Part III of the Sonoran Desert Series
In this article:
Tucson is the perfect starting point to explore two of the largest and most impressive parks within the U.S. Sonoran Desert. Saguaro National Park is just a short drive from the city and the remote Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument makes for a perfect day trip!
Saguaro National Park
Directly East and West of Tucson lies Saguaro National Park with its impressively dense forests of giant saguaros. The National Park is divided into two sections - Saguaro National Park East and West - which both protect beautiful desert landscapes and a variety of desert wildlife. With both sections being well connected to Tucson’s international airport as well as the I10 interstate this National Park is another easily reachable destination of the Sonoran Desert. However, as this park doesn’t attract those large crowds as the likes of Grand Canyon, Zion, or Yosemite there is more than enough room to enjoy some desert solitude in its great outdoors. That being said, there are some distinct differences between the East and West sections, which means that each section has its very own characteristic features.
Saguaro National Park East makes up the larger section of the two which includes vast areas of the remote backcountry within the higher elevations of the Rincon Mountains. Here you will be able to hike through a vast mountainous wilderness and dense forests of pine trees and also stay at one of the park’s backcountry campsites. The main area around the foothills of the Rincon Mountains offers a vast network of hiking trails as well as a paved loop road which starts and ends at the main entrance near the visitor center - an incredibly scenic one-way drive leading to numerous viewpoints, picnic areas, and several trailheads. By far the best way is to explore the desert on foot, starting from any one of the trailheads along the loop road. This allows you to get up close to the giant saguaros and further increases your chances to spot some of the area’s elusive desert wildlife.
Some of my favorite hikes were along the Loma Verde, Cactus Forest, and Mesquite Trails which I explored during my visits in the summer of 2023 and again in the winter of 2024. When I was hiking the trails north of the loop road and east of the Mica View Picnic Area I didn’t have to go far to be all by myself with no other hiker, biker, or car nearby. One particularly exciting adventure took place on the Loma Verde Trail one afternoon during my visit in the winter of 2024. The desert around me seemed incredibly busy back then with jackrabbits and deer roaming the area. At some point I heard sniffing sounds coming from the dense shrubbery which turned out to be a pack of coyotes a few meters from the trail, watching me closely as they followed the deer I had just seen minutes before. I was surprised to see that much wildlife - little did I know that the most exciting encounter was yet to come. Later in the evening right around sunset, when I was on my way back to the car, I encountered a family of javelinas in a wash near the trail. As I watched them disappear into the shrubbery I suddenly noticed a bobcat stalking them - just 20 meters from where I was standing! I couldn’t believe my eyes as this beautiful creature stood there, perfectly still - only looking up afterI started taking pictures. An incredibly rewarding adventure!
Quick facts about Saguaro National Park East (Rincon Mountains):
perfect for: hiking, biking, camping, picnics, watching the sunset, wildlife viewing, sightseeing
best viewpoints: Javelina Rocks: best city views along Cactus Forest Drive
best routes: Cactus Forest Drive: 8 mile paved loop road through a typical Sonoran Desert landscape / Cactus Forest Trail: easy 4.2 mile (one way) out-and-back hiking trail through cactus and mesquite forests / Mica View, Cactus Forest Nort, Loma Verde Trailheads (Top Pick!): all offer easy access points along Cactus Forest Drive to a dense network of hiking trails allowing for short to extended hikes
best campsites: Manning Camp: situated near a ranger station, requires a strenuous 15 mile (one way) out-and-back hike / all campsites are situated in the Rincon Mountains backcountry (permit required)
fees: US$ 25 (includes admission for both sections) / interagency pass accepted
services: visitor center (open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), day use areas, ranger-led activities
more information on nps.gov
The western Tucson Mountains section of Saguaro National Park does not have a main entrance but offers the beautifully situated Red Hills Visitor Center and a paved main road as well as some unpaved loop roads that lead through an exceptionally dense forest of giant saguaros and past numerous trailheads. The hikes in this area range from short walks - like the Desert Discovery Nature Trail near the visitor center - to long-distance hikes, such as the adventurous Sendero Esperanza and King Canyon trails. Since the Tucson Mountains separate this section of the park from the city of Tucson this area feels more remote and wild when comparing it to the main area of the eastern Rincon Mountains section. In addition to that most of the park’s impressive saguaros are concentrated around this area which boasts some of the densest saguaro cactus forests of the U.S. Sonoran Desert.
Just like the eastern section the Tucson Mountains also also offer plenty of wildlife spotting opportunities, with coyotes and deer frequently roaming these hills. Some of the top picks of this area include the Bajada Loop Drive - an unpaved loop road leading to two of the park’s most impressive spots: the Sendero Esperanza Trail located amidst a particularly dense population of saguaros and Signal Hill which is one of the most awe-inspiring viewpoints in the entire region. King Canyon Trail is another highlight offering sweeping views of the vast Avra Valley below. However, one thing must not be missed when visiting this area, and that is watching one of the iconic and incredibly colorful desert sunsets from one of the viewpoints within the western Tucson Mountain section of the park! My absolute favorite spot is the top of Signal Hill from where I watched the sunset over the endless desert plains against the backdrop of dramatically illuminated mountains and saguaros.
Quick facts about Saguaro National Park West (Tucson Mountains):
perfect for: hiking, biking, camping, picnics, watching the sunset, wildlife viewing, sightseeing
best viewpoints: Wasson Peak: far-reaching 360 degree views of the National Park and nearby Tucson / Signal Hill (Top Pick!): easily accessible with sweeping 360 degree views, best sunset views of the Sonoran Desert!
best routes: Bajada Loop Drive (Top Pick!): unpaved 7.2 mile (includes Sendero Esperanza Trailhead) loop road through one of the most scenic landscapes of the Sonoran Desert / Sendero Esperanza Trail: moderate 3.5 (one way) out-and-back hike through some of the most scenic parts of Saguaro National Park / King Canyon Trail: strenuous 3.5 mile (one way) out-and-back hike to Wasson Peak / Desert Discovery Nature Trail: easy 0.4 mile loop trail through a scenic desert landscape
fees: US$ 25 (includes admission for both sections) / interagency pass accepted
services: visitor center (open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), day use areas, ranger-led activities
more information on nps.gov
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Located in one of the most remote areas in the U.S. part of the Sonoran Desert, a visit to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument means long drives through the sparsely populated regions and small desert towns of Arizona’s far southwest. The remote yet scenic route from Tucson through the Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation takes roughly 2.5 hrs to drive. However, this also means no crowds and some true desert solitude! A visit to this remote destination will be rewarded by a rugged and dramatic desert wilderness that is packed with colorful life and sweeping scenic views. A place unlike any other in the U.S. Southwest! The variety of plants in this area sometimes makes Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument resemble somewhat more of a botanical garden - a truly pristine and picture-perfect desert landscape. The park offers beautifully located campgrounds as well as a number of loop drives and hiking trails to explore this pristine desert wilderness.
Ajo Mountain Loop is the park’s most popular loop drive which winds its way up into the Ajo Mountains. This is an unpaved 20 mile or 32 km route that will take roughly 2 hours to complete. Along the way are several scenic overlooks and picnic areas, with the ones at Diablo Wash (Stop 6) and Estes Canyon (Stop 11) offering ramadas and great views. A number of trails along the way lead further up into the Ajo Mountains with Arch Canyon Trail offering a short and easy opportunity to explore the rugged terrain on foot and get up close to the Double Arch - a prominent geological feature along the loop drive. However, it is hard to point out a single highlight along the way as the entire drive is just spectacular. Driving back down from the mountains into the valley offers far reaching views all the way into Mexico and countless stops along the route allow for a break to take in this uniquely beautiful area with its rich colors, diverse plant life, and calm atmosphere. As there was little to no traffic when I visited the area during the summer of 2023 and the winter of 2024 I was able to experience some that serene desert solitude right here!
Quick facts about Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Ajo Mountain Loop:
perfect for: hiking, picnics, wildlife viewing, sightseeing
best viewpoints: Diablo Wash (Stop 6) and Estes Canyon (Stop 11): both offering ramadas and scenic views
best routes: Ajo Mountain Loop (Top Pick!): unpaved 20 mile loop drive through a spectacular desert landscape / Arch Canyon Trail: easy 0.6 (one way) out-and-back hike into Arch Canyon, trailhead along Ajo Mountain Loop
fees: US$ 25 / interagency pass accepted
services: day use areas
more information on nps.gov
Just across the highway from the Ajo Mountain Loop starting point lies the park’s visitor center and the beginning of the North Puerto Blanco Drive which marks the northern portion of the mostly unpaved and partially very rough 40 mile or 64 km Puerto Blanco Drive Loop. Part of the northern portion can be traveled in both directions which allows for a short out-and-back drive to the Pinkley Peak Picnic Area, roughly 6 miles or 10 km from the visitor center - a good alternative for those who do not have enough time to complete the entire drive. The one-way section of the loop drive beyond Pinkley Peak traverses the most remote parts of the park as these roads are even less traveled than the Ajo Mountain Loop.
Either way, this loop offers unparalleled far-reaching views and beautiful picnic areas - most of which I enjoyed all by myself! The final section of the Puerto Blanco Drive leads all the way to the U.S. - Mexican border and with it to the South Puerto Blanco Drive. This section runs parallel to the border all the way back to the highway near Lukeville and can also be traveled in both directions. However, while the northern portion guarantees great views as well as some peace and quiet, the southern portion is - as of mid 2024 - still heavily impacted by the on-going border crisis, meaning refugee camps and people patrolling the area. While I myself have not encountered any dangerous situation along the border I would recommend staying in the northern portion of the park and stick to the two-way section of the North Puerto Blanco Drive.
Right next to the park’s visitor center lies Twin Peaks Campground which is the largest campground in the area. Nestled among towering cacti in between several hills this is one of the most idyllic camping spots of the Sonoran Desert! This also is the starting point of the short but scenic Desert View Trail - a short and scenic loop trail which I hiked during my most recent visit in the winter of 2024 and from where I enjoyed another spectacular Sonoran Desert sunset.
Quick facts about Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Puerto Blanco Drive Loop:
perfect for: hiking, camping, picnics, watching the sunset, wildlife viewing, sightseeing
best viewpoints: Pinkley Peak Picnic Area: far reaching views of the remote desert along North Puerto Blanco Drive / Desert View Trail (Top Pick!): easily accessible with sweeping 360 degree views, best sunset views of the Sonoran Desert!
best routes: Puerto Blanco Drive: unpaved 40 mile loop, it is best to drive only the two-way section of North Puerto Blanco Drive until Pinkley Peak Picnic Area, as this allows you to avoid having to return via South Puerto Blanco Drive along the U.S. – Mexican border (currently heavily impacted by the on-going border crisis) / Desert View Trail (Top Pick!): easy 1.2 mile loop trail offering great views of the remote desert landscapes
fees: US$ 25 / interagency pass accepted
services: visitor center (open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), day use areas, ranger-led activities
more information on nps.gov
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