| Saguaro National Park is
actually two parks on opposite sides of Tucson. The eastern half
has an information center, a ranger station, a road that loops through
the "cactus forest", a large picnic area, and several hiking
trails that will get you up-close and personal with the giant
cacti. To get there, take the exit for Broadway off Interstate Hwy
10, go east about 10 miles to a diagonal street called Old Spanish
Trail, and follow it southeast to the main gate of the park. You
can also take Exit 279 off Interstate 10 south of the city, follow Vail
Road north to Camino Loma Alta, and continue north to Old Spanish
Trail. Turn left and go northwest and north to the main gate.
To get to the western
half of the park, you can take Exit 248 off Interstate 10, follow Ina
Road west to Wade Road and turn left. Wade turns into Picture
Rocks Road which goes through the park. You can turn south on
Golden Gate Road and follow it to Kinney Road where you turn left again
to go to the Red Hills Visitor Center. This part of the park has
hiking trails, but no campgrounds. However, Tucson Mountain Park, which
borders the south side of Saguaro, has a campground and is home to the
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Old Tucson Movie Studios, and other
attractions. You can also take Exit 257 off Interstate 10 and go
west on Speedway Boulevard, which turns into Gates Pass Road, goes
through the Tucson Mountain Park, and connects with Kinney Road which
you take north to Saguaro. Or, you can take the Ajo Highway, AZ
Hwy 86, west from Interstate 19 and go north on Kinney Road.
 For
more
information, contact:
SAGUARO
NATIONAL PARK
3693 S Old Spanish Trail
Tucson, AZ 85730
520-733-5153
Also see
the National Park Service website on
SAGUARO
NATIONAL PARK
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