Plan Your Visit Saguaro National Park is uniquely situated around the 500 square miles that make up Tucson, AZ, which is at the heart of the Sonoran desert. Sitting at just under 2,400 feet above sea level, Tucson is 60 miles north of the U.S. Mexican border and about 100 miles south of the state capital, Phoenix. Its two districts are separated by the city's 1 million residents. The Tucson. NPS Photo Saguaro National Park is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas day, and our busiest time of the year is from November to March. During the winter months, temperatures are cooler and range from the high 50's to the mid-70's. Starting in late February and March, we begin to get a variety of cactus and wildflower. Grasses in the Park Saguaro National Park is home to at least 225 species of grasses, some less than 0.3 meters tall such as fluffgrass (Dasyochloa pulchella) some right around one meter such as nine-awn pappusgrass (Enneapogon desvauxii, pictured) and tall grasses such as Giant Dropseed (Sporobolus giganteus) reaching over 2 meters in height. From cactus-covered desert to pine-cloaked mountain heights, the Saguaro Wilderness Area in the Rincon Mountains protects the last roadless ‘sky island’ mountain range in Southern Arizona. Designated by Congress in 1976 – along with lands in the Tucson Mountains – this Wilderness Area provides another layer of protection to your Saguaro National Park. Together with the adjacent Rincon. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset. Things to Do Hiking in Saguaro National Park Planning on taking a hike? Here is some information you need to know. Camping at Saguaro National Park Permitted back-country camping at Saguaro National Park is available year-round. Sites must be reserved through recreation.gov Guided Programs There is always something happening in the park. Officially, Saguaro National Park is in monsoon season from June 15 through September 30 and can expect severe thunderstorms in the afternoons. Though the season officially begins on June 15, often the park doesn't see its first seasonal storm until early July. Hiking Trail Descriptions at Saguaro National Park Rincon Peak from Ridge View Trail. NPS Photo/Ryan Summers Hope Camp and Ridgeview Trail (2 miles, 400 feet elevation) From the Loma Alta trailhead, take the Hope Camp trail for one-tenth of a mile until meeting the Ridge View Trail. This area was an old homesteading road and used to drive cattle to a line camp. Take a left on the Ridge View. Unmanned aircraft use may be prohibited at the park you are visiting. Due to concerns about the negative impact that flying unmanned aircraft can have on the safety of visitors, staff, and wildlife, they have been restricted in all but a few parks which includes Saguaro National Park. The Red Hills Visitor Center is a great place to learn about the park and start your visit to Saguaro National Park's West District. Views from the patio are spectacular and overlook the Red Hills and majestic Saguaro cactus forest nearby.