I had two unexpected reactions when we turned off Highway I10. and followed directions to my sister Alison’s winter getaway in Tucson. Two other times we had breezed by Tucson on our way to San Diego without leaving the highway. Once Michael and I had stayed the night on the outskirts of Tucson on our way to San Diego. The next morning he snapped a photo of me beside one lone and very tall saguaro in front of the hotel. Now, all these years later, I could see them all over the place. At some points they appeared to be shooting up wildly out of the sidewalks. Others were oversized accessories in organized suburban gardens. They were everywhere!
The morning after arriving we drove into the mountains to take a closer look at these large cacti in Tucson’s Saguaro National Park. The saguaro were otherworldly, something I would expect to see if I landed on another planet.
Red Hills Visitor Center (West) Saguaro Nat'l Park
I honestly didn’t know there were two different sections to the Saguaro National Park. The city of Tucson bisects them into two separate parks. There is the West Section, called the Red Hills, where we would be visiting my first morning in Tucson. The Red Hills are dencely covered in saguaro. And there is the East Section, called the Rincon Mountain section. The West Section is at a lower elevation and has no trees. The East Section, at a higher elevation of 8,500 feet, benefits from the rising and cooling air, and more rainfall. Because of this there is growth of trees mixed with the saguaros.
I found the building to be quite beautiful. It was packed with people, though, so I decided not to stay for the short film they present. I was surprised and happy to find it on the internet. I could never explain it as thoroughly as they do so I will post it here: https://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm..
There are also rangers that seem happy to be asked questions.
There are lots of hiking opportunities along the drive around the park. They also have small parking stops along the drive that encircles the park. The second area we got off at had a path you could walk around and see the saguaros and other vegetation they share this area with.
So What's the Difference?!
Can’t make up your mind which section to visit? Why not both? You could actually visit the West Section in the morning and do some good hiking. In the West side the saguaro are denser and younger. This gives you plenty of time to drive over to the East side for the afternoon. If you haven’t packed a lunch, stop somewhere along he way to eat. Did you bring your bike? The East side has better paving making it, a good choice for bikers. They also have a visitor’s center. The rangers are there to help you with any questions about hiking, biking the area.
Below is Alison and Chloe, both serious hikers along with Randy, Alison’s husband. Although Chloe usually goes along in a backpack. I was hoping when I got home that Chloe would surprise me by jumping out of my suitcase. After all, we have great hiking in the mountains of Santa Fe, too.
