Saguaro National Park
In case you missed it, I have set a BIG travel goal for 2020, I want to visit 12 national parks and/or monuments.
I love visiting the national parks and want to explore even more of them this year. I checked off the first park on my list week, by visiting Saguaro National Park, located near Tucson, Arizona.
Now, you might not know this little fact, but the park is split into to areas, the east and west. The east opened during the 1950’s while the west opened several years later during the 1990’s. The west section of the park is easy to access on your way in or out of Tucson. If you’re looking for a larger park, head to the east side, which also provides camping opportunities and the Rincon Mountains. The west district is 1/3 the size of the east, but will still leave you in awe of the gorgeous saguaros showing off their beauty in the desert sun.
A Few Tips:
Make sure to take plenty of water with you
Make a stop at the visitors center to chat with the park rangers to determine the best route to take during your visit.
Pick up a map of the park
Take advantage of the pullouts, to stop and take photos of the gorgeous desert scenery. Note: The roads are narrow and some are unpacked throughout the park.
Visit the park between the months of April - June to see the desert in bloom
I enjoyed my visit to this tranquil desert location. The park did not have many visitors and I was able to see the majority of the area with limited time. This is a great park for people of all ages. There are several paths for hikes that allow for you to explore the park a little more. To be honest, it was hard to leave Saguaro National Park, the weather was perfect and the scenery was stunning!
Cost:
The entrance fee for a vehicle is $25 for the week. This works out well if you would like to visit both districts. If you have a plan to visit more than a few parks in a year, I would recommend purchasing an annual park pass.
Even though I’ve called the desert my home for many years, this was my first visit to this national park and I look forward to visiting again in the future.
Stay tuned to see which park I visit next!