Visiting Saguaro National Park in June
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Visiting Saguaro National Park in June (or any other months during summer) may not be the best choice. We all know how hot it is Arizona in the summer. But, if you are a part-time family traveler like us, summer vacation is one of the times to do it.
Of course, there are better National Parks to visit in June where the temperature in the park is still in the 70s or 80s. But, when you decided to go to the southwest in the summer, you can’t skip Saguaro. You just have to know when is the right time to go and what you expect to see while exploring the park in June.
Where is Saguaro National Park?
Saguaro National Park is in Tucson, about 2-2,5 hours drive from Phoenix. It consists of two districts: Rincon Mountain District at the east side and Tucson Mountain District at the west side. The two areas, separated by the city of Tucson, are about 30 miles apart.
Before living for vacation, I asked my friend who lives in Tucson about this park. She recommended us to go to Rincon Mountain District because the scenic drive is paved. “If possible, visit the park in late afternoon or early morning. It will be really hot during the day,” she added. So, that’s where we headed.
Visiting Saguaro National Park in June
When we stopped at the first visitor center after entering Arizona from the east, I could feel the heat and the extremely dry weather on my skin. It’s just past the first week in June, but the temperature was already 106 degree. We came from New Mexico, after visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park in White City and White Sands National Monument in Alamogordo. We were doing our National Parks hopping in the southwest with starting point in North Texas where we live, and Saguaro National Park was our 3rd stop.
It was slightly before visitor center closed at 5 p.m. when we arrived at Saguaro National Park; enough time to use the restroom, grab the map, and Junior Ranger program for our son. Two families with young children just back from exploring the park, and they all looked toasty. Oh, dear.
Cactus Forest Drive Loop
After studying the map, we decided to do the 8-mile Cactus Forest Drive loop, begins at the visitor center. This paved scenic drive is a combination of one- and two-way road that winds through a saguaro forest and offers a close and leisurely look at the variety of the Sonoran Desert life. Also, the scenic loop features several trailheads, scenic vistas, and pullouts. However, we didn’t do any long hike because it was just too hot for us. And we’re from Texas. Go figure!
One thing to remember, trailers longer than 35 feet or any vehicle wider than 8 feet are not permitted in the loop. The road is narrow with many tight turns and steep hills, and lack of parking for RVs and larger vehicles. But, you can always park your RV at the Visitor Center and ride your bicycle on the scenic drive loop.
When the saguaro cacti came to our view, we were so impressed to see how big they were. All this time we only saw it from the western movie or cartoon. And now, it’s right before our eyes. Wow! We made several stops at the pullouts, looking for other cacti that live there, all kinds of birds that live in ‘the hotel’, as well as when spotting the grandest and tallest saguaro in the park.
At Mica View Picnic Area, we decided to do Mica View Loop Trail (2 miles round trip). After walking for a few yards, we went back to the car because we didn’t see any interesting things to the point where we walked. Besides, it was brutally hot and dry! This is the first trailhead you will see at the park after driving about 2 miles from the Visitor Center.
Then we continued the drive, and stopped at Desert Ecology Trail. We walked along the trail that provides information of an exploration of desert life. It is also part of the Cactus Forest Trail, and is wheelchairs accessible.
As we continued with the drive, our son spotted bed of rocks on the right side of the road. We stopped at the pullout, Javelina Rock, which is the best place to view sunset in Rincon Mountain District (east side.) He had fun climbing and exploring the area. That was also our last stop because it was getting dark already. 2-1/2 hours had gone by just liked that.
The next morning we went back to the Visitor Center for our son to get sworn in as a Junior Ranger for Saguaro National Park.
Visiting Saguaro National Park in June – Note and Tips
Note: First thing we did before get out of the car and walked around the cacti, drank a lot of water, applied more and thicker sunscreen, and put on hats and sunglasses. It was really hot and dry in the park.
Tips:
– When you go in summertime, start early in the morning or close to sunset (the Cactus Forest Drive Loop close at 8 p.m.)
– Bring lots of water for every person in your family. The park recommends at least one gallon of water per person, per day.
– Read and follow safety guidelines carefully.
– Use your America the Beautiful National Park pass.
– We stayed at Hilton Hotel not too far from the park. It’s an old one with newly upgraded rooms, and it was the cheapest hotel we got during our road trip at $69/night including tax.
– Choices of restaurants around the area.
Saguaro cacti – a brief information
Saguaro cacti only grow in the Sonoran Desert. However, they do not grow in all parts of the Sonoran Desert. Where they can grow is limited by freezing temperatures in winter and by elevation. They are usually found growing from sea level to approximately 4,000 feet in elevation.
Saguaros are a very slow-growing cactus. It begins its life as a shiny black seed no bigger than a pinhead and towering 50 feet and weighing 16,000 pounds or more when live to 150 years or more. Adult saguaros are like a hotel – many animals built their nest in its arms (trunks and larger branches). Gila woodpecker and gilded flicker are two common residents who drill nest holes in it and when they excavate new holes each spring, other animals compete to move in rapidly.
Saguaro’s Growth Chart
Newborn shiny black seed no bigger than a pinhead
1 year a seedling may measure only ¼ inch
15 years barely 12 inches tall
30 years begin to flower and produce fruit
50 years can be as tall as 7 feet
75 years may sprout its first branches, or arms
100 years may reach 25 feet
150 years attain the grandest sizes, towering 50 feet and weighing 16,000 pounds or more
Address:
– Rincon Mountain District (EAST): 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85730.
– Tucson Mountain District (WEST): 2700 N. Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ 85743.
Fees & Passes (include both districts):
- Saguaro National Park Weekly Pass – $25/vehicle
- Saguaro National Park Weekly Pass – $20/motorcycle
- Saguaro National Park Weekly Pass – $15/person entering by foot or bicycle. Individuals 15 years or younger are admitted free of charge.
- Interagency Annual Passes – $80, that you can use to other National Parks in the U.S. for a year.
Operating Hours:
- Rincon Mountain District (east side) 6 a.m. to sunset daily
- Tucson Mountain District (west side) sunrise to sunset daily
- 24-hour daily if you walk or bike into the park
- Visitor Center (both districts) Monday to Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed on Christmas Day.
I hope our story when visiting Saguaro National Park in June will help you in making plans for your next summer vacation.
I live in desert area and therefore these I love to see such deserted cactus plants. But these cactus from Saguaro National Park in Arizona looks very different. Good to see some different style of cactus in other part of the world.
They are so different! If I’m not mistaken, this is the only place you can see Saguaro!
The utilization of summer vacations in such a way is wonderful for kids. I always look forward exploring such parks which adds some learning along with excursion even if there is weather constraints. I like the tips you included in the post to explore desert park.
This national park is amazing. I think US has some of the most amazing national parks and Saguaro has to be one of the most unique.
Agreed! There are so much that we still have to explore.
I love the cactus, wow the tallest 150 years old. I am from north Texas also and that dry Arizona would have been killing me. Great tip about going early morning or late evening.
Oh, you’re from North Texas, too? Yeah! Just make sure you prepare the right lotions even when visiting in the summertime. Super dry!
I face the same problem. As a teacher, I get holidays only in June and most of the places are either hot as hell or have rainy season. But when you gotta go, you gotta go. Weather can’t stop us! Your son seems to have a great time becoming ranger and exploring the wild.
He enjoyed it much. Thank you!
Those Cacti are seriously stunning! Arizona is on my travel list – hoping to make it there this year or next!
I know, right? I hope you will make it there soon.
Awesome, I like that the path is a drive-thru! I’ve only ever stopped in Arizona on my way somewhere else, I have to save this for later on Pinterest so i have something to do next time.
Thank you! Yes, you must do this. I would like to go back again myself. But, in the winter.
Gorgeous park! I’ll definitely make sure to get there early and beat the heat. I’m learning that living in TX now. Get everything done before noon and don’t go out again until sunset haha!
That is so true about Texas in the summer. I don’t like going outside. Early morning or in the evening, because 4-5 p.m. is even hotter! Haha…
Saguaro National Park looks like a neat place to visit. I will keep it in mind when we travel around Arizona. I have a new bucket list of visiting national parks!
You must pay attention on the time of visit though.
I am in love with all those adorable cactuses! They are so iconically Arizona. I’m doing a roadtrip currently through AZ and am wishing we had time to stop here. Great practical tips and advice.
Aww… maybe next time you can stop here. I wish to go back in the fall/spring and visit other places around Tucson that we haven’t got a chance to visit.
Its certainly an eye-opener seeing such parks. I think this is wonderful and I would consider going.
I think it’s one of the underrated National Parks in the U.S., especially for foreigners. I’m glad I could introduce it to more people.
The cactus forest looks like a lot of fun ! I love cactus aha. It seems to be a great place to visit for both kids and adults ☺️
Yeah! We all mesmerized by the size of it.
Wow, saguaro cacti are so impressive! Hope to visit Arizona to experience this beautiful landscape in the future. Looks like you and your family had lots of fun 😉
I hope you will be able to enjoy these impressive cacti in the future.
The cactii looks amazing. Didn’t realize they can be so tall. I can imagine it must be pretty hot and humid out there. What an adventurous trip you had. Great photos
It was really hot, but not humid. In fact, it was super dry. We had to go to the store to get the lotion that I always used during winter when it was usually dry.
I wished we would have made time to visit this park when we were in Arizona! I LOVE saguaro cacti, I think they are just beautiful! I am loving these pictures!
Wow those cactuses look amazing! It’s good to know that you can visit even in summer, although I guess it might be best to go when it’s less hot. Great post!
I would think so, but with my son is a full-time student, it’s hard to do that.
What an adventure! I have always loved the giant cacti but hate the heat, don’t think I’d do very well in Arizona! 😛
I don’t think I can live there either. I just couldn’t believe it when seeing people jogging and ride their bicycle.
My hubs lived in Tucson for a while and wants to go back to visit so bad! So, I’ll put this on the list for when we drive thru later this year. Also, I LOVE your little guy working on his junior ranger book! Mine’s 2, so a little young yet, but I look forward to him to reaching the age where he’s into stuff like that!
I was like you when my son was your son’s age. And I learned about the park from that book, too. I hope you will make a stop at Tucson by end of this year.
I had no idea that a cactus could live 150 years and be so huge. What a beautiful place. Thank you for sharing this information.
You are welcome! I didn’t know about the cactus age either until we visited the park. 🙂
So cute he became a Junior Park Ranger! Fantastic place for kids to be kids and explore. great photos!
Thank you, Sherrie!
WOW! I have never seen cactii so big! And what’s even more amazing is the excited look on your son’s face, I imagine myself to have been equally awed.
Yeah, I think you can only find this giant cacti in some part of Arizona. They are amazing!
Wow! Look at all those cacti! It looks like a proper cowboy movie! I love that your son could become a ranger. I hope he continues to want to do it in the future
We missed our horses when we visited. 😉 Yes, I hope our son will continue doing the ranger program in the future.
OH it’s so different to where i’ve been previously. I love places like this for the kids where they can be outdoors!
It felt different to be there because of the giant cactus. We felt so small. We enjoyed it much and our son had fun exploring the cacti and the rocks while doing his Junior Ranger book.