We visited Saguaro National Park during our May 2015 trip to the American Southwest. Our first stop at this park on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona, was at the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center at the main entrance to the eastern district of the park. Built in 1953, the center contains most of the elements expected in much newer visitor facilities such as an information desk, bookstore, exhibit area, and theater. Also housed in the center are offices and restrooms. One unexpected feature of the visitor center is the large windows allowing wonderful views of the park. A small seating area allows visitors to enjoy the view. An excellent 15-minute video entitled A Home in the Desert plays every half hour in the very small theater. Another rather unique feature of the visitor center is the labelled desert landscaping along a meandering path in front of the visitor center. The fee collection station is located just beyond the visitor center parking area.
Since the park is on the border of an urban area, the roads in the Rincon Mountain (East) district and those leading to it are frequently used by bicyclists. Visitors, both motorists and pedestrians, need to be aware of the possibility that they will encounter bicyclists around every curve and over every hill.
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| Rincon Mountain visitor center with Centennial Saguaro on the left |
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| Bookstore and seating area |
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| View from the seating area |
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| The exhibit area was refurbished in 2014 |
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| Manning Family Cabin exhibit |
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| Saguaro exhibit |
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| Theater |
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| Ocotillo |
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| Creosote Bush |
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| Teddy Bear Cholla |
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| Soaptree Yucca |
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| Mesquite |
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| Foothill Palo Verde |
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| Prickly Pear Cactus |
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| Sotol |
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| Hedgehog Cactus |
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| Giant Saguaro |
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.
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