Saguaro National Park cactus drive



wearing: statement earrings / black knit top / spring nail polish / wide leg jeans / east/west handbag / sneakers /
Have you heard of the Saguaro Cactus? I hadn’t heard of them until my husband stated he wanted to see them on our trip to Tucson. When he told me there was a forest, I pictured a dense forest, much like our forests in California. I wasn’t expecting huge cactus spread apart which go on for miles! It was a completely new terrain for me, and I am so happy to have seen it!
There are two different entrances into the Saguaro National Park. We entered through the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center. There are three different ways you can tour the forest. You can hike, bike or drive. Since I have foot issues, we decided to drive. The driving loop through the forest is roughly forty-five minutes long. We took longer because we stopped at every lookout and read the markers, as well as snapped photos.
The history of the Saguaro Cactus in Arizona is interesting. The forest is susceptible to cold weather, and it sounds like a cold snap several decades ago decimated the forest, which is still in recovery mode.
Many of the cactus are extremely tall, especially the ones around 150 years old. These cactuses live a long life! The older ones appear to be three to four stories tall. It’s crazy how tall and straight up they go!
If you visit the Tucson area, I highly recommend visiting the Saguaro National Park. You can plan to drive, like we did, or hike, or bike. It’s a great outdoor opportunity and the history is incredibly interesting. Make sure you read all the markers and take your time visiting!
Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO
Cathy

