Freeman Homestead Nature Trail - Saguaro National Park

Our final stop at Saguaro National Park during our May 2015 trip to the Southwest was a one-mile loop hike on the Freeman Homestead Nature Trail back in the Rincon Mountain (East) District. To reach the trailhead, turn right onto the two-way portion of Cactus Forest Drive just past the fee station. Keep right at the only intersection to head toward the Javelina Picnic Area. Paved pull-in parking is located just off the right side of the road. Total distance from the fee station is 1.4 miles.

The trail is named after Safford Freeman who was granted 640 acres under the Homestead Act to farm, graze or mine. He built a three room adobe house, outbuildings and a well in the early 1930s. The National Park Service purchased the homestead in the early 1950s. All of the buildings were subsequently removed.

There are numerous stair steps on the trail as it dips down about 150 feet to a wash and then climbs back up toward the parking area. The only shade on the trail is provided by a Tamarisk or salt cedar at the homestead site. Tamarisk is an invasive species and is often removed by the park. Since this one does not reproduce, it has been left by the park service as part of the homestead site. A couple of benches under the Tamarisk provide the only place to sit along the trail. Carry and drink plenty of water. Although we didn't see any, watch for snakes and other venomous wildlife and stay away from beehives and swarms of bees.

Topographic map with GPS hiking route

The trail and an interpretive sign near the trailhead

Keep right at the beginning of the loop

Saguaro in bloom

Lizard crossing the trail

Prickly Pear flowers

Saguaros cover the wash and hillside

More Saguaro flowers

Chain-fruit or Jumping Cholla

Staghorn Cholla

Outstretched arms

The trail has numerous steps

The fibrous remains of a Saguaro

Broken arms

Freeman Homestead site

Two benches under a Tamarisk planted by the homesteader

A hard freeze most likely caused the drooping arm of this Saguaro

After leaving the homestead, the trail narrows as it dips down into the wash

Saguaro and mesquite

Saguaro buds with a couple of flowers

View of the Rincon Mountains from the trail

A small bluff defines the far edge of the wash

Saguaros stand tall above the landscape

Life abounds where there is even occasional water

The trail heads up the wide wash

A row of rocks keep visitors on the trail

Creosote bushes line the trail

Wildflowers along the trail

The trail heads up the wash again

Buckhorn Cholla

Directional signs point out the trail

Continuing up the wash

Saguaros dot the landscape

Steps climbing up from the wash

More steps

Still more steps!

Looking west across the Tucson Basin

Even more steps??

Back to the trail junction

Santa Catalina Mountains

An entrance fee of $5 per person or $10 per private vehicle is required to enter Saguaro National Park. The fee is valid for seven days and allows entrance to both the Tucson Mountain District (West) and the Rincon Mountain District (East). Other options include a Saguaro National Park Annual Pass for $25, an Interagency Annual Pass providing access to most national park, national forest and BLM fee areas for $80 and a lifetime Interagency Senior Pass for those age 62 and older for $10.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm.