5 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Visit to Saguaro

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1. Valley View Overlook

Walk among giants as you climb to the top of a hill overlooking a spectacular saguaro forest. This hike will reward you with one of the best views in the park!

What You Need to Know

An enjoyable 0.8-mile roundtrip hike is all it takes to reach this overlook, making it an excellent choice for hikers of all ages.

The parking area here is tiny and can fill up during the mid-morning hours, and pets are not permitted on this trail.

Getting Here

This trail is located in WEST Saguaro.  From the Red Hills Visitor Center, travel north on Kinney Road for 1.6 miles until you reach the turn-off for the Bajada Loop Drive.  Turn right here and follow the road for 1.4 miles until you reach the Valley View Overlook Trailhead on your left.

*Special Note — the Bajada Loop Drive is a dirt road that is typically passable for most vehicles.  There are no bathrooms or water at the trailhead.

2.  Signal Hill Petroglyphs

These stunning petroglyphs provide a glimpse into life in the area and tell the stories of the desert. This rock art is believed to have been drawn by the prehistoric Hohokam people 800 years ago!

What You Need to Know

A short 0.5-mile trail leads to the petroglyphs at the top of Signal Hill. Look for the interpretive sign about petroglyphs before climbing the stairs up the hill — if you look up toward the hill from the sign, you can see a huge display of petroglyphs from down below!

Please do not touch or climb on the rocks in this area — do your part to preserve and protect this special place.  Pets are not permitted on this trail.

Getting Here

This trail is located in WEST Saguaro.  From the Red Hills Visitor Center, travel north on Kinney Road for 1.6 miles until you reach the turn-off for the Bajada Loop Drive.  Turn right here and follow the road for about 3 miles until you reach the turn-off for the Signal Hill Picnic Area.  Turn here and follow the road into the parking area.

*Special Note — the Bajada Loop Drive is a dirt road that is typically passable for most vehicles.  There are picnic tables and a pit toilet here, but no running water is available.

3.  Desert Discovery Nature Trail

Learn all about the amazing plants and animals that call Saguaro National Park home.  A short walk around this trail is a fabulous jumping-off point for understanding the area!

What You Need to Know

This trail is a 0.5-mile loop and is wheelchair accessible.  Benches, shade ramadas, and informational signs are scattered along the way.

You’ll be able to get up close to the various plants in the park, including the prickly pear cactus, the cholla cactus, and, of course, the saguaro cactus as you make your way around the loop.

Getting Here

This trail is located in WEST Saguaro.  From the Red Hills Visitor Center, travel north on Kinney Road for 1 mile until you reach the small pullout for the Desert Discovery Trail on your left.

4.  Cactus Forest Loop Drive

Take a pleasant drive through one of the best desert landscapes in Arizona!  Have your camera handy as your car twists and turns through this saguaro forest.

What You Need to Know

You’ll find many pullouts and hikes along this 8 miles loop road.  Take your time and stop when you find something that interests you — it’s easy to spend a few hours here.

The cacti in this section of the park are not as dense as in West Saguaro, but the mountain views with the desert flora are stunning!

Getting Here

This drive is located in EAST Saguaro.  After passing the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center and paying the fee at the Park Entrance, stay left to enter the one-way Cactus Forest Drive Loop.

5.  Mica View Loop

Walk through a stunning cactus forest as you gaze up toward Mica Mountain, the highest peak in Saguaro National Park!  Along the way, keep an eye out for wildlife.  You may be lucky enough to see Gila Woodpeckers, jackrabbits, and roadrunners.

What You Need to Know

Not only is this a great place to go to look for wildlife, but it’s also one of the best places to see the Palo Verde “nurse trees” that help the saguaros to grow.

If you want to complete the whole loop, this trail is 2 miles roundtrip.  You’ll start at the Mica View Picnic Area and walk 0.7 miles on a paved pathway.  When you reach the Broadway Trailhead, take a right onto the dirt path and then another quick right onto the Cactus Forest Trail.  Hike for another 0.7 miles until you reach a small junction and veer right to stay on the Cactus Forest Trail.  After traveling another 0.3 miles, you’ll reach another junction that points you back to the Mica View Picnic Area.  Turn right here and hike for 0.3 miles until you reach the parking area.

If you just want a flat and easy stroll, you can turn around when you reach the end of the paved path (0.7 miles) and return the way you came.

Getting Here

This trail is located in EAST Saguaro.  After passing the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center and paying the fee at the Park Entrance, stay left to enter the one-way Cactus Forest Drive Loop.  Drive for about 2 miles until you reach the turn-off for the Mica View Picnic Area on your left.  Turn here and drive for another 0.5 miles to reach the picnic area.  The trail starts here.

Click NEXT for two bonus stops you don’t want to miss!