As we continued our May 2015 visit to the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park, we stopped at the Signal Hill Picnic Area for a short hike. From the Red Hills Visitor Center, this area is reached by driving northwest on Kinney Road about 1¾ miles to the end of the road. Turn right on Sandario Road and drive for about ¼ mile before turning right on the dirt Golden Gate Road. Drive 1½ miles and turn left on Signal Hill Road. The picnic area is at the end of the road in about ½ mile.
The hike to the top of Signal Hill is ½ mile round trip. The trail passes some additional picnic facilities before crossing a dry wash and climbing Signal Hill. The climb is made easier by the use of stone steps. Once atop the hill, hundreds of petroglyphs can be found among the boulders. Please stay on the designated trail and don't touch the rock art. While we don't know why the rocks were carved, nor the messages they meant to portray, we can marvel that people have lived in this desert for a very long time.
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| Sunbeams |
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| Trail steps from the parking area |
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| Picnic shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s |
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| The roof is supported by Saguaro trunks |
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| Grills then and now |
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| The trail crosses a wash and climbs up the hill |
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| Dry wash |
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| Petroglyphs from the trail |
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| Ocotillo, Saguaro and Palo Verde |
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| Apache Peak |
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| Prickly pear, Ocotillo and Saguaro |
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| Petroglyphs |
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| More petroglyphs |
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| Large spiral |
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| Petroglyphs and Saguaros |
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| Smaller etchings |
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| More rock art |
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| Panther Peak |
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| Signal Hill picnic area |
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| Northern end of the Tucson Mountains |
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| Petroglyphs, Saguaros and 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.
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