Scenic Bajada Loop Drive - Saguaro National Park

The next leg of our May 2015 visit to Saguaro National Park was the Scenic Bajada Loop Drive. This 5.2 mile route on mostly dirt roads provides a great overview of the Tuscon Mountain District as well as access to several trails. Part of the route is one-way, so you'll have to drive in a counter-clockwise direction to complete the loop.

Leaving the Red Hills Visitor Center in the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park, head northwest on Kinney Road about 1.6 miles to the intersection with the dirt Hohokam Road on the right. Drive 2.3 miles to the end of Hohokam Road and turn left onto the dirt Golden Gate Road. From here, drive 2.4 miles to the end of Golden Gate Road and turn left onto paved Sandario Road. After 0.3 miles on Sandario, turn left onto Kinney Road and drive 0.2 miles to Hohokam Road to complete the loop. The dirt roads are passable in about any passenger vehicle and don't require four-wheel drive or high ground clearance. However, motorhomes and trailers are not recommended.

Saguaro and Prickly Pear cacti near the Hugh Norris Trailhead

Saguaros grow almost to the top of this 3541' hill

Unnamed 2908' hill inside the loop

Teasing rain, but actually only providing brief shade

Looking east about after 1.3 miles on Hohokam Road

Looking south from mile 1.3 at the same ridge as the first picture above

Looking southwest across the Avra Valley to Kitt Peak (6880' 32 miles)

A closer view of the Avra Valley, Coyote Mountains and Kitt Peak in the Quinlan Mountains

Zooming further shows the angular McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope in the center and the Mayall Telescope on the right

Rock outcrop with Saguaros on the hillside

A hard freeze broke some of the supporting fibers in these arms

Apache Peak (3076')

Cloud shadows

Hundreds of Saguaros live on this 2978' hill

A closer look at Apache Peak

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.