Your Perfect Saguaro National Park Itinerary For 1-2 Days
Saguaro National Park, located in southern Arizona, offers a unique desert experience perfect for a 1-2 day visit. This park showcases the iconic saguaro cacti and diverse desert landscapes that can be enjoyed through scenic drives, a range of easy to moderate hikes, and beautiful overlooks.
With its stunning sunsets, diverse plant life, and peaceful ambiance, Saguaro National Park is a must-visit destination in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. I truly loved my visit to Saguaro and was absolutely in awe of the majestic saguaros that cover the landscapes as far as the eye can see.
Plus, saguaros only grow in the Sonoran Desert, which encompasses part of Arizona, southern California, and Mexico, so seeing them is a unique experience for most of us.
>>Helpful tip: Saguaro is pronounced “suh-wahr-oh”.
In this guide, I’m sharing what I think is the perfect itinerary for visiting Saguaro, whether you have 1 day or 2 days in the park.
How Saguaro National Park is Laid Out
Saguaro National Park is split between two districts. The West District, also referred to as the Tucson Mountain District, is on the west side of the city of Tucson.
The East District, also referred to as the Rincon Mountain District, is on the east side of the city. It takes at least an hour to get between the districts.
How Long Do You Need in Saguaro?
I think you can get a great feel for the desert landscape in one day, but two days will allow you to immerse yourself in both sides of the park (the east and west districts.) I had two full days in Saguaro and felt like that was exactly enough time to enjoy both the Tucson Mountain District and the Rincon Mountain District.
If you just have one day, I’d focus on either the east or west side, and not try to visit both. If you have two days, you can split your time between them and stay at some of the accommodations in Saguaro.
If you have just a day, I would personally spend it in the west district, as overall, I thought that had better hiking options and better scenery. However, if you’d rather do fewer hikes and drive between overlooks, then the east district is better for you.
Where to Stay When Visiting Saguaro
The JTH Tucson – Beautiful property just 5 minutes from Saguaro West
The Blenman Inn – Historic, upscale B&B centrally located in downtown
Hampton Inn&Suites – Top-rated budget-friendly option in downtown
Day 1 in Saguaro: The West District
Sendero Esperanza to Wasson Peak
I’d recommend starting your day bright and early on the Sendero Esperanza Trail. If you’re a big hiker and want to enjoy the best views in Saguaro, hike all the way to Wasson Peak, an incredible 8-mile round trip hike with stunning vistas to the tallest peak in the Tucson Mountains.
If you’re not up for that long of a hike, I’d still do this trail, but just do the first 1.2 miles and then turn around (making it 2.4 miles round trip). The first part of the Sendero Esperanza trail is incredibly scenic, with a wide, flat, and level trail, making it great for all hiking experience levels.
Around 1-1.2 miles, the trail starts climbing in elevation, and if you can even climb for 5 minutes, you’ll get some great views across the valley with mountains in the distance.
Signal Hill Petroglyph Trail
Signal Hill Trail is a short, easy hike that offers a glimpse into Native American history.
You can see the rocky Signal Hill directly ahead of you from the parking lot. The trail leads into a wash and then climbs up to the outcropping, where petroglyphs etched into the boulders by the Hohokam Native American people are on display. Surrounded by saguaros with mountains in the background, this spot is very picturesque.
You can explore several offshoot trails if you want to extend your hike, or simply turn around and head back to the trailhead. The area includes shaded spots, picnic areas, and bathrooms, making it a popular place to relax and enjoy a picnic lunch.
Stop in at the Visitor Center
I always think it’s worth stopping in at the Visitor Center. The West Visitor Center has a small exhibit, a film about how the Native Americans interact with the desert and use the saguaros, and a water refill station.
If you have children, they will likely enjoy grabbing a Junior Ranger packet and completing the activities to get their own Junior Ranger Badge. Our kids really love this program and have done it at many National Park sites.
Drive the Bajada Loop Drive
This scenic loop doesn’t have many official overlooks, but it does take you through a pretty cactus forest, and is certainly worth doing.
The loop is 6 miles and is unpaved, but any kind of car should be able to drive it without a problem in dry weather. The Valley View Trail and Hugh Norris Trail (up next) both start from the Bajada Loop Drive.
Option: Valley View Trail OR Hugh Norris Trail
Both of these trails are located off the Bajada Loop Drive, not far from each other.
Hugh Norris is my preference, but it is definitely more of a strenuous hike, as it starts out with a steep 1-mile-long climb up to the top of the mountain ridge, before continuing deeper into the mountains. However, the views are amazing, the saguaros are right by the trail, and the whole hike is just very scenic.
If you prefer a shorter easier hike, Valley View is a good choice, as it’s just 0.6 miles round trip and takes you past signs in the cactus forest out to a viewpoint.
King’s Canyon to Gould Mine Loop
I really enjoyed this hike! You start by following the King’s Canyon Trail for about a mile. The trail is somewhat rocky, but the incline is manageable and not too tiring (it’s an easier incline than Hugh Norris). At the top of the loop, you cut over and descend on the Gould Mine Trail, passing by an old mine.
The landscape along this trail was stunning. You hike on a ridge along the side of a canyon filled with saguaros – I felt like I was taking a photo every few minutes.
On the first half of the loop, the saguaros are a bit removed from the trail (not right next to the path), but on the Gould Mine part of the loop, it feels more like walking through a saguaro forest.
Desert Discovery
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 includes placards about the desert ecosystem, and there are a few benches along the path, making it a pleasant place to relax.
You definitely should come for sunset, as the sunsets here are spectacular. Arrive 45 minutes before sunset to have time to stroll the trail, take lots of photos, and be in a good spot when the sun goes down.
While you should walk the entire loop, I found the best spot to capture the saguaros in the foreground and the sunset in the background is actually at the beginning/end of the loop (the section closer to the parking lot, not the section nearer to the sunset).
Day 2 in Saguaro – The East District
For Day 2, you’ll be on the other side of Tucson at the Rincon Mountain District. Almost everything available on this side of the park is located off the Scenic Loop Road. This road is paved, one-way almost the entire way, and offers great views of the surrounding Rincon Mountains and cacti.
>>I’d recommend stopping at the Visitor Center and asking for a map of Cactus Forest Drive, the main loop road, which notes where all the main stops are.
You can easily do the entire Cactus Forest loop road, including all the overlooks and several of the main trails, with one day in the East district. To give you an idea of what to expect from this part of the park, we’ll go through all the stops, overlooks, and hikes that you can hit in one day.
Sonoron Desert Overlook
The Sonoro Desert Overlook is on a relatively tall hill that gives a great vantage point towards Tucson as well as towards the Rincon Mountains.
Cactus Forest Overlook
The biggest thing that I noticed on this overlook is that some people have their homes literally a stone’s throw away from the park – they have some beautiful views from their backyards!
Mica View Trail
The Mica View Trail is an easy, scenic hike that showcases beautiful views of saguaros, desert plants, and stunning mountain vistas. The saguaros and various cacti are close to the trail, making for 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 also make it a loop trail by returning via the Cactus Forest Loop and the Javelina Wash Trail for a 2 mile hike. While the views remain similar on both routes, the loop adds variety by taking you through a wash at the end.
If you opt for the loop, the second half of the hike still features the desert cactus landscape but brings you a bit closer to the mountains, which is very scenic.
Overall, I think this was one of my favorite hikes in Saguaro National Park, and the best in the east district. If you only do one trail, make it the Mica View trail.
Desert Ecology Trail
The Desert Ecology Trail is a very short, paved loop that takes you past various 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 quite underwhelming. You’re mostly surrounded by large bushes with hardly any cacti in sight.
It’s a short walk, so if you decide to do it, it will only take 10-15 minutes. However, if you’re looking to skip something, this would be the first on my list.
Loma Verde Trail
The Loma Verde Trail is a 3.8-mile hike, usually completed as a loop with the Pink Hills Trail, offering a unique experience in Saguaro. You’ll start by hiking about 1/2 mile through a Mesquite forest, filled with leafy trees and very few cacti.
After that, the landscape shifts to a more traditional desert setting, filled with saguaros and other cacti.
As you continue, you’ll pass an old mine site, marked by a sign, though there’s not much left to see of the mine itself. This trail is quite off the beaten path—I encountered maybe one other person during the entire hike.
Riparian Overlook
I really liked this pretty overlook! You’re looking over a small canyon gorge that fills with water during the summer monsoon season. When filled, it becomes a decent stream flowing through the bottom of the canyon. There are a lot of saguaros, of course, and many are very close to the road here.
Rincon Mountains Overlook
This is the closest overlook to the mountains.
Javelina Rocks Overlook
Javelina Rocks overlook is named for the javelinas that live nearby (similar to wild pigs) and is a very fun stop,
The area features big, stacked boulders that you can climb around on and explore. There are little paths between the boulders, making it a great spot to wander. Just be cautious of snakes or dangerous lizards that might be hiding in the rocks or shaded areas.
Freeman Homestead Trail
The Freeman Homestead Trail is a nice easy hike, starting with a path through saguaros that finishes by walking through a wash.
This is one of the best spots to watch the sunset in Saguaro East, especially if you want the saguaros in the foreground. However, the best spots to see the sunset are from the parking lot and the first couple minutes of the trail. The farther you go on the trail, the less you’ll be able to see.
So, I’d recommend getting here about 45 minutes-1 hour before sunset, doing the loop, and then getting back to the parking lot (or close by) about 10-15 minutes before sunset.
Desert Living Overlook
After sunset, on your way out of the park, stop at the last overlook, Desert Living Overlook, which looks over the park and to the Rincon Mountains in the north. I really liked the mountains, so I think it’s pretty, but there weren’t a lot of saguaros in view here.
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, even though it was only in the 80’s.
Wildlife: There are tons and tons of little tiny lizards that will scamper through your walk as you hike. They’re totally harmless, but you will see a lot. Watch out for rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, and scorpions and be careful of where you step and rocky areas. Finally, watch out for Africanized (killer) bees, who are very territorial. Leave immediately if you hear a swarm.
Hours: The park is open from sunrise to dusk. So basically, you have time to watch the sunset but will then need to leave.
