is just outside Saguaro NP, the roads became windy and hilly with a single lane on each side. Travis was driving, and I kept reminding him to go slow since we couldn’t really see over the hills. The occasional cyclist added an element of surprise.

We pulled into the museum parking lot and were greeted by the US, Mexican, and Arizona flags. The lot was crowded, but we found a spot after a short search. The museum is a pueblo style building – a low, unobtrusive structure with a flat roof – that blends well with the desert landscape. As we approached the museum, we had a gorgeous view of the Sonoran desert through an opening in the center. This indicates that most of the museum is outdoors, so you get the full experience (including unlimited direct sun).

We paid about $21 per person to enter, and headed through the gate. Our first stop was a board near the gift shop to see which docent programs were happening that day. There was a presentation on the saguaro cactus that afternoon, so we made a mental note and continued on. Next, we headed out back to take a walk in the desert landscape. We walked around the winding paths, and enjoyed viewing the saguaro with a mountain backdrop.

The heat and direct sun were getting to us, so we decided to take a break. After a stop at the bottle-filler (which we were very thankful for), we still felt overheated, so we went into the museum gift shop, which had glorious air conditioning. I browsed jewelry and knickknacks until we reached the small cafe at the back. After careful consideration, we each decided on a popsicle and a bag of chips. I’m not usually into popsicles, but this was no ordinary day. We took them outside to enjoy as we explored some of the exhibits – they were a huge help so we didn’t get overheated. Maybe I’m being dramatic, but we weren’t used to this kind of heat, especially in April!

Wildlife

The museum has viewing areas for many different animals. We saw an otter swimming in a pool. In was cool to watch him (or her) glide effortlessly through the water. An aviary had some more wildlife for us to see. It was a bit strange to hear and see birds flying overhead, and to round a corner only to find a huge bird sitting on a branch a few feet ahead. These guys are clearly used to having people nearby. Of course, the aviary is enclosed with a screen high overhead, and has lots of trees where the birds perch, so it provides some respite from the sun.

Travis’s favorite spot was the hummingbird exhibit. He loves to take photos of wildlife, and he would spend hours snapping photos if I let him. Several other visitors were also trying to get that perfect hummingbird photo, so it got a bit crowded in spots. Some of the hummingbirds were tiny, and in unexpected colors. If you looked closely, you could also spot their nests.

Docent Presentations

There are many docents scattered around the museum. One showed us a young desert tortoise. It was really cool to observe up close. Visitors over age 3 can touch the shell. Apparently, this is because you can get Salmonella from turtles. Who knew?

We ran into another docent who asked us if we were interested in jojoba oil. We weren’t. But we didn’t want to be rude, and it turned out to be pretty interesting – what caught our attention was that there are male and female jojoba trees, and they’re pollinated by the wind. She showed us how to differentiate between the two. We thought this was actually pretty cool, and something we could look for on the trail.

Soon it was time for the saguaro decent presentation. We met in Vista Ramada, a small covered porch area with a great view of the Sonoran desert. There were a few others attending the talk, including a family with a child. The docent made jokes, was very informative, and especially made sure to engage the child in conversation.

We learned that a saguaro cactus has a wood skeleton (I had been wondering what gave them their structure, but never thought to ask). This made sense, since they can grow up to 40 feet tall. There was a dead saguaro right next to the porch, so you could see its wood “skeleton.” As a teacher, I consider myself a lifelong learner, so I gave this presentation a thumbs up.

When we needed our next shade break, we headed into another indoor section of the museum: the reptile house. There were tarantulas, snakes, lizards, and…that was enough for me. So we filled up our bottles again and headed back outside.

Desert Loop Trail

One of the coolest features of this museum is that it has its own trail. It’s situated behind the museum, in the desert landscape. A warning sign explains the trail’s purpose and amenities. I recommend taking plenty of water, sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat…and maybe a popsicle.

As we walked the paved loop trail, we looked for wildlife among the desert vistas. Even though signs and the museum map indicates where the animals are located, we had to search to find them. We were also introduced to some desert plants including the saguaro (who saw that coming?) and the ocotillo.

After walking the desert loop, we were tired, hot, and the museum was about to close, so that was our cue to go get dinner. Being from DC, we are used to having access to many great museums free of charge. However, we were happy to support the mission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and recommend that others visit it, too. The docents are friendly and knowledgeable. You’ll learn a lot, and be able to spot some really cool desert wildlife. And you can further support the museum by grabbing a cool treat on a hot day.

Places
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum | 2021 N Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85743 | Open 8:30am – 5pm daily

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Surrounding Tucson

When you think about our national parks, Saguaro (wiki, nps) probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.  Unless you live in Tucson, Arizona, since the park straddles the city.  Established in 1933 as a National Monument, and upgraded in 1994 to a National Park, Saguaro was formed to protect its namesake – the Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea).  Pronounced Sa-WAH-ro, the cacti grow very slowly, but can get as tall as 40 feet and live for more than 150 years.

While the Saguaro cacti are the main draw for some visitors, there are other ecosystems to explore.  And you can enjoy sightseeing, autotouring, hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding within the park.  We would spend a week in the park, focusing on hiking and backpacking.

Saguaro Districts and Regions

The park contains two geographically separate districts: The Tucson Mountain District (west) and Rincon Mountain District (east).  The city of Tucson lies in between them.  It can take as little as 30 minutes to drive from one district to the other, depending where you are, of course.  Both sides have a visitor center, numerous hiking trails, and other outdoor opportunities.

• Tucson Mountain District (West) – Smaller than the east side, the Tucson Mountain District has a variety of trails that crisscross the park.  Day hiking only on this side – there is no backcountry camping.  Comparatively to the east, the west side features more Saguaro cacti and lower elevation.  South of this district is a county park: Tucson Mountain Park.  Try not to confuse the two since they have similar names!
• Rincon Mountain District (East) – Larger than the west side, the Rincon District offers backcountry options, and a well-maintained trail network.  You can hike from a low elevation of 2,750 feet at Douglas Spring to a high elevation of 8,000 feet at Manning Camp, and visit a variety of areas that most visitors don’t get to see.  The Arizona Trail also goes through this district.  We spent more time on this side since there’s more to do, it covers a larger area, and (bonus!) it’s cooler at higher elevation.  This is the original part of Saguaro National Park; the Tucson Mountain District was added later.

Lodging and Camping

There are no lodges or hotels inside the park, but each district has hotel options close by.  We would stay at a couple hotels over the course of our trip, in between camping or backpacking.  We need to shower sometimes.  Sleeping in a comfortable bed doesn’t hurt, either.

Similarly, there are no developed campgrounds inside either district of the park.  Luckily, Tucson Mountain Park is home to Gilbert Ray Campground, just 3 miles south of the Tucson Mountain District.  The campsites primarily accommodate RVs, but they have some tent only sites.  We stayed two nights in the campground (in a tent).  We really appreciated its peacefulness, unique flora and fauna, as well as mountain views.

Although Saguaro NP has no developed campgrounds, there are 6 backcountry campgrounds in the Rincon Mountain District.  These can be reserved up to 2 months in advance.  They’re scattered throughout the backcountry, and all have 3 campsites, except for Manning Camp, which has 6.  Manning Camp is the only campground that has a continuous water source.  Douglas Spring, Grass Shack, and Spud Rock have seasonal springs, while the other campgrounds rely on snowmelt for a nearby ephemeral water source.  On our trip, we’d visit Happy Valley, Manning Camp, and Spud Rock.  Here’s a listing of all the sites:

• Douglas Spring – 4,800 feet elevation.  3 sites.  Located along the Douglas Spring Trail.  Has a nearby spring.
• Grass Shack – 5,300 feet elevation.  3 sites.  Located along the Manning Camp Trail.  Has a nearby spring.
• Juniper Basin – 6,000 feet elevation.  3 sites.  Located along the Tanque Verde Trail.
• Happy Valley – 6,200 feet elevation.  3 sites.  Located on the Heartbreak Ridge Trail.
• Spud Rock – 7,400 feet elevation.  3 sites.  Located on the East Slope Trail / Deerhead Spring Trail.  Has a nearby spring.
• Manning Camp – 8,000 feet elevation.  6 sites.  Located on the Manning Camp Trail.  Year-round water source from a stream/spring.

Activities and Wildlife

As mentioned above, there are plenty of activities to do in the park, but these primarily include sightseeing, autotouring, hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding.  Our trip would focus on hiking and backpacking, with some sightseeing and autotouring on the side.  Both districts boast many trails, but there are more miles of trails in the Rincon District.  Most day hikes are in a desert environment, surrounded by saguaros and other desert plants.  Often, these trails go through a wash (intermittent stream bed).

We were excited to backpack in the Rincon Mountain District; fewer people visit this area, and we knew it would be very different from the cactus forest.  You can hike up to higher elevations with conifer and Douglas fir forests, something we didn’t associate with Saguaro National Park before we visited.  Dispersed camping is prohibited, but you can plan your trip around the 6 backcountry campgrounds mentioned above.

Our goal was to reach Manning Camp, since it’s located at the highest elevation, and has a reliable water source.  This would allow us to do a 2 night, 3 day trip without breaking our backs.  The park maintains a concise but useful wilderness area guide that includes information about each backcountry campground, trip planning, wildlife, and a basic map of the Rincon Mountain District.

Saguaro has a multitude of wildlife – you won’t always seem them, but they’re there, especially at certain times of the day.  We saw an many lizards, as well as a coyote, woodpeckers, a rattlesnake, turkeys, and other birds.  To get an idea of what wildlife you might encounter in the desert, we recommend checking out the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which is in Tucson Mountain Park, just south of Saguaro’s Tucson Mountain District.  This was the first real stop on our trip, since we wanted to know what we were getting into!

Weather & Seasons

Saguaro NP is a desert park, so the climate is quite different compared with Shenandoah, our “home park.”  We visited Saguaro in late April, and we had mainly mid-80 degree days.  Late fall to early spring is the best time to visit, since you’ll have mild temperatures and little rain.  I’m partial to the spring when you’ll see a variety of wildflowers.  And Saguaro typically start flowering in late April.  The summer (July to September) features very high temperatures, with abundant rain in the form of monsoons.  For those reasons, we decided to avoid visiting during the summer.

If you plan to see Manning Camp (8000′), the temperatures there differ quite a bit from the lower elevation Sonoran Desert (3000′).  We brought jackets for our visit!  On average, it will be around 20 degrees cooler at Manning Camp.

Visitors

This is not a heavily traveled National Park, but the number of visitors is increasing.  There’s a lot to see and do here – more than you might expect.  There are plenty of people on the roads and at viewpoints.  But get on the trails, and you may not see many people (at least we didn’t in April).  On our two-night backpacking trip, we didn’t see a single person.  Even so, April is the 3rd highest-visited month.

Transportation

Tucson International Airport is right in between Saguaro’s two districts, so we flew directly into the city.  Flying into Phoenix and driving around 2 hours to the park is another option.

Saguaro NP doesn’t have a bus system or similar public transportation.  If you have a car, you can visit pretty much anything.  A couple backcountry trailheads require four wheel drive, but we did just fine without.  Each Saguaro district has paved and unpaved roads that will get you around the park.  We recommend a car with a higher clearance if you plan to drive on unpaved roads.

Maps

As is our usual modus operandi, we bought the National Geographic Trail Map for Saguaro.  It’s accurate, and we highly recommend it.  The national park also maintains some trail maps that were helpful, mostly with the cactus forest section in the Rincon Mountain District.  We’ll also provide maps we created for specific trails on each Saguaro blog post.

Link to National Geographic Map for Saguaro
Link to Rincon Mountains District (West) Trail Map (NPS)
Link to Tucson Mountain District (East) Trail Map (NPS)
Link to Detailed Cactus Forest Trail Map in East District (NPS)
Backcountry Map and Guidelines (NPS)

Visitor Centers & Entrance Payment

There are two Visitor Centers, one in each district.  The Red Hills Visitor Center is in the Tucson Mountain (West) district.  It has the usual educational displays, gift shop, restrooms, and water fountain.  This visitor center also plays a 15 minute video about the park every 30 minutes, which we highly recommend.  There’s also a very nice Saguaro cactus forest right behind the visitor center.  The Rincon District (East) has the aptly-named Rincon Mountain Visitor Center.  It’s very similar to Red Hills, but it has different displays and lacks the video.  Various Ranger Programs are also offered at each visitor center.  We would attend a Star Party program at the Rincon Visitor Center, which we greatly enjoyed.

Payment is different depending on what district you’re in, and where you are in the district.  For the Tucson Mountain District, you can pay the $15/vehicle fee at the Red Hills Visitor Center.  The Rincon Mountain District has a booth after the visitor center where you can stop to pay your entry fee.  As with other National Parks, a one-time payment gets you a 7-day pass.

Our Itinerary

We decided to explore the west side of Saguaro first.  Then we would go into the east side, so we could work our way up to the 3 day backpacking trip we had planned.  Below is our overall itinerary; our other blog posts detail the adventures we had on our trip.  We didn’t really know what to expect with Saguaro, aside from well… saguaros.  It turns out that Saguaro National Park is much more than cacti, and it surprised us around every turn.

Our Packing List

This was the first time we traveled via airplane with our backpacking backpacks.  We have two carry bags from REI, to hold our backpacks (loaded with gear like trekking poles, quilt, etc.), which we checked.  We brought suitcases as our carry-ons, and our personal items were our daypacks.  This worked out well, and we’ll probably do the same thing next time we fly.

One thing I would recommend is to bring a water bladder for each traveler, as it can accommodate much more water than bottles.  Layered clothing options are also ideal for larger temperature swings throughout the day, especially if you’re going to go up to Manning Camp.

Our Experiences

There’s more info about planning specific excursions in the posts below.  I hope they help you plan your trip, inspire you to travel, or at least provide interesting reading material.

• Tucson Mountain District (West Side)
  • Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
  • Gilbert Ray Campground
  • Wasson Peak via Kings Canyon Trail
  • Ringtail Loop & Signal Hill Trails
• Rincon Mountain District (East Side)
  • Backpacking to Manning Camp
  • Garwood Trail
• Tucson Eats and Drinks
• Reflections on Saguaro: Best Hikes and Planning Guide

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