Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [360]
INFORMATION
Contact Saguaro National Park, 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85730-5601 (☎ 520/733-5153; www. nps.gov/sagu). Information is also available at the website of the Friends of Saguaro National Park (www.friendsof saguaro.org). For information on other area attractions and services, contact the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau, 100 S. Church Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701 (☎ 800/638-8350 or 520/624-1817; www.visittucson.org).
Those particularly interested in the plants, animals, and geology of the park can get additional information from Saguaro National Monument by Doris Evans, published in 1993 by the Southwest Parks and Monuments Association.
VISITOR CENTERS
The park has two visitor centers, one in each district. Both visitor centers are open daily from 9am to 5pm (closed Dec 25). The park is open daily 7am until sunset.
On the west side of the park, in the Tucson Mountain District, the Red Hills Visitor Center contains a museum, an information desk, and a bookstore. The museum offers exhibits on desert life and a 15-minute program on the uniqueness and importance of deserts.
On the park's east side, in the Rincon Mountain District, the visitor center has similar facilities on a somewhat smaller scale. There's an excellent 15-minute video on the flora and fauna of the park, plus exhibits on saguaro and the world's deserts.
FEES
Entry to the park (either side or both) costs $10 per private vehicle, or $5 per person on foot or bike. Permits for backcountry camping cost $6 per campsite per night and can be obtained in advance by writing the park, or at the Rincon Mountain District Visitor Center after arrival.
SPECIAL REGULATIONS & WARNINGS
Extreme heat, cactus spines, and poisonous reptiles are the main safety hazards here. Temperatures that soar to 115°F (46°C) in summer make hiking not only uncomfortable but also often
dangerous. Those who insist on hiking in the hot months can minimize the dangers by starting very early in the day, perhaps by 4am, and getting off the trails by noon. Hikers should carry plenty of water and drink it even if they do not feel thirsty.
Cactus spines can be very painful, as anyone who's inadvertently backed into one while trying to line up a photo can tell you. The bites of rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, and various types of scorpions are poisonous. Park rangers recommend that you always look before putting your hands or feet under rocks or in other hidden spots, and that you use a flashlight at night to help avoid unwanted encounters. Weather-related dangers include lightning (stay off exposed ridges during thunderstorms) and flash floods (avoid drainages during rain).
SEASONS & CLIMATE
Summers are hot and winters comfortable, so the best time to visit, especially for hikers, is between October and April. Summer high temperatures are routinely between 100° and 115°F (38°C and 46°C), with lows generally in the 70s (20s Celsius). Visitors should also beware of occasional torrential thunderstorms in July, August, and September, which bring danger from lightning and flash floods.
During winter, high temperatures are usually in the 60s and low 70s (upper teens Celsius), with lows dropping into the upper 30s and 40s (single digits Celsius). Snow falls occasionally, is almost always light, and melts quickly. Winters are also known for periodic gentle rains, but most of the time it's sunny.
SEASONAL EVENTS
The best wildflower displays are from mid-March through mid-April. Cacti bloom a bit later—some kinds flower from mid-April through September, although the saguaro usually bloom from late April through June.
If You Have Only 1 Day
Saguaro National Park consists of two separate sections. Visitors should ideally spend at least a day or two at each district, starting with the visitor centers, then the short