Best Sunset Spot in Tucson/Saguaro National park I'm going to be driving through Tucson/Saguaro NP as part of a larger road trip and I was wondering if anyone new a spot that is great for viewing the sunsets with lots of saguaros and not a lot of people. It is a paved road with plenty of pull-outs and viewpoints along the way. READ MORE: Best travel lenses for Sony a7iii and other Sony Alpha cameras. Plan your visit with our guide to the Best Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park. I stayed in Tucson Mountain Park for sunset, as it's actually a better place to catch an epic desert sunset, better than anywhere in the national park. The western section, also called the Tucson Mountain District, has a denser population of cacti. The East also has a much higher elevation point with Mica Mt at 8,666ft compared to the West's highest point: Wasson Peak at 4,687ft. Depictions and descriptions of desert wildlife and varieties of cactus will help you identify examples as you drive on. Sign up for early access to our community of travelers around the globe. A swimming pool with a slide and a putting green are here for your enjoyment but the real attraction are the mini donkeys, goats and rescue horses you get to hang out with. This is more of a zoo than a museum, with animal exhibits, an aquarium, and botanical gardens, and it also has a natural history museum. We stayed at Hotel McCoy, per your recommendation. East and West park are different but both have impressive desert scenes. Day 4: Monument Valley. If you dont have the lens you need, do not fret, the same lens should perform just fine. Saguaro National Park - Tucson, Arizona. A list of hikes is below. If you are just planning on photographing Saguaro NP with your phone, you should still bring a tripod and ensure that HDR mode is enabled. 9. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You will discover they are much larger than they tend to appear in photos. Plus, the heat of the day will fade away as the sun sets! They also provide an opportunity to learn about the diverse flora and fauna in the park. sunset, mountain, canyon, national park, USA, landscape. The Gould Mine Trail provides one of the best photography spots in Saguaro National Park. The Snyder Hill BLM area is a great spot close to Tucson and Saguaro National Park. Continue to the end of the trail for a great viewpoint of the park. With both designated tent and RV sites, plus modern . We also drive up most of the way to Mount Lemmon to get a good view of the city from above.One night, we watch an amazing sunset from the mountain pass in the Tucson Mountain Park, and the next night we watch it from Saguaro National Park West. Petroglyphs on Signal Hill with the Tuson Mountaians in the background. A half day is all you need to see the highlights, but with more time you can tour the entire park, go on a day hike, or camp in the backcountry. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-60041637', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Tucson doesn't have the most spectacular sunrises. Then, that afternoon, we made the trek over to the east side of the park to check it out. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort; 8. It is located just outside of Saguaro West and he says you get great views of the cacti. Panther Peak Wash would be an almost definite no just because it's a wash and it's on the west side of the divide. QUIET CONTRASTS: SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK EAST. The Cowboy Hideaway is also an irresistible option. This beautiful property has an outdoor pool and views of the nearby mountains. One of our awesome readers recommends Gilbert Ray Campground. Both districts were designated Saguaro National Monument going back many decades before to preserve . Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. If you dont have the lens you need, do not fret, the same lens should perform just fine. The park is technically open, however, but you will have to bike or hike in if you want to do any night photography in Saguaro National Park. The inside of the cactus is made of wooden ribs which resembles a tree trunk. This hotel has a handy location just off of Route 10. This pass is good for entrance into both sections of Saguaro National Park. 13. . How could anything survive without water and in such high temperatures? Saguaro is pronounced sa-WAH-roh.. You really have to watch where you step because if I hadnt been paying attention, I would have stepped right on this little guy. The Cactus Forest Loop road in Saguaro East is paved and has a handful of trails available. If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our United States Travel Guide and our Arizona Travel Guide for more inspiration and travel planning tips. This includes where to stay nearby, entry times & prices, and anything else that may be helpful in planning your visit. Valley View Overlook Trail in the west section was one of some favorite hikes in Saguaro National Park. The Javelina Rocks are toward the last part of the loop road. Here are a few suggestions with more character, based on budget and amenities. March in Tucson is all about sunny skies and mild weather pleasant for enjoying exploring places outdoors like Saguaro National Park and other gems nearby. You have everything you require for high-quality time out of the park. When we have visitors, Saguaro National Park (East) is always on the list of places to go. . The other trails take off into the wash. Saguaro Cactus at Sunset in Sonoran Desert. The Saguaro National Park, nearby the city of Tucson, Arizona, protects part of the Sonoran Desert landscapes, fauna and flora, including the giant saguaro c. One of the most magical places to experience a sunset in Washington State is Fremont Lookout, located in Mount Rainier National Park. We generally only post about places we visit for a longer amount of time. Great horned owl perched on a dead tree with cactus in the background. For current status and frequent updates, check outSaguaros current conditions. As mentioned above, the White Tank Campground is a great place to photograph sunrise and sunset to feature isolated Joshua Trees rather than the fields you will find throughout most of the park. I have wanted to visit here for decades, and finally got the chance. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. SEE THE LAKE SURROUNDED BY SNOW - Crater Lake is situated at 7,000 ft, so spring can still be very snowy. It was an innocuous opening salvo: On May 5, an Instagram post boasted that Saguaro National Park has "the best sunsets in the world . The first morning I will be driving in to the west side from Wade Road and I see there are several trails in that section of the park (Ringtail, Ironwood, Panther Peak Wash), but I don't know if they are good for sunrise. Signal Hill is a great place to get some fantastic park views. Access road to the Mica View picnic area. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. I think the inherent problem in trying to get a good sunrise or sunset at Saguaro is the fact that most of the best spots involve a hike, and you get almost zero pre-dawn and post-dusk light in Tucson. Its easy to walk, educational, and great for all ages. You have a much higher probability of getting struck by lightning. In fact, it was featured in our list of the best trails in all the national parks! Really appreciate your informative descriptions. Sonoran Desert at Saguaro National Park. Best Saguaro National Park Scenic Drive Mar 26, 2016; Desert in bloom Mar 25, 2016; Do I need a 4WD in late March? Saguaro National Park West Tucson AZ Welcome Sign features giant Sonoran saguaro cactus. Short walks at Cholla Cactus Garden, Skull Rock, Jumbo Rocks. But theres no pressure, so some of them dont grow any arms at all. You can see the full list here. I visited the west side: Tucson Mountain District. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. If you are traveling with kids, a visit to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is worthwhile, as long as you have several hours to spend here to make it worth the cost. Saguaro is a fantastic place to wander dry washes and winding trails, smelling the sweet scented air and stopping to admire cacti and scurrying wildlife. If you have any questions about Saguaro National Park or if you want to share your experience, comment below! Saguaros can live up to 200 years (although some sources state that they can live even longer than this). This is where we stayed. To help plan the best national park trip ever, . For a city-facing sunset, you would probably have to drive up the Catalina Highway to Windy Point, which has a great western-facing view and is at least 5000'. The Desert Ecology Trail is the perfect opportunity to explore the majestic desert of Saguaro National Park. On this short trail you will walk uphill to a nice little viewpoint over the park. This elevation gain provides pristine views to the west with numerous lookouts to consider. JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort and Spa. Distance: 0.8 miles round trip Location: Bajada Loop Drive, Hohokam Road. Open: Mon-Sun, 9am - 5pm. Photograph by Hannah Schwalbe, National Park Service. District and its trails to the western district. Admission: All passes are good for 1 week: Vehicle-$25.00; Motorcycle-$20.00; Individual-$15.00. Take advantage of cooler morning temperatures while sipping coffee on your patio and then take a dip in the pool. In the Hampton Inn & Suites Tucson Marana, Youre just 15 minutes from the park district in the west. Or, walk a section of the Hugh Norris Trail or the Sendero Esperanza Trail. This trail intersects the Hugh Norris Trail. One day is all you need to visit Saguaro National Park, unless you plan to go camping in the backcountry. This trail is ranked moderate, and it is a good place for hiking, birdwatching, and walking during your visit to Saguaro National Park. 4. To reserve your spot call the visitor center at 520-733-5158. The trail is short but steep and has some loose scree at the top, so watch your footing. From here it is a 30-minute drive to both Saguaro West and Saguaro East. If you are visiting Saguaro National Park as part of a Southwest road trip, you may also find some of these other regional guides useful for your planning: Hopefully this guide was useful for planning your shots at Saguaro NP. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson. Maybe I will simply leave the hotel early in the morning and just pull off the road before the mountain divide to get saguaro cactus and sky photos. The Saguaro Cactus is the largest cactus in the United States. Saguaro National Parkis under limited operations due to COVID-19. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. They would be closest to I-10 but is that area good for sunrise? Saguaro National Park is made for photography adventures with kids and grown-ups. Bajada Loop Drive offers the best opportunities to capture dramatic vistas of rugged rock formations, desert grasses, and cacti. 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