Photo by: Jacob Lips
When people see an image of a saguaro amid a desert sunset, they immediately assume it was taken in Arizona. Of course, it is not an incorrect notion as the saguaro is native to the Sonoran Desert, part of which is being preserved through the Saguaro National Park.
The park has a land area of 91,716 acres and covers the cities of Tucson and Pima, Arizona. It has two areas: the Tucson Mountain District and Rincon Mountain District.
History
Saguaro National Park is home to the Pinal Schist, the park’s oldest rocks. The rock contains some theoretical proof that it was formed close to two billion years ago. There are also altered granites in the park, said to be 1.4 billion years old.
As far as human settlers, though, the earliest residents were identified as the Hohokam, believed to have lived in the region between the years 300 AD and 1500 AD. By the mid-1500s, the Spanish settlers arrived in Arizona. It wasn’t until Arizona became part of the United States that development started. People started living in the regions of Tucson and Rincon Mountains in the late 1800s.
In 1920, the National History Society of the University of Arizona, lobbied for the creation of a protected area for the saguaro, a large cactus species endemic to the Sonoran Desert.
Several more people joined the campaign. Finally, on March 1, 1933, President Herbert Hoover created the Saguaro National Monument. The Tucson Mountains were eventually added as part of the monument. On Oct. 14, 1994, the government combined the monument, Tucson Mountains and the Rincon Mountain District to form the Saguaro National Park.
Photo by: Jacob Lips
Things to do
Driving
There are driving loops around the park giving the tourists to get a panoramic view of the park. Visitors can make stops to capture important vistas, particularly when they are confronted with a large saguaro cactus, which are aplenty in the park. The Tucson Mountain District is in the west, while the Rincon Mountain District is in the east.
The eight-mile Cactus Forest Scenic Look Drive has several pullouts for visitors. A lot of these pullouts have some of the largest saguaros in the park. Visitors may hire a guide to educate them on the natural and cultural history of the park. The Scenic Bajada Loop Drive, on the other hand, will provide views of the park’s foothills.
Walk the Cactus Garden Trail
Those who don’t want to drive but click pictures of the large saguaros, choose the half-a-mile paved walk at the visitor center. The garden trail has a diverse collection of cacti in different sizes. It is the perfect way to experience cactus indoctrination.
Hiking & cycling
There are over 150 miles of hiking and biking trails in this desert—the trails are not necessarily the same for hiking and cycling. They range from easy to strenuous, but since it is in the desert, the easy hike is not going to be that easy. Also, there are no concession stands, hence hikers have to be prepared with water and food.
Camping
There are six campgrounds at the Saguaro Wilderness Area. Campers have to hike a few miles to reach the campground, the closest of which is at an elevation of 4,500 feet. A permit is needed for those who plan to stay overnight. Each campground offers a different kind of flora background. For the more adventurous visitors, backcountry camping is also available.
Flora and fauna
Gila monster, a venomous lizard, is endemic to the Sonoran desert. It is also the only venomous lizard found in America. While it may be endemic to the park, this reptile is not easy to spot. This is why the park, with the help of Dr. Kevin Bonine, a Professor at the University of Arizona, created the Gila Monster Project to track down the reptile and study it. Part of the Gila Monster Project is for visitors to help out the study, which involves submitting photographs to the park staff if they ever get so lucky.
There are at least 30 species of animals found at the park. Among the mammals are black-tailed jackrabbits, bobcats, cougars, coyotes, desert cottontails, gray foxes, javelinas, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and the endangered lesser long-nosed bats, among others. There are also a wide range of birds and some 36 species of reptiles.
Plants from four types of natural vegetation are present at the park. Saguaros, of course, are the most popular plants in the park. However, they grow very slowly. Saguaros typically live over 200 years old, but it would take around 125 years for them to develop into the form people recognize.
Photo by: Jacob Lips