With seemingly endless forests of its namesake cacti, Saguaro National Park is an incredible desert wonderland. Separated into 2 districts, flanking either side of Tucson, AZ, this park is a perfect example of just how beautiful deserts can be. From picturesque vistas and towering mountains to diverse wildlife and stunning sunsets, this park has so much more to offer than the iconic saguaros.
We spent 2 days exploring this gem of the Southwest. On the first day we visited the Rincon Mountain District (the east side) and drove Cactus Forest drive (a gorgeous scenic drive with several pull offs) and spent the night camping at Gilbert Ray Campground.
On day 2, we headed to the Tucson Mountain District and drove it's scenic drive, the Bajada Loop. Halfway along Bajada Loop, we detoured off the drive and hiked the Sendero Esperanza trail, which was one of the most beautiful hikes we've done thus far, climaxing with epic panoramic views from the ridgeline.
The park saved an absolutely incredible sunset for us as a parting gift on our way out.

www.nps.gov/sagu

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