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.
No comments:
Post a Comment