Douglas Spring

Grass Shack

Happy Valley Saddle

Juniper Basin

Manning Camp

• Reservations are required to camp and sites are first come first serve. Call the Rincon Mountain District (East) Visitor Center ahead of time to ask about availability or visit the center in person and ask at the front desk.

Spud Rock Spring

Cactus Garden Trail

• A paved, 300-foot (91 m) accessible loop trail, starting at the west end of the visitor center to the Red Hills Visitor Center parking lot.

Cactus Wren Trail, Access Point 3

Cam-Boh Picnic Area (West District)

Desert Discovery Trail

• The Desert Discovery Trail is an easy, paved, accessible, 0.5 mile (0.8 km) trail in Saguaro National Park's west district. There are several shade structures and benches along the way. This trail features any large and impressive saguaros along with impressive views of Avra Valley to the west and the Quinlan Mountains and the Baboquivari Mountains to the southwest.

Desert Winds Trail, Access Point 2

Ez-Kim-In-Zin Picnic Area (West District)

Fee Kiosk, Rincon Mountain District

• An entrance kiosk with a window where park visitors purchase park passes from a ranger.

Gates Pass Trailhead

Javelina Picnic Area (East District)

Javelina Rocks Overlook

• Javelina Rocks Overlook contains a small parking lot, with space for about 4, maybe 5 cars. Just in front of the parking area are a couple of signs, regarding visitor safety as well as a boot brush station to reduce spread of invasive plants. A dirt trail starts at the west end of the parking area and traverses up a small hill to a series of very large boulders, made of red orange and brown rock. Large Saguaro cacti and other shrubby desert vegetation are seen in every direction. To the east is the large Rincon Mountain range, and to the east is the larger Tucson valley.

Javelina Wash Trail

• A 600-yard loop trail through the wash behind the Red Hills Visitor Center, following the wash from one end of the building to the other. Flat, but sandy and rocky, with stairs at either end.

King Canyon Trailhead

• A paved parking area with spots for cars, RVs, and buses and a trailhead sign, with access to several hiking trails.

Mam-A-Gah Picnic Area (West District)

Manning Cabin

The Manning Cabin sits in the Rincon Mountains in Saguaro National Park. Levi H. Manning had the cabin built in 1905 for use as a mountain summer home. It was the first such retreat built in the Rincon Mountains.

Mica View Picnic Area (East District)

• This picnic area is located at the end of a 0.6 mile stretch of dirt road, which splits north off of the Cactus Forest Loop Drive. At the end of the dirt road, at the picnic area, is a small loop for cars to turn around and/or park. Directly east, right of the parking area, are a few unshaded cement picnic tables along with a pit toilet house. To the west, left of the parking area, is a large paved and shaded eating area with at least 6 shaded picnic tables and a cooking grill. The area is shaded by a large triangular tarp attached to large metal pillars. Directly north of the parking area is the start of the Mica View Trail. This trail is hard packed material, suited for wheelchairs and strollers. This ADA friendly trail zig zags through the Sonoran Desert north for just over a mile to the trailhead along Broadway Road. Plan ahead if planning to use wheelchairs or strollers on this trail as weather may cover parts of the path with dirt from wind and floods.

Mica View Trail

• A round dirt parking lot offers visitors several seating options, some shaded and some not shaded picnic areas close to the parking lot. Just east of the parking lot is a small vault toilet restroom. To the south, a dirt road stretches to the loop drive. To the north, a flat packed dirt trail heads into the desert vegetation. In the distance, both to the north and to the east, large mountain ranges can be seen. To the west, the city of Tucson sits in the valley.

Pull-off along Cactus Forest Loop Drive

• A small, paved pull-off sits on the right side of the Cactus Forest Loop Drive, large enough to squeeze two cars into. The road spans south for several hundred yards before curving into the desert scenery. To the east is the Rincon Mountain range, and to the west is the larger Tucson valley.

Ridge View Trail

• At the end of dirt road, spanning North/South, is a small dirt parking lot. On the north end of the parking lot, a trailhead opens up to the Ridgeview trail, which spans north to the rising mountain range. The trail is surrounded on both sides by large Saguaro cacti, and dense desert vegetation.

Saguaro National Park West

Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area

Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area celebrates the region’s natural resources, rich history, and heritage shaped by generations of Native American, Spanish, and Mexican cultures.

• The landscape for this National Heritage Area covers 3,300 square miles consisting of urban, suburban, and rural areas settled within the alternating mountain ranges, valleys, plateaus, and expansive deserts. Elevation can reach over 9,000 ft in some areas. Santa Cruz Valley is an arid desert climate but also includes many rivers and ephemeral lakes.

Sendero Esperanza Picnic Area (West District)

Signal Hill (West District)

Signs of Life, Self-Guided Tour Introduction

• This is not actually a place, but the introduction piece to the self-guided tour at the Redhills Visitor Center. This would be listened to as one is approaching the Cactus Garden, around the paved sidewalk running along the south side of the visitor center, north side of the parking lot, heading west.

Signs of Life, Self-Guided Tour Stop 1

• The first stop of the Signs of Life Tour is along a gently sloping paved trail starting at the far end of the parking lot at the Red Hills Visitor Center, just behind a sandstone wall that borders the walking path. Large Saguaros abound, with dense desert shrubs filling in the space between.

Signs of Life, Self-Guided Tour Stop 10

• Stop 10 along the Signs of Life tour is another small 2x2 wood post, with a plaque reading "10" on top. It sits just off the path, amongst sandy soil, next to a lush desert Sweetbush.

Signs of Life, Self-Guided Tour Stop 11

• This small 2x2 wood post, with a plaque reading "11" on top, sits along the end of the Javelina Wash Trail, near the North entrance stairs. Among sandy soil, it is next to a small, mounted wildlife camera.

Signs of Life, Self-Guided Tour Stop 12

• This small 2x2 wood post, with a plaque reading "12" on top, sits just off trail next to a large Saguaro with 6 arms. The top two arms of the Saguaro split from the top to make a peace sign. Surrounding the Saguaro and the post is sandy soil. Off to the north, the dry riverbed stretches to the mountain range in the distance.

Signs of Life, Self-Guided Tour Stop 2

• A small 2x2 wood post holds a small plaque with "2" on it. Just it its right is a small metal sign, standing roughly a foot and a half tall, discussing the migrating moths in the area. Behind the posts is a roughly 8-foot-tall saguaro, surrounded by desert brush.

Signs of Life, Self-Guided Tour Stop 3

• A small 2x2 wood post holds a small plaque with "3" on top. The post is nestled just under a large, green Chain Fruit Cholla cactus. The post and cactus are just off the paved trail running through the cactus garden.

Signs of Life, Self-Guided Tour Stop 4

• A small 2x2 wood post with a small plaque on top with a "4" sits just right of the paved path, next to an introduction to the Cactus Garden trail. Off into the distance is a vast view of a desert valley.

Signs of Life, Self-Guided Tour Stop 5

• This stop is the first in the Javelina Wash, a small 2x2 wood post with a plaque reading "5" on top. The post sits along a path lined with large rocks. The path itself runs along a dry riverbed, full of sandy soil.

Signs of Life, Self-Guided Tour Stop 6

• Stop 6 along the Signs of Life tour is a small 2x2 wood post with a plaque reading "6" on top. The post sits just right of the sandy path, surrounded by some small trees and shrubby desert bushes.

Signs of Life, Self-Guided Tour Stop 7

• Stop 7 along the Signs of Life tour is within the Javelina Wash Trail, a sandy soil dry riverbed. This stop sits along an eroding clay river-bed wall, full of small homes in which animals find shelter.

Signs of Life, Self-Guided Tour Stop 8

• This small 2x2 wood post acts as stop 8 along the Signs of Life guided tour, which sits half-way through the Javelina Wash Trail. This stop is along a narrow path lined on either side by large rocks. The post sits just off the path, nestled under a large, lush bush. All around is sandy soil and desert vegetation.

Signs of Life, Self-Guided Tour Stop 9

• This small 2x2 wood post, with a plaque reading "9" on top, sits tucked under a palo verde tree, of which has large bundles of desert mistletoe among its branches. The tree is located next to the western wall of the visitor center building.

Small Parking Lot, east of Redhills VC

• A small four spot parking lot sits on the south side of Kinney road, about a quarter of a mile east of the Redhills visitor center. This paved parking area looks south to a dense desert scrubland full of Sonoran Desert vegetation; such as green palo verde trees, large saguaro cacti, and more. In the distance a meandering mountain range lines the horizon.

Sus Picnic Area (West District)

Tanque Verde Ridge Trail

• This dirt trail traverses several ecological biomes, beginning with desert scrub in the lowland areas. Particularly around the trailhead, and in the first mile of the trail, several Teddy Bear Cholla cacti litter the spaces around the trail. The Rincon Mountains stretch up to the east, and the city of Tucson sits in the valley to the west.

Valley View Overlook Nature Trail

• The trail drops into and out of a couple of washes and then gradually ascends to a ridge with two benches overlooking the Avra Valley.

Valley View Trailhead

• Several parking spots along the left side of the dirt Bajado Loop Scenic Drive, and the start of a dirt trail.

You Are Here: Poetry in Parks at Mica View Picnic Area

Mica View Picnic Area, specifically for Poetry in the Parks event in 2024

• This picnic area is located at the end of a 0.6 mile stretch of dirt road, which splits north off of the Cactus Forest Loop Drive. At the end of the dirt road, at the picnic area, is a small loop for cars to turn around and/or park. Directly east, right of the parking area, are a few unshaded cement picnic tables along with a pit toilet house. To the west, left of the parking area, is a large paved and shaded eating area with at least 6 shaded picnic tables and a cooking grill. The area is shaded by a large triangular tarp attached to large metal pillars. Directly north of the parking area is the start of the Mica View Trail. This trail is hard packed material, suited for wheelchairs and strollers. This ADA friendly trail zig zags through the Sonoran Desert north for just over a mile to the trailhead along Broadway Road. Plan ahead if planning to use wheelchairs or strollers on this trail as weather may cover parts of the path with dirt from wind and floods.

Red Hills Visitor Center (West)

• Red Hills Visitor Center (West)
• The Red Hills Visitor Center is a great place to learn about the park and start your visit to Saguaro National Park's West District. Views from the patio are spectacular and overlook the Red Hills and majestic Saguaro cactus forest nearby. Learn more about the unique geology of the Tucson Mountains, get great recommendations on how to get the most out of your time in the park, or explore the park bookstore. General information, park maps, and hiking guides are available on the southern patio 24/7.

Rincon Mountain Visitor Center (East)

• Rincon Mountain Visitor Center (East)
• At the visitor center, you will find the bookstore, information station, maps and restrooms. The visitor center is also the starting point for a scenic auto/bike tour around the Cactus Forest Loop Drive offering incredible views of the Rincon Mountains. There are several great hikes to do along the drive including the mile loop along the Freeman Homestead Trail to learn about homesteading in the desert.

Signs of Life (Red Hills Visitor Center)

This self-guided tour will walk you around the Red Hills Visitor Center, through the Cactus Garden and Javelina Wash Trail. Enter the desert and learn about the amazing adaptations these plants and animals have made to survive in this hostile climate.