Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [359]
In Grand Lake, on the park's west side, the Mountain Food Market, 400 Grand Ave. (☎ 970/627-3470), and the Circle D, 701 Grand Ave. (☎ 970/627-3210), have good selections of groceries and picnic supplies. You can get picnic and fishing supplies, and almost anything else you might need, at Grand Lake Pharmacy, 1123 Grand Ave. (☎ 970/627-3465).
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SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK
by Don & Barbara Laine
THE STATELY SAGUARO CACTUS, SYMBOL OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST, is the king here, dominating the entire landscape. Although Saguaro National Park preserves a sizable chunk of the Sonoran Desert, it is one of America's few national parks dedicated to protecting one specific plant. Saguaros are plants with personalities. They often look human, standing tall and proud, their arms reaching toward the sky or pointing the way. Though some achieve heights of 50 feet and weigh up to 8 tons, saguaros grow slowly. It usually takes them 15 years to reach 1 foot in height, and they don't flower or produce fruit until they're about 30. They take about 100 years to reach a height of 25 feet. Their maximum life span is about 200 years.
One of the hottest and driest parts of North America, the Sonoran Desert has an amazing variety of life, more than any other desert on the continent. Although the saguaro forests dominate the horizon—and are consequently the first thing we notice here—this desert is home to dozens of other cacti, grasses, shrubs, flowers, and trees, as well as several hundred species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Many of them are uniquely adapted to the demanding environment of this dry land. For instance, javelinas, those odd-looking piglike animals, have mouths so tough they can bite through prickly pear cactus pads in search of moisture, and kangaroo rats never need to drink—they extract all the water they need from seeds.
The park consists of two separate sections. The Tucson Mountain District, also called Saguaro West, covers 32 square miles of Sonoran Desert west of Tucson; the Rincon Mountain District, also called Saguaro East, covers 104 square miles of saguaro forest, desert, foothills, and mountain terrain on the east side of Tucson. The two sections are about 30 miles apart.
Both districts have scenic drives and trails, with good wildlife viewing and bird-watching. When the spring rain cooperates, there are also spectacular shows of wildflowers and cactus blooms.
Avoiding the Crowds. Annual visitation is about 650,000 people, with Saguaro West receiving the greater number. The park's busiest time is from Christmas through Easter. Those wanting to avoid crowds should visit at other times, although visitors who plan on hiking will want to avoid summer's extreme heat. Fall through mid-December can offer the best of both worlds: fewer crowds and lower temperatures.
Another way to avoid crowds, even at the busiest times, is to hike. Although the park gets a lot of visitors at busy times, many confine their activities to scenic drives and short walks. Within 15 minutes you can easily leave the crowds behind.
Just the Facts
GETTING THERE & GATEWAYS
Saguaro National Park is in southern Arizona on the fringes of Tucson, about 116 miles southeast of Phoenix. There are two parts to the park: the Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East) and the Tucson Mountain District (Saguaro West), each about 15 miles from downtown Tucson. To get to Saguaro East from Tucson, head east on Broadway Boulevard and turn right on Old Spanish Trail, which meanders southeast to the park. Watch for signs for the park as you go.
To get to Saguaro West from Tucson, go west on Speedway Boulevard, which first becomes Gates Pass Road and then ends at Kinney Road, where you turn right and continue to the park entrance.
From Phoenix, follow I-10 southeast toward Tucson and watch for signs directing you to the park.
The Nearest Airport. Located 6 miles south of downtown, Tucson International