10 Unforgettable Hikes in Saguaro National Park
If you’re looking for some great hiking trails in Saguaro National Park, you’re in the right place! Read on for details.
Saguaro National Park, located just outside of Tucson, Arizona, is home to the saguaro cactus, a magnificent desert plant found only in isolated areas of the American Southwest. These cacti will slowly grow to be 40+ feet tall, and they fill the wilderness and mountains surrounding Tucson. Interestingly, this was the first national park designated to protect a plant.
Helpful tip: Saguaro is pronounced “suh-wahr-oh”
Saguaro National Park is divided into two districts: the West, or Tucson Mountain, District, and the East, or Rincon Mountain, District. These districts are on opposite sides of Tucson and require at least an hour to drive between them.
I had the privilege of spending time in both districts of Saguaro National Park, and I was simply in awe of these spectacular, enormous cacti. It seriously feels like being in another world.
The following are the best hikes you can do in Saguaro, divided by district:
10 Top Trails in Saguaro National Park – West (Tucson Mountain District)
1. Hugh Norris Trail
The Hugh Norris Trail offers a challenging hike with rewarding views and picturesque saguaro scenery.
The trail, part of the Hugh Norris Esperanza Loop, begins with a steep climb of about 600 feet in the first mile that takes you to the top of a ridge. Much of the trail is made up of small steps, so it is a steep hike, but I felt like the stairs helped.
One of the best parts of the trail is that you are surrounded by saguaros that are very close to the trail. The combination of close cacti and stone steps creates a picturesque hike with great photo opportunities.
The views at the top of the ridge are fantastic, and you then continue following the trail along the top of the hills. After about 1.5 miles, you’ll reach a beautiful viewpoint looking south towards the distant mountains, with saguaros in the foreground.
This is where I stopped on the trail (I didn’t complete the whole loop – just did the 1.5 out and back), but I think it’s worth coming to this spot for the incredible view.
The first mile of the trail (as you’re climbing the steps) would be a fantastic place to watch the sunset.
Trail Stats
- Distance: 6.8 mile loop (I did 3 miles round trip out and back)
- Elevation Gain: 1227 feet (I did 817 feet)
2. Signal Hill
Signal Hill Trail is a short and easy hike that offers a look into ancient history and stunning desert scenery.
From the parking lot, you’ll see the rocky Signal Hill right in front of you. The trail leads into a wash and then up the hill to petroglyphs carved onto the boulders, created by the Hohokam Native American people. Saguaros surround the petroglyphs and nearby mountains provide a backdrop making it a really lovely spot.
There are several offshoot trails you can explore if you want to extend your hike, or you can simply turn around and return to the trailhead. The area features shaded spots, picnic areas, and bathrooms, making it a popular area to relax and enjoy a picnic lunch.
Trail Stats
- Distance: 0.5 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 36 feet
3. King’s Canyon to Gould Mine Loop
I really loved this hike! You start by hiking up the King’s Canyon Trail for about a mile. The trail is a little rocky but the incline was very manageable and not too tiring. At the top of the loop, you cut over and come back down on the Gould Mine Trail, which takes you past an old mine before returning you to the start.
The landscape on this trail was so pretty. You’re hiking on a ridge along the side of a canyon filled with saguaros – I felt like I was taking a picture every three minutes.
The saguaros on the first half of the loop were a little bit removed from the trail (not right next to the path), but I felt like I was walking through a saguaro forest on the Gould Mine part of the loop.
Trail Stats
- Distance: 2.4 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 400 feet
4. Desert Discovery Trail
The Desert Discovery Loop offers a short, easy walk on a paved trail through a beautiful desert landscape filled with saguaros and other cacti. This trail features placards about the desert ecosystem, and there are a few benches along the path, making it a pleasant spot to relax.
You definitely should come for sunset, though, as the sunsets are spectacular here. Arrive 45 minutes before sunset to have time to stroll the trail, take lots of pictures, and be in a good spot when the sun goes down.
While you should walk the entire loop, I found that the best spot to capture the saguaros in the foreground and the sunset in the background was actually at the beginning/end of the loop (the section closer to the parking lot, not the section closer to the sunset).
Trail Stats
- Distance: 0.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 16 feet
5. Sendero Esperanza to Wasson Peak Trail
Wasson Peak is the tallest peak in the Tucson Mountains and offers one of the longest trails in Saguaro National Park. The hike is strenuous but very enjoyable, featuring exceptional views, plenty of cacti, and a panoramic vista over Tucson at the summit.
Starting on the Sendero Esperanza Trail, the first mile is wide, flat, and very pretty, surrounded by saguaros and other desert plants. At around 1.2 miles, the trail begins a steep climb with tight switchbacks leading to the top of a ridge, with increasingly beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
As you continue along the ridge for about a mile, the trail provides stunning sights of saguaros cascading down the mountainside. The final half-mile to the summit includes more steep switchbacks, ending in a beautiful 360° view at the summit of Wasson Peak. From here, you can see Tucson and the distant mountains, creating a truly memorable hiking experience.
I loved this hike and consider it a must-do for confident hikers looking to get off the beaten path and experience the beauty of Saguaro National Park from its highest point.
If you’re not up for a big hike, I actually think that the first mile of the Sendero Esperanza Trail is one of the prettiest and easiest trail sections in Saguaro, so I would do part even if you don’t want to hike to the summit.
>>Read more here about what it’s like hiking the trail to Wasson Peak.
Trail Stats
- Distance: 8 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 1,727 feet
6. Valley View Trail
The Valley View Trail is a short, 0.8-mile round trip hike that takes you through a wash to a viewpoint overlooking the surrounding valley and saguaros.
The view over the Tucson Valley is not particularly spectacular, as it is pretty flat and barren, but you can see the mountains in the distance. The view looking back towards Saguaro National Park is much nicer, in my opinion.
What makes this hike interesting are the numerous signs along the trail that provide information about the different cacti and desert plants. There are about seven or eight signs, making the hike educational and pretty.
To be honest, Valley View was probably my least favorite hike in Saguaro West National Park. While it’s a good short option, if you need a short, easy hike and are pressed for time, I’d do the first part of the Sendero Esperanza Trail (starting from Golden Gate Road), the Desert Discovery Trail, or the Signal Hill Trail over this.
Trail Stats
- Distance: 0.8 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 52 feet
Top Trails in Saguaro National Park – East (Rincon Mountain District)
7. Mica View Trail
The Mica View Trail is a pleasant, easy, and scenic hike, offering beautiful views of saguaros, desert plants, and stunning mountain vistas. The saguaros and various types of cactus are close to the trail, providing excellent photo opportunities, and the mountain views are a highlight throughout the hike.
The trail is 1.5 miles out and back, but you can extend it to about 2 miles by taking the Cactus Forest Loop on the way back.
If you choose the loop, the second half of the hike features some similar desert cactus landscapes but does bring you a little closer to the mountains. You’ll also pick up the Javelina Wash Trail towards the end, offering some variety to the hike.
Trail Stats
- Distance: 1.5 miles out and back; 2 miles loop
- Elevation Gain: 68 feet
8. Loma Verde Trail
The Loma Verde Trail is a 3.8-mile hike usually completed as a loop with the Pink Hills Trail and offers a unique hike for Saguaro. You’ll start by hiking through Mesquite forest, which is filled with leafy trees and very few cacti for about 0.5 miles. After that, the terrain transitions to a more traditional desert landscape, filled with saguaros and other cacti.
As you continue, you’ll pass by an old mine site, marked by a sign noting its location, though there isn’t much to see of the mine itself. This is a very off-the-beaten path trail – I saw maybe one other person on the entire trail.
Trail Stats
- Distance: 3.8 miles
- Elevation Gain: 78 feet
9. Freeman Homestead Nature Trail
This trail is a lollipop loop – the first half takes you through saguaros and the second half is through a wash and is a nice, easy hike.
I was told that it was the best spot to see the sunset in Saguaro-East, especially if you want some saguaros in the foreground (other sunset spots in Saguaro-East do not have nearby cacti).
Here’s the thing. You can only see the horizon towards the beginning of the trail. Honestly, the best sunset spot is probably from the parking lot or from the first 5 minutes of the trail.
If you’re coming here for sunset, I’d come here about an hour before sunset and do the loop trail. By about 15 minutes before sunset, be back at the parking lot or very beginning of the trail to watch the sun sink below the peaks on the other side of the valley, with some saguaros in front of you by the parking lot.
Trail Stats
- Distance: 1 mile
- Elevation Gain: 101 feet
10. Desert Ecology Trail
The Desert Ecology Trail is a very short, paved loop that takes you past a variety of desert plants. Honestly, this one was a big miss for me. Unlike the Desert Discovery Trail in the West District of Saguaro, this trail was honestly pretty boring. You were surrounded mainly by large bushes – hardly any cacti in sight.
It’s short, so if you decide to do it, it will only take you 10-15 minutes, but if you’re looking for something to skip, this would be the first thing I’d cut.
Trail Stats
- Distance: 0.3 miles
- Elevation Gain: 9 feet
Top 3 Can’t Miss Hikes
- Wasson Peak via the Sendero Esperanza Trail – A hard hike but the views are unmatched
- Desert Discovery Trail – Easy, beautiful, and incredible at sunset
- Mica View Trail – Lovely and easy, with incredible scenery and tall mountains in the background
Practical Information
Entrance Fee: Saguaro National Park has a $35/vehicle fee that is good for a week. You can also purchase an America the Beautiful Pass for $80 that gets you into all National Park Sites for free for one year.
Water: Pack 1/2 – 1 L of water per hour of hiking. Do not skimp on water! Saguaro can get very hot, and even if it’s not terribly hot, it’s an incredibly dry part of the country. I felt parched almost the entire time I was in Saguaro and was constantly sipping from my Camelpak.
Wildlife: There are tons and tons of little tiny lizards that scamper through your walk as you hike. They’re totally harmless, but you will see a lot. Do watch out for rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, and scorpions, and be careful of rocky areas and where you step. Finally, watch out for Africanized (killer) bees, who are very territorial. Leave immediately if you hear a swarm.
