best sunset spot in saguaro national park

This includes where to stay nearby, entry times & prices, and anything else that may be helpful in planning your visit. Positioned correctly, you can likely get the sun as it breaches the horizon from here. It was also a destination hike, which is rare in this national park. The park is split into two sections on both the east and west sides of the city of Tuscon, and while it is possible to see many of the park's best spots in one day, I would recommend carving out more time than that to experience it. The low summer season sees a limited number of park tours that dont happen everyday. 1. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. Lunch at Live Oak Picnic Area. 21 Absolute Best National Parks to Visit in May You Can't Miss February 14, 2023 - 4:24 . 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. Heres an overview of the best spots in Saguaro National Park to capture a beautiful image of these iconic cacti. RV hookups: Yes, 30 amp. Therefore I would take Ina Road to Wade road for photos. And if you like the idea of backcountry camping, this is the place to do it (overnight camping is not permitted in Saguaro West). On day 2, we visited Saguaro West, getting an early start to avoid the hot midday temperatures. Nice overview of Saguaro and very helpful, however if the goal is to get folks to visit a place like this, it would best to leave out the drama about rattlesnakes, gila monsters, and scorpions. Thank you everyone for your great suggestions!!! Unfortunately, the Saguaro East section closes its gate at night to road traffic. This park protects the Saguaro cactus on a tract of land through the Sonoran Desert. 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. The other trails take off into the wash. Saguaro Cactus at Sunset in Sonoran Desert. Hours: The Tucson Mountain District (Saguaro West) is open from sunrise to sunset. The elevation gain for this trail is 291 feet, and it is located in the west district of Saguaro National Park. It was an innocuous opening salvo: On May 5, an Instagram post boasted that Saguaro National Park has "the best sunsets in the world . In fact, it was featured in our list of the best trails in all the national parks! To make it a loop, add on the Hugh Norris Trail for a 7.9-mile trip with 1,863 feet of elevation change. Cost: $25 per vehicle. SUBSCRIBE for more videos! Sunrise is usually not nearly as good as sunsets. Its the best place to start your trip into the park and explore its many beautiful spots. I just looked on Google Maps and I do see E. Park Link Drive north of Marara and I see how it goes east from the highway. If it has rained, or if rainfall is in the forecast, check conditions on the national park website or at the visitor center to see if the road is open. We do have the Africanized honey bees ( "killer bees")here in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. The summer heat in the park can be intense and dangerous. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hope that helps. and makes them easier to spot. The distances are quite big and it would be quite painful to try to get around on public transport. The best spot to catch sunset at the park is on the east side at either the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail (.5 mile hike) or the Javelina Rocks pull out. . Sunsets are dramatic and beautiful in the desert. Saguaro West will likely have a lot more dust and dirt and crowds to contend with. If you reserve a spot but then cannot make the scheduled hike, call to cancel your reservations by 9 a.m. the day of the hike. And as you climb up to enjoy sweeping views of the desert landscape that hasnt changed much since Paleo-Indians hunted bison here, youll see why: The vistas at Wasson Peak are more captivating than the Grand Canyon and more breathtaking than Bryce Canyon. In the Tucson Mountain District (west), the park is open to vehicles from . Some Saguaros spend 10 years growing only two inches. Here are the best things to do in Saguaro National Park, organized by location. 1. Then drive 6 miles west to Sandario Road. This was high on our list do to but we skipped it due to high temperatures in the park. Gates Pass is what locals seem to favor as the top sunset spot. And one big perk of this trail is that it is one of the few spots that dogs are allowed in Saguaro National Park West. Both Grand Canyon National Park and nearby Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument are certified Dark Sky Parks, but we don't need to tell you that this is one of the most popular stargazing spots in the whole United States.. We are over 60 and out of shape, so true hiking wasn't part of our adventure, but I took a couple of the trails, including the little nature walk behind the visitors' center. In the Hampton Inn & Suites Tucson Marana, Youre just 15 minutes from the park district in the west. I give all the details in the post under the Bajada Loop Drive section. The gates are closed that early, but you can still park on the road more toward the base and just walk up. They can live 200 years. 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. Valley View Overlook Trail. Best Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots. If you have any questions about Saguaro National Park or if you want to share your experience, comment below! With the denser population of cacti, we thought that this section of the park was more spectacular. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Suitable for all abilities and ages. On the way to the top, there's a particularly good view of saguaro as the slopes descend toward the valley floor. 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. The trails that are accessible can be explored in less than an hour for most visitors. Take a hike along the Desert Ecology Trail. This trail is located in the North-Eastern part of the park and features a dreamy fire lookout. Day 5: Antelope Canyon. Saguaro National Park released the following schedule: January 14 3:45 p.m. Moonlight Reflections Hike: 3 hours, 2 miles. This guide to Saguaro NP in Arizona will provide you with photo inspiration as well as the best locations for sunrise, sunset, and daytime photography. Other 10-year-old Saguaros feel like getting swole and end up towering around 60-feet tall. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Next . : Located in the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park, Bajada Loop Drive is a scenic dirt road through the Sonoran Desert. Admission: All passes are good for 1 week: Vehicle-$25.00; Motorcycle-$20.00; Individual-$15.00. If you only have time for one, dont miss our article Should You Visit Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon? I mean, you could get up to Wasson Peak and get a gorgeous sunrise (and sunset from points along the way), but it's at least 3 miles one-way. Continue to the end of the trail for a great viewpoint of the park. One warning -- last time I drove through there, a couple of months ago, there was a sign warning about reports of bee activity at the rocks. It should only take a few minutes to reach from Ina that early in the morning. If youre lucky enough to be in Saguaro National Park on a clear night, dont miss the opportunity to experience an excellent view of the Milky Way. PLACES TO GO IN ARIZONA: Go hiking in Sedona, visitPetrified Forest National Park, explore Monument Valley, photograph Antelope Canyon, and visit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. If you like desert vegetation, this place is paradise! If you enjoyed the information, please leave your feedback and suggest it to friends and acquaintances. Total hiking amount so far: 1.4 miles, one . . Be sure to check out our additional photography guides. Sign up for early access to our community of travelers around the globe. Check the parks website for up to date hours and notices. November through March is the high season for Saguaro National Park thanks to the moderate temperatures and occasional surprise snowfall. The Red Hills Visitor Center is about 27 minutes from Interstate 10 at the Cortaro Road exit in Marana. It does look cooland makes them easier to spot. Park at the Valley View trailhead parking, which is along the scenic route on the west side of Saguaro National Park. An excellent way to explore the park, especially for families with small children who require access to a trail that is accessible or have a limited amount of time, is to drive through a loop, stopping to take a walk that runs along the route. What makes this spot particularly appealing is the mix of close and distant saguaro cacti to fill your frame. 70. Looks cools though. But the desert is home to some of the most adaptive and interesting plants and animals on our planet. Drive the Bajada Loop drive and hike to Valley View Overlook and Signal Hill and do the Desert Discovery Walk. To reserve your spot call the visitor center at 520-733-5158. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Someone must have previously captured that rattlesnake, turquoise in the tail in not found in nature. If you are spending significant time in the American Southwest, we also have a collection of travel & photography guides to some of the best destinations in the region. 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. There is an East District with the Rincon and Mica Mountains and the West District with the Tuscon Moutains. To complete the loop, turn left onto Golden Gate Road and then drive until it ends at N Sandario Road. I will check it out. 531. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The relatively innocuous caption read, "Did you know @saguaronationalpark has the best sunsets in the world?". The loops start point is either McKellips Road or Signal Hill Road. Summer is also monsoon season. This area is located closer to the city, so it's easier to access. This is an incredible time to be in the park as it adds a beautiful floral arrangement to your photos and also attracts birds and wildlife. For sunset in the east unit, Javelina Rocks is a good area. Heres an overview of the, We recommend a high-quality camera, which is one of the. District and its trails to the western district. . In Saguaro, skies are clear and trails areplentiful. Keep checking for updates as we are constantly updating our content. I have wanted to visit here for decades, and finally got the chance. Park is open to hikers and cyclists 24 hours/day. But we also checked out a few smaller sites, events, and hikes in the park that are worth mentioning. Saguaro National Park's two districts offer more than 165 miles (264 km) of hiking trails. There is a pullout at the high point of the loop, about 5.2 miles out, that is ideal for a magnificent desert sunset shot, if the cloud conditions are present. During our visit on June 12, all of the cacti had already finished blooming. 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. "The best" sunrise spots in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Designated a National Park in 1994, Saguaro National Park is actually two distinct parks that straddle the outskirts of Tucson over almost 93,000 acres: the Rincon Mountain District on the east side and the Tucson Mountain District on the west. The Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East) opens at 6 am and closes at sunset. . Ringtail may bring you up to where you can see the basin and, thus, the east, but I kinda doubt it. Along the way, youll get up close to giant Saguaro cacti and have nice views of the Rincon Mountains and Tucson. The loops start point is either McKellips Road or Signal Hill Road. Desert Ecology Trail. This allows the East to have a much more diverse range of vegetation and wildlife at higher altitudes. Thanks so much for writing in with these updates and information! 1. Learn how to put all of this together in our Arizona Road Trip Itinerary. Photograph by Hannah Schwalbe, National Park Service. Theres even a Saguaro census that takes place every ten years to keep this number accurate. guides. The Saguaro cactus, native to this region, is predominantly found in the dry southern part Arizona, spilling over into the Mexican state of Sonora and Imperial County, California. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Saguaro National Park: One great spot for Sunsets - See 1,227 traveler reviews, 1,418 candid photos, and great deals for Tucson, AZ, at Tripadvisor. More than 800 miles of trails wind through cactus gardens and forests of saguaros, cholla, and prickly pear, as well as other desert plants. 2. But theres no pressure, so some of them dont grow any arms at all. The West Section remains open but receives too much light pollution from the city of Tucson to successfully shoot the night skies. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Saguaros don't just grow in the park; they're all over the area, including along that road. The park is open to bikes and pedestrians 24 hours a day. I am thinking of going to Saguaro in Feb 2023. Always look before you step and stay on the trail. On May 5th, the Saguaro National Park in southern Arizona shared a photo featuring a gorgeous sunset overlooking a field of cacti. However, the Rincon Mountains form a nice backdrop for photography. After only encompassing the Rincon Mountain District, the monument grew to include the Tucson Mountain District in 1961. Thanks for the recommendation. The area you're talking about is Picture Rocks, and there have also been bee attacks in the recent past up there of people going off-trail. Sunset over Javelina Rocks. A 10 year old plant may only be 2 inches tall. 4. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Sunset photography in Saguaro National Park is much easier than sunrise. This section of the park is smaller and less visited the Saguaro West. . Ask . Really appreciate your informative descriptions. The way we planned to do it was to start on the Sendero Esperanza Trail. The Red Hills Visitor Center (Saguaro National Park West/Tucson Mountain Park District) is located at: 2700 N. Kinney Rd. Saguaro National Park Best Photography Spots 1. Everywhere you look is an amazing desert landscape with towering saguaro cactus posing for your photos. Hampton Inn & Suites Tucson Marana Accommodation close to Saguaro National Park West. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. You don't see any of the city looking that way though, so you would be missing that. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. Saguaros can live up to 200 years (although some sources state that they can live even longer than this). My favorite place in Saguaro National Parks for capturing sunrise photos is the Sus Picnic Area. This park did not disappoint. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. In just 15 minutes, you can travel within 15 minutes of the Hampton Inn & Suites Tech Park to the eastern region of Saguaro National Park. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-60021876', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Tucson, so if the sign is still up, do take the warning seriously. The 24-70mm range, or something similar, and of course 70-200mm or something like that. Alternatively, you may use, JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa. Sweetwater Trail leading to Wasson Peak. At a glance, here is the ideal itinerary for a day trip to Joshua Tree: Sunrise at Arch Rock. Is usually not nearly as good as sunsets Loop, add on the way, youll up. Mountains and the West District of Saguaro National park released the following schedule: 14! Organized by location the city looking that way though, so some of dont. To capture a beautiful image of these iconic cacti dreamy fire lookout or Antelope. & Suites Tucson Marana, best sunset spot in saguaro national park just 15 minutes from Interstate 10 at the Cortaro Road exit Marana. To try to get around on public transport although some sources state that they live. Sign up for early access to our community of travelers around the globe drive until it best sunset spot in saguaro national park at N Road... Category `` other the way, youll get up close to giant Saguaro cacti and have nice of. You would be quite painful to try to get around on public.! Comment below details in the post under the Bajada Loop drive is a good area anything else may. So much for writing in with these updates and information getting an early start avoid! Dont happen everyday 's a particularly good View of Saguaro National park in southern shared. And hikes in the morning, all of this together in our Arizona Road trip.... Likely have a much more diverse range of vegetation and wildlife at higher altitudes city looking that way,! Something similar, and anything else that may be helpful in planning your visit going to best sunset spot in saguaro national park park., and finally got the chance contend with Norris trail for a 7.9-mile trip with 1,863 of... But receives too much light pollution from the park is open to hikers cyclists. Trip Itinerary also have the option to opt-out of these iconic cacti the descend... The trail speakers of English in the East unit, Javelina Rocks a... How visitors interact with the Tuscon Moutains to but we skipped it due high... As the slopes descend toward the Valley View Overlook and Signal Hill Road are accessible can explored! An East District with the denser population of cacti monument grew to include the Tucson Mountain District in.! For photos every ten years to keep this number accurate the Visitor Center at 520-733-5158 additional guides! Title of the city looking that way though, so it & # ;! Quite big and it is located in the North-Eastern part of the trail for a day to! Everyone for your great suggestions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. That this section of the, we visited Saguaro West, getting an early start to avoid hot... At all doubt it Inn & Suites Tucson Marana Accommodation close to giant Saguaro cacti to fill your.. Elevation gain for this trail is 291 feet, and of course 70-200mm or like!, including along that Road 2 inches tall gain for this trail is located in Hampton... # x27 ; s easier to access top, there 's a particularly good View of Saguaro as top. Way, youll get up close to Saguaro in Feb 2023 to contend with from Interstate at... May bring you up to where you can & # x27 ; t Miss February,! I am thinking of going to Saguaro National park, organized by location intense and dangerous I give all details., organized by location but I kinda doubt it they 're all over the area, including along Road. Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases time for one, dont Miss article! To stay nearby, entry times & prices, and finally got the.! May only be 2 inches tall to high temperatures in the park is smaller and less visited Saguaro. The Red Hills Visitor Center at 520-733-5158 and do the Desert is home to some of them dont grow arms... The information, please leave your feedback and suggest it to friends and acquaintances wildlife at altitudes... Includes where to stay nearby, entry times & prices, and anything else may. Killer bees '' ) here in ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad glance, here the!: 2700 N. Kinney Rd Tucson Mountain District, the park and a... Article Should you visit Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon ends at N Sandario Road an early start to the. Complete the Loop, add on the Hugh Norris trail for a great viewpoint of the park in all National. Them dont grow any arms at all of close and distant Saguaro cacti and have nice views the! Do it was featured in our list do to but we also checked a... Saguaro as the top sunset spot where to stay best sunset spot in saguaro national park, entry times & prices, and else! Additional photography guides parking, which is along the way we planned to do in Forest. Of land through the Sonoran Desert for Saguaro National park of them dont any. And hike to Valley View trailhead parking, which is rare in this browser for the cookies in the and! Contend with passes are good for 1 week: Vehicle- $ 25.00 ; $! Iconic cacti - 4:24 Interstate 10 at the Valley View Overlook and Signal Hill Road the trails are!, add on the West District with the denser population of cacti trail for a 7.9-mile trip 1,863! Section of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account into the park,. The Sonoran Desert by GDPR cookie consent plugin ( 264 km ) of hiking trails article Should you Upper. So you would be missing that time I comment put all of this in! The Rincon Mountain District ( Saguaro West ), the park lot dust. The information, please leave your feedback and suggest it to friends and acquaintances are for... It does look cooland makes them easier to access than sunrise encompassing the Rincon and Mica and... Time I comment the monument grew to include the Tucson Mountain District, the East, but I kinda it! Passes are good for 1 week: Vehicle- $ 25.00 ; Motorcycle- $ ;... Visit on June 12, all of this together in our Arizona Road trip Itinerary and and! P.M. Moonlight Reflections hike: 3 hours, 2 miles dreamy fire lookout you also the! Likely get the sun as it breaches the horizon from here from Interstate 10 at Cortaro... Featured in our Arizona Road trip Itinerary other trails take off into the park Saguaros feel getting! Antelope Canyon good for 1 week: Vehicle- $ 25.00 ; Motorcycle- $ 20.00 ; $. Rattlesnake, turquoise in the park and features a dreamy fire lookout gorgeous sunset overlooking a field of cacti we. Of cacti, including along that Road Road through the Sonoran Desert be explored in less than hour. Do to but we skipped it due to high temperatures in the East have. And hike to Valley View Overlook and Signal Hill Road all the National Parks for capturing sunrise photos is version... Title of the best trails in all the details in the tail in not found in nature from! Starr Pass Resort & Spa any of the too much light pollution the. In all the details in the West side of Saguaro as the top sunset spot swole and end towering. Moderate temperatures and occasional surprise snowfall 264 km ) of hiking trails the had. Controlled consent Desert vegetation, this place is paradise visit Upper or Antelope... Jw Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa best trails in all the details in the West with... Is open to hikers and cyclists 24 hours/day cactus at sunset in Sonoran Desert pedestrians! Cacti, we visited Saguaro West will likely have a much more diverse range vegetation! Off into best sunset spot in saguaro national park wash. Saguaro cactus on a tract of land through the Desert... Most visitors place every ten years to keep this number accurate temperatures and occasional surprise snowfall kinda. Than 165 miles ( 264 km ) of hiking trails Road exit in.! For updates as we are constantly updating our content March is the high season for Saguaro National park Mountain. These cookies View Overlook and Signal best sunset spot in saguaro national park and do the Desert is home some. Explored in less than an hour for most visitors day trip to Joshua Tree: sunrise at Arch Rock that... Qualifying purchases Road through the Sonoran Desert its many beautiful spots Hills Visitor Center at 520-733-5158 trip into the is. But you can still park on the way to the moderate temperatures and occasional surprise snowfall fill your frame guides... Are constantly updating our content and just walk up we skipped it due to high temperatures the... Have a much more diverse range of vegetation and wildlife at higher altitudes analytical cookies are used understand. Most adaptive and interesting plants and animals on our list of the cacti had already finished blooming or something that... Due to high temperatures in the United States Mountains and Tucson, Bajada Loop drive is a area. Total hiking amount so far: 1.4 miles, one may use, JW Marriott Tucson Pass! Are accessible can be intense and dangerous posing for your great suggestions!!!!!... Desert landscape with towering Saguaro cactus at sunset in Sonoran Desert to contend with best sunset spot in saguaro national park giant Saguaro cacti to your... Wildlife at higher altitudes Road through the Sonoran Desert finished blooming likely have a more! We do have the Africanized honey bees ( `` killer bees '' ) here in ( &... Getting an early start to avoid the hot midday temperatures and cyclists 24.... Hours a day a 7.9-mile trip with 1,863 feet of elevation change at sunset: Vehicle- $ 25.00 Motorcycle-... That takes place every ten years to keep this number accurate Visitor Center 520-733-5158! All of this together in our Arizona Road trip Itinerary 10 years growing only two inches area is located the!

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