Saguaro National Park

The saguaro has been described as the monarch of the Sonoran Desert, a plant with personality, and as an icon of the American Southwest. Native only to the hot lowland regions of the Sonoran Desert, the extraordinary giant cactus has been protected with Saguaro National Park since 1933. In addition to its marquee cacti, the park is home to 49 other species of cactus, from portly barrel cacti and vicious-looking chollas to varieties of prickly pear and hedgehog cactus. Park inhabitants include rattlesnakes and gila monsters, mountain lions and elf owls, javelinas and desert tortoise.

In lushness and variety of life, the Sonoran Desert far surpasses all other North American deserts in its biodiversity. And yet, it is one of the hottest and driest regions on the continent. Between the summer and winter rainy seasons, it is not unusual for months to pass without a drop of rain. The plants and animals able to survive in the environment, with adaptations specifically designed for desert survival, make up one of the most interesting and unusual collections of life in the United States. This world awaits you in the desert plains, mountains, and foothills of Saguaro National Park.

Saguaro National Park consists of two districts: Saguaro West and the much larger Saguaro East. The two areas, separated by the city of Tucson, are about 30 miles apart. Together they preserve 91,327 acres of life and landscape of the Sonoran Desert. 71,400 acres of the park art designated wilderness.

Saguaro East, or the Rincon Mountain District, has higher mountains and is much larger, containing many more miles of hiking and equestrian trails and opportunities for backpacking. Park Headquarters is located in the eastside's Rincon Mountain District. Saguaro West, or the Tucson Mountain District, is smaller with lower elevation mountains. The stands of saguaros, however, are much denser. Both districts offer visitor centers, scenic drives, picnic areas, trails and interpretive signs and exhibits.

For more information: Saguaro Ease (520-733-5153), Saguaro West (520-733-5158), or log on to www.nps.gov/sagu. Saguaro National Park is the only place in the nation specifically dedicated to protecting the giant saguaro cactus. Have a great visit!