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.

A paved, 300-foot (91 m) accessible loop trail, located on the west side of the Red Hills Visitor Center parking lot. This short trail provides a great introduction to the notable species of the Sonoran Desert, featuring signs that identify and interpret many of the most common species. 

Cactus Garden Trail

This picnic area is located in Saguaro National Park's West District along Picture Rocks Rd. There is a trailhead at this location, as well as a place for horse trailers to park. The Prophecy Wash Trail is accessed from here. 

A large stone and wood structure shades two stone tables, with another stone table is uncovered.

Cam-Boh Picnic Area

Cam-Boh Picnic Area (West District)

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.

The Desert Discovery Trail is an easy, paved, accessible, 0.5 mile (0.8 km) trail in Saguaro National Park's west district. The trailhead is located along Kinney Road, 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest from the Red Hills Visitor Center.  Interpretive signage along the trail provides an introduction to the ecology and habitats of the Sonoran Desert. 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. This is a great introduction to Saguaro National Park and a family-friendly trail that allows pets on leash and is accessible to wheelchairs.

Desert Discovery Trail

This picnic area is located along the Bajada Loop Drive in Saguaro National Park's West District. It is located near the Sendero Esperanza Trailhead. 

A rock and wood shade structure covers a stone picnic table, surrounded by a lush desert landscape.

Ez-Kim-In-Zin Picnic Area

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

This is the closest picnic area from the Saguaro National Park East District entrance. There are plenty of parking spots and covered table areas. The Tanque Verde Ridge Trail starts from this location. Backpackers looking to take the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail up into the Rincon Mountains can park their car here and start their ascent. The closest campsite from here is Juniper Basin (6.9 miles away on foot, 4000 ft of climbing). 

Two wheelchair accessible picnic tables under a large shade structure, surrounded by desert plants

Javelina Picnic Area Shaded Tables

Javelina Picnic Area (East District)

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.

A 600-yard loop trail through the wash behind the Red Hills Visitor Center, looping through the wash from one end of the building to the other. Flat, but sandy and rocky, with stairs at either end. Follow the self-guided "Signs of Life in the Desert" tour under Self-Guided Tours in the NPS app to learn more about the habitats you'll see along this short, varied trail. The Javelina Wash Trail allows visitors to get a taste of the Sonoran Desert right next to the Visitor Center, and is the setting for various guided ranger walks. A variety of Sonoran Desert pland and animals can be seen close-up in the wash, as well as a variety of animal habiats, from their holes and burrows.

Location

Javelina Wash Trail

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

This trailhead is located in Tucson Mountain Park, just outside of the National Park boundary. It is the starting point for several trails: the King Canyon Trail, King Canyon Wash Trail, and Gould Mine Trail, all of which connect to Saguaro National Park's West District's extensive trail system.

King Canyon Trailhead

This is a unique picnic area located along the Sendero Esperanza Trail. This picnic area is hike in only and cannot be reached with any form of vehicle. It is most easily accessed from the King Canyon Trailhead in Tucson Mountain Park, consisting of a hike from the parking lot of just under 1 mile.

A large wood and stone shade structure covers two stone tables (left). To the right spans a valley.

Mam-A-Gah Picnic Area

Mam-A-Gah Picnic Area (West District)

This is a great place to take some shorter hikes and enjoy covered picnic areas. There is a large, family-friendly and accessible picnic shelter near the parking lot. There is an ADA accessible trail starting form this area called the Mica View Trail.

A large triangular shade structure covers six metal picnic tables. Two trash cans left of tables

Mica View Picnic Area

Mica View Picnic Area (East District)

Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset. Saguaro National Park is west of the Anza Expedition historic route. The park offers a spectacular view of the desert, very similar to how it would have appeared to the expedition in 1775. This is also a passport stamp location for the Anza Trail.

Giant saguaro cacti stand among brush and a dirt trail

Giant Saguaros in Saguaro National Park

Passport stamps available for the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail and Saguaro National Park.

Significance

Designation

Saguaro National Park West

Sendera Esperanza Picnic Area is the last stop along Golden Gate Road on the Bajada Loop Drive. THis picnic area provides visitors with a large parking area (big enough for RVs and busses to use to turn around at), unshaded and wheelchair accessible picnic tables, a restroom, bootbrush, closest parking for the largest dog friendly trail (Golden Gate Multi-Use Trail), as well as access to the large trail network on the north side of the Tuscon Mountain Range. 

A single unshaded, wheelchair accessible, stone table sits on a slap of concrete.

Sendero Esperanza Picnic Area

Sendero Esperanza Picnic Area (West District)

The road to, and picnic area at, Signal Hill picnic area is currently under construction. The trail itself is still open to the public, and can be accessed via Manville Trail (entrance along Sandario Road). NO ACCESS TO SIGNAL HILL VIA THE ROAD IS ALLOWED, THIS MEANS DO NOT PARK AT ENTRANCE TO THE ROAD AND/OR WALK DOWN THE ROAD!  Signal Hill is a popular multi-use area along the Bajada Loop Drive in Saguaro National Park's west district. This is a popular destination, as it is the best place to see petroglyphs within the park. There are trails that start from this destination, as well as a picnic area. The trails from this area (including the short walk up to the petroglyphs) are not ADA accessible.

Three large orange barriers block the road. The center barrier has a sign reading "ROAD CLOSED"

Signal Hill Road Closed

Signal Hill (West District)

This is the closest picnic area to the Red Hills Visitor Center in the west district of Saguaro National Park. It is along the Bajada Loop Drive. 

Three picnic tables and a shade structure surrounded by desert vegetation.

Sus Picnic Area

Sus Picnic Area (West District)

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.

The Valley View Overlook Nature Trail is an easy 0.8 mile (1.3 km) roundtrip trail, starting at the Valley View Trailhead along the Bajada Loop Scenic Drive in Saguaro National Park's west district.  This short trail was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The trail drops into and out of a couple of washes and then gradually ascends to a ridge. Along the way, you will travel through typical Sonoran Desert vegetation. Signs along the way identify and interpret several of the more common species of plants. The trail ends at a ridge with benches that allow you to relax and enjoy sweeping views. From here you can see Avra Valley to the west, Signal Hill, which looks like a small black mound from here, and the jagged ridge of Picacho Peak to the north.

Valley View Overlook Nature Trail

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

The Valley View Trailhead is located on the Bajada Loop Scenic Drive, about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) from the turn-off from Kinney Road.  There are several parking spots along the left side of the dirt Bajado Loop Scenic Drive. If parking spots are full, please don't park illegally. Continue along the loop to explore other trailheads with more parking availability and try again later.

Valley View Trailhead

Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset.