The Tucson Mountain District is on the west side of town on the western foothills of the Tucson Mountains. You’ll better appreciate what you see if you take some time to learn about the area. The Saguaro West Visitor Center has spectacular views of mountains and saguaros from its back porch and cultural and natural history exhibits about the Sonoran Desert. Red Hills Visitor Center is 26 minutes from the Cortaro Road/I-10 cluster of nicer hotels and locally-owned restaurants in the Town of Marana that are immediately adjacent to the gorgeous Picture Rocks scenic drive through Saguaro National Park West. The Saguaro National Park visitor center at Red Hills is located along the narrower Kinney Road that crosses undulating land in the southwest corner, and also passes the short but very informative Desert Discovery Nature Trail, which descriptions of the main types of cacti and information about the local wildlife. In between is Metropolitan Tucson. Rincon Mountain Visitor Center - Saguaro National Park We visited Saguaro National Park during our May 2015 trip to the American Southwest. These extraordinary icons of the desert have an average life span of 150 years and may grow to a height of 50 feet and weigh over 10 tons. Saguaro National Park West Rincon Mountain Visitor Center in the park… You're all set! Date: March 18, 2015 Contact: Andy Fisher, (520) 733-5139 Tucson, AZ – Saguaro National Park and Friends of Saguaro National Park officially opened the new bilingual exhibit collection in the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center on Thursday, March 12. Here, you can take in museum exhibits, informational slide shows, cactus gardens, or shop at the Western National Parks Association Bookstore. Planning a night under the stars? Pictured here is an unusual rainy day in April. Visitor Center is open 364 days per year. Saguaro National Park East Rincon Mountain District Visitor Center 3693 South Old Spanish Trail Tucson, AZ 85730 (520) 733-5153. Visitor Center. Saguaro National Park is composed of two sections. The Saguaro National Park was made a national monument in 1933. Then on 14 Oct 1994, Saguaro National Park was established. The westerly Tucson Mountain District embraces about 24,000 acres of the hotter, drier, less vegetated … Saguaro National Park is accessible by vehicles and RVs, however there are six designated campgrounds in the park, all of which are backcountry campgrounds located throughout the wilderness areas. Monday - Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed Christmas day) Don't miss all of the epic things to do in Saguaro National Park Both visitor centers will remain closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For instance, an adult saguaro cactus can weigh 8 tons or more and stand at 50 feet high! TUCSON - Saguaro National Park is closing its visitor centers and canceling programs in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Saguaro National Park East is open to vehicles from 7 am until sunset daily. The park’s namesake, saguaro cacti dominate the landscape, which consists of desert flats and rugged mountain ranges. Camping Near Saguaro National Park . meanwhile, The Rincon Mountain Visitor Center In Saguaro East is smaller but they provide great information to make the most of your time to enjoy at the park… ... You might spend a leisurely day outdoors at Rincon Mountain Visitor Center and Broadway Trail. Beyond activities, the park itself protects one of the true icons of the American West, the giant Saguaro Cactus. Request a few more Visitor Guides, or complete the form below to receive your guides by mail. The Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and closed on Christmas Day. The visitor centers are also … Designations. Moving to Arizona makes me realize that there’s a whole world to explore right here in America. Voices of the Desert plays here, too, and a bookstore on the premises offers National Park Service merchandise. The Saguaro is only found in a small portion of the United States in the Sonoran Desert and it is something special to stand next to one. Marana has 50,000+ population and is bordered on one side by Saguaro National Park West. A Sonoran Desert still life that comes alive now and then when wildlife pass through. Here is an update regarding visitor center hours in both districts of our park: Starting Sunday, December 6th, both visitor centers at Saguaro National Park will be open from 9 am to 3 pm from Thursday - Monday. During the winter months, the webcam will focus on the 1967 Shelby GT500 Barn Find and Appraisal That Buyer Uses To Pay Widow - Price Revealed - Duration: 22:15. Below are some considerations you should # KnowBeforeYouGo : Saguaro National Park is planning to reopen our visitor centers and resume in person fee collection starting on Thursday, October 1. In Nov of 1961, President Kennedy signed a bill expanding the monument to include Tucson Mountain Park. Saguaro N.P. Near Tucson is Saguaro National Park, named for the spectacular Saguaro forest found there. Plus, right behind the visitor center is a nice little hike: the Cactus Garden Trail. Red Hills Visitor Center in Saguaro West provides you with the stunning view of the mountain and the cacti forest. Book your tickets online for Saguaro National Park, Tucson: See 1,009 reviews, articles, and 994 photos of Saguaro National Park, ranked No.5 on Tripadvisor among 333 attractions in Tucson. Donate Friends of Saguaro National Park 2700 North Kinney Road Tucson, AZ 85743 (520) 733-8610 email: fosnp@friendsofsaguaro.org If you'd like to volunteer at Saguaro National Park, just contact the Friends of Saguaro office, or contact either visitor center at the park. You can walk or bike into the park 24 hours a day. I know this is odd, but there are two Saguaro National Parks - East & West. Saguaro National Park visitor centers to partially reopen Oct. 1 September 28, 2020, 10:13 PM National Park facilities in southern Arizona will begin reopening some services in October. If you only have time to visit one, go West. Saguaro National Park consists of two districts:  Saguaro West (Tucson Mountain District) and the much larger Saguaro East (Rincon Mountain District).  The two districts, separated by the City of Tucson, are about 30 miles apart;  travel time between districts is approximately one hour. Cactus Garden strolls at either visitor center; Lodging in Saguaro National Park Saguaro National Park, Tucson, Arizona, US. There's an excellent 15-minute video on the flora and fauna of the park, and exhibits on saguaro and deserts. Rincon Mountain Visitor Center in the Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park is located at 3693 South Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, Arizona 85730 in Pima County. 520/733-5153) has similar facilities on a smaller scale. According to a news release from the National Park Service Monday, visitor centers at both the west and east areas of Saguaro National Park will reopen on Thursday, Oct. 1. The Saguaro National Park visitor centers and fee collection areas are reopening with limited operations. Saguaro's Red Hills Visitor Center has videos and displays that provide cultural and scientific information on the park, and this is where you'll find ranger programs in the winter months. Saguaro National Park has a lot of beautiful sights to behold. Our first stop at this park on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona, was at the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center at the main entrance to the eastern district of the park. View the picturesque scenery visitors see during their time in the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center in Saguaro National Park East District. Most Tucsonans wish we had a few more rainy days. The 8.0 mile scenic Cactus Forest Loop Drive leaves from the Visitor Center. Saguaro National Park is named after its most visible and popular resident the giant Saguaro Cactus. And rightly so—even though this is a desert area, it’s plants that run the show. Saguaro National Park West in the Tucson Mountain District is open to vehicles from sunrise to sunset daily. The Red Hills Visitor Center in Saguaro West has a great view of the mountain and a cacti forest. A sandy trail runs through a garden of giant saguaro, prickly pear, brittlebush, agave, creosote. Two year-round visitor centers offer museums, films, and helpful personnel and literature. Saguaro National Park is an impressive desert oasis right in the middle of a bustling city. The visitor center is open 364 days a year and closed Christmas day. "This project was a long time coming," according to Andy L. Fisher, Chief of Interpretation. There is several things to do at Saguaro National Park located in Tucson Arizona. This is the first post in a series about National parks and monuments in the American Southwest. In the far south of Arizona lies Saguaro National Park, America’s first national park created primarily to protect a plant species. On the park's east side, in the Rincon Mountain District, the visitor center (tel. Pets are allowed in select areas of the park. Where are the Saguaro National Park Visitor Centers? The Rincon Mountain Visitor Center in Saguaro East is much smaller, but they still offer great information on how to make the most of your time at the park. Jerry Heasley Recommended for you. Start your visit at the visitor center of either one of the Saguaro National Park districts. Save on popular hotels near Saguaro National Park in Tucson: Browse Expedia's selection of {location.lodging.hotelCount} hotels and places to stay closest to Saguaro National Park. Saguaro National Park has 2 separate districts. Red Hills Visitor Center - Saguaro National Park Saguaro National Park has two districts separated by the city of Tucson, Arizona. Request this Free Visitor GuideRequested! Red Hills Visitor Center (Saguaro West) and the Visitor Center (Saguaro East) Rincon Mountain District. About 2 miles down the road from the Desert Museum is the Saguaro National Park Visitors Center. The lush desert floor is highlighted by stately Saguaro cactus and scores of smaller trees and shrubs. New Stop into a visitor center and chat with a ranger about what makes this park so special. 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