The magnificent Saguaro cactus of the Sonoran Desert

July 24, 2026 / Roadtirementvintage / 6 Comments

The Saguaro National Park is unique in that it is actually in two distinct locations: The Tucson Mountain District and the Rincon Mountain District. One section is west of Tucson, the other is east of town. First designated as a National Monument in 1933, the monument was officially made a National Park in 1994.

Typical Sonoran Desert scenery

Sher and I went to the Rincon Mountain District one afternoon when we were visiting Tucson. We stopped at the Park’s Visitor Center to pick up some information brochures and a map of the park. We did not have to pay the entrance fee because we have the America the Beautiful Senior Pass.

Barrel Cactus beginning to bloom

Classic desert scenery

The scenic loop drive is an 8 mile one way paved road that winds through a portion of the huge park. This drive will give you an up close and personal view of the amazing cacti and other plants that populate the remarkable Sonoran desert environment. You can’t help but feel a connection to the marvels of the desert as you take this drive. There are many pull-offs with “scenic” views. Get out and smell the air and take in the spirit of the desert.

This is a wonderful cluster of old timers!

One thing that stood out to us was the individuality of each of the Saguaro catcti. The younger ones had a simple stalk. The Saguaro doesn’t start to grow the iconic “arms” until it is over 6 feet tall and at least 60 to 75 years old. Those old timers with several arms are in the 150 + year old age group!

Dominating the desert

February 4, 2021July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 30 Comments

The awesome and iconic Saguaro cactus is truly the dominant feature of the Sonoran Desert in the Southwest. The Saguaro has become the symbol of all things desert. The towering cacti live to be 250 years old and older. They don’t start to grow their “arms” until they are at least 75 years old!

The Saguaro National Park has two sections on either side of Tucson, Arizona. Both sections offer unbelievable opportunities to enjoy the magnificent and thriving desert environments. Walking trails and scenic roads give ample opportunities to get up close and personal with the Saguaro and countless other species of desert plants. A trip to the Saguaro National Park should be on everyone’s travel itinerary. We’ll be back to Tucson and the desert once our travel is possible.

Saguaro National Park in Arizona

April 12, 2020July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 11 Comments

Sher and I are not traveling now due to coronavirus, so we thought we’d share some of our BC pictures with you. (BC = before COVID-19)

One of my favorite places on Earth is the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. This photo was taken in the Western Mountain District a few minutes before sunset. The stunning landscape is dotted with the magnificent saguaro cacti.

Discovering the Coronado National Forest

February 6, 2016July 2, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

Sher and I were driving in our motorhome on the far east side of Tucson, following Tanque Verde Road, one of the main east-west routes. As we approached the foothills of the Rincon Montains the road became Reddington Road. We kept on driving enjoying looking at the houses, horse ranches and the scenery.

The dirt road at its widest

The road narrowed but I kept on, and soon there was a sign for curves, one of which was a 5MPH curve warning. This curve led to a steep, steep climb. At this point turning around was not an option.

The next thing we saw was a sign for the Coronado National Forest and the change from paved road to dirt/gravel road. No way to turn around, and no idea what was ahead. When a small truck came down the road towards us I flagged the vehicle down. The lady inside informed me that less than a mile up the road was a parking area where we could trun around. Whew!

We got turned around and stopped to get out and admire the view. Hundreds of Saguaro cacti covered the landscape. What an impressive sight they were! We were in but a small portion of the 1.78 million acres of the Coronado National Forest which covers portions of Arizona and New Mexico.

Oh, and by the way, I won’t head out on a road leading into the mountains again without doing some research!

Lots of Saguaro