Saguaro National Park
There are two sides of Saguaro National Park on opposite sides of Tucson. Both sides of the park are worth exploring and offer a unique experience. We loved the hikes and scenery on both sides. The cacti were much taller than we expected!
The east seems more developed with well-maintained roads and trails. The loop road is a must, and there are tons of easy trails and places to stop and enjoy the desert landscape. During the weekend days, it was busy in January as the weather was gorgeous. When we went during the week after work, the park was not busy at all. We saw some beautiful sunsets while we were there. It was great to be able to stay in Tucson to work. Since the park was so close to town, we spent our evenings there after work.
The west side was further from where we were staying so we went there on the weekend. Multiple times when we were going to the west side we were questioning if we were on the right route. The roads are dirt and gravel. This was surprising considering how close the park is to a major city. The petroglyphs located at the Signal Hill Trailhead were a highlight. It is a short walk to see them and then you can hike further on the trail after viewing the petroglyphs. We really liked the hike.
