Saguaro National Park West
Encinas Trail 3.6 Miles
This is a relatively easy route that primarily follows the route of a wash and offers a cloe-up look at life on the desert floor. After 1.9 miles, you leave the wash and walk 0.9 miles on a gradual incline, then a short steep incline to Signal Hill featuring petroglyphs etched into the rocks. The team will need to arrange to leave a car at the end point at Signal Hill picnic area before the start of the survey.
Cactus Wren Trail 1.7 Miles
The Cactus Wren trail runs from the corner of Sandario Road and Rudasill Road to Signal Hill Picnic Area. This area is fairly flat and crosses several washes. To make this a one-way route of 1.7 miles, the team will need to arrange to leave a car at the end point at Signal Hill Picnic Area before the start of the survey.
King Canyon/Gould Mine/Hugh Norris 6.61 Miles
The trailhead and parking area for this hike are directly across Kinney Road from the Arizona-SonoraDesertMuseum, two miles east of the RedHillsVisitorCenter. The first .9 miles is a gradual climb up to Mam-A-Gah Picnic Area, which was named after a Tohono O’odham Indian Chief. The next 1.4 miles to the junction of the Sweetwater Trail are steeper. Numerous switchbacks on the next .9 miles lead to the Hugh Norris Trail. The final .3 miles ascends the Hugh Norris Trail to the top of WassonPeak (elevation 4,687 feet), the highest point in the TucsonMountains. You will then go down a gradual decline down the Hugh Norris Trail, down a series of switchbacks. Along the way down, you will be able to enjoy splendid views and unique rock formations.
Hugh Norris/Esperanza Trails 3.9 Miles
This route climbs gradually at first and then becomes steeper and heads through a canyon between two ridges. As you climb in elevation, you have an excellent view of the saguaro forest. Then the route goes through a series of switchbacks that lead to the top of the ridge. Then the route switchbacks again to a small saddle, descends to a larger saddle and then moderatelt climbs to a ridge and meets up with the Sendero Esperanza Trail. You will then take this trail north where it descends and then becomes level. To make this a one-way route of 3.9 miles, the team will need to arrange to leave a car at the end point of the Sendero Esperanza Trail Head on Golden Gate Road before the start of the survey.
Sweetwater Trail 5.7 Miles
The trailhead is located at the western end of El Camino del Cerro Road. The trail climbs 3.4 miles to a ridge where it ends at the King Canyon Trail. Right now, this is where the route ends (and heads back along the same route). If the team decides, you may add 2 round trip miles to the route to reach Wasson Peak (the highest point in the Tucson Mountains) to see what birds are there!
Manville Trail 2.1 Miles
This relatively easy route goes through typical SonoranDesert. You will cross several washes, excelletn places to look for birds, and then head to the Signal Hill Picnic Area known for its petroglyphs. To make this a one-way route of 2.1 miles, the team will need to arrange to leave a car at the end point at Signal Hill Picnic Area before the start of the survey.
Bajada Wash Trail 3.2 Miles
As the name suggests, this trail follows the dry streambed parallel to the south side of the Bajada Wash loop road (Hohokam Road), starting in the west at the Sus picnic area and meeting the road again just south of ApachePeak. This path encounters the cacti and other plants typical of this region.To make this a one-way route of 3.2 miles, the team will need to arrange to leave a car at the end point of the Dobie Wash Trail Head on Hohokam Road before the start of the survey.
Wild Dog Trail 2.2 Miles
The little-used Wild Dog Trail crosses a particularly fine section of the desert within the Bajada Road loop. The north end is opposite the side road to Signal Hill while the southern trailhead is the same as for Valley View Overlook - from here the Wild Dog path climbs to a low ridge at the side of Apache Peak, for similarly excellent views of Avra Valley, then begins a steady descent through dense vegetation to the far side of the loop road.To make this a one-way route of 2.2 miles, the team will need to arrange to leave a car at the end point of the Wild Dog Trail Head on Golden Gate Road before the start of the survey.
Cam-boh Trail 2.4 Miles
This route begins at the Access Point on Picture Rocks Road, travels over relatively falt desert habitat and through several dry washes. The trail ends at the Cam-boh Picnic Area. To make this a one-way route of 2.4 miles, the team will need to arrange to leave a car at the end point of the Cam-boh Picnic Area before the start of the survey.
Prophecy Wash Trail 4.3 Miles
This relatively level route travles from the Cam-boh Picnic Area down ProphecyWash. You should expect to see very nice Sonoran desert habitat and birds along this route. At the end point of the trial where it meets Picture Rocks Wash, you head back along the same route to the start point.
Picture Rocks Wash Trail 5.7 Miles
This relatively level route travles from the Access Point on Picture Rocks Road down Picture Rocks Wash. You should expect to see very nice Sonoran desert habitat and birds along this route. At the end point of the trial where it meets ProphecyWash, you head back along the same route to the start point.
Roadrunner/Panther Peak Loop 3.8 Miles
This is a relatively flat route starting at Cam-boh Picnic Area. The beginning of the route is somewhat rocky with streaches of sandy walking on Roadrunner trail, once you cross onto the Panther Peak trail, the route is mostly through a wash and quite sandy. The last .6 miles of the route are along the Cam-boh trail that heads straight back to the Cam-boh Picnic Area.
Sunset Road 3.1 Miles
This route begins on an access point on Camino Del Cerro, heads north past Gila Monster Mine and then follows Sunset Road with easy, flat walking. As you approach the edge of the park, you will turn around and walk the same route back to your start point.
Brittlebush Trail 4.2 Miles
This route begins on an access point on Camino Del Cerro, heads north on Thunderbird Trail and then onto Brittlebush Trail. This is a relatively flat route with some nice scenery. Once you reach Picture Rocks Wash Trail, turn around and head back to the start point.
Scenic Packrat Trails 1.8 Miles
On the north end of the park, this route begins on the Acess Point on Scenic Drive. First the route heads south on Scenic Trail, then east on Passey Loop and then north again on Pack Rat trail back to the start point. The route goes around a small peak, giving a good chance for birds typical of slopes such as Rock Wren.
Saguaro National Park East
Mica View Trail 1.9 Miles
This is a relatively level route that goes through very nice SonoranDesert habitat and shows nice views of MicaMountain. Be sure to watch for young Saguaros growing under nurse trees along this route. The route starts at Mica View Picnic Area, heads north along Mica View Trail and then heads south on Cactus Forest Trail back to the Mica View Picnic Area.
Loma Verde Loop 3.2 Miles
This route travels through a mesquite woodland studded with barrel cactus and saguaros.Crossing MonumentWash twice, you climb a bluff onto a bajada, the gentle slope of gravel at the base of Tanque Verde Ridge.The route then goes to the Pink Hill Trail, you turn right and ascend the slope for a panoramic view of the CactusForest and CatalinaMountains. You will then head south on Squeeze Pen Trail; the name recalls days when cattle were rounded up on this land. The rocky slopes of the Rincons are prime habitat for ocotillo, brittlebush, teddy bear cholla and saguaro. You will soon re-enter the mesquite bosque. At the junction of the Loma Verde Trail, turn left to get back to the trailhead.
Freight Wagon Loop 3.3 Miles
This is a relatively flat route that begins at the Wildhorse Trailhead, proceed south on the Wildhorse Trail to the Freight Wagon Trail and turn right. Continue down the Freight Wagon Trail and turn right on the Carrillo Trail. From the Carrillo Trail turn right onto the Deer Valley Trail, named for a herd of desert mule deer occasionally seen in this lush area. From the Deer Valley Trail, turn right on the Squeeze Pen Trail and follow it to the Kennedy Trail. Turn left on the Kennedy Trail, which was once a road built by the county in the 1960s for a proposed housing development. To complete the loop, turn right onto the Shantz Trail, which honors Homer Shantz, past President of the University of Arizona and one of the people responsible for the creation of SaguaroNational Park. Just beyond a thicket of mesquite trees lays the Wildhorse Trailhead and your end point.
Garwood Loop 4.6 Miles
Take the Douglas Spring Trail to the Garwood Trail and turn right. Watch for saguaros with holes and the birds that make them: Gila woodpeckers and gilded flickers. Stay on the Garwood Trail all the way south to the Carrillo Trail, taking care at the junctions with Bajada Vista and Wildhorse Trails as it can be confusing for those new to the trail system. At the intersection with the Carrillo Trail, turn left and head toward the location of the old Garwood Ranch. From the Garwood dam, the path bears left and goes into the foothills of the RinconMountains. Although this area has a long history of cattle grazing, and many trail and place names reflect this history, the last grazing lease in the park expired in 1979. Remain on the Carrillo Trail to the steel tank at Rock Spring. The goldfish were stocked by cowboys to discourage algae growth in the tank. Find the trail sign in the wash below and follow the Carrillo Trail north toward the Douglas Spring Trail. To complete the loop, turn left on the Douglas Spring Trail and descend 1 mile to the DouglasSpring Trailhead.
Douglas Spring Trail to Bridal Wreath Falls 5.2 Miles
This route begins at the DouglasSpring trailhead on Speedway and follows the Douglas Spirng Trail east all the way to the turnoff for BridalWrethFalls. The route begins flat but quickly beginst to climb in elevation. The steepness of this trail makes it challenging but with the payoff of a view of the beautiful BridalWreathFalls. The higher elevations this route reaches means that a large variety of bird species could be present. The route then returns back along the same path back to the DouglasSpring trailhead.
Tanque Verde Wash/Loma Verde Trail 1.5 Miles
This route begins where the Tanque Verde Wash enters the Park on the north side. This vegetation lined wash is home to many bird species! The route then heads west on Wentworth trail and then north on Loma Verde which then crosses the Tanque Verde Wash. You will then head north through the wash again to your start point. This is a pleasant route but note that walking through sand, as you will be in the wash, can be quite tiring.
Shantz Loop 4 Miles
This level rotue beigns at the Broadway Trail head at the north end of the park and heads east on Shantz trail. The trail then turns north and runs parallel to the boundary of the park and then curves east. The route then heads south on Loma Verde and then west on Wentworth, where it reconects with the Shantz trail that leads back to the Broadway trailhead.
Shantz/Pink Hill Loop 3.5 Miles
This moderately level route begins at the Broadway Trail head at the north end of the park and heads east on Shantz trail. The trail then turns north and the route then heads east on Wentworth Trail then south on Loma Verde. The route then loops around and heads west on Pink Hill Trail then reconects with Shantz which leads back to the start point.
Cholla Mesquite Loop 3.5 Miles
This loop begins where the Cactus forest trail heads north from Cactus Forest Drive road. Follow Cactus Forest Trail to Cholla Trail and head east and then south on Loma Verde where it becomes the Mesquite Trail and heads west to reconect with Cactus Forest Trail and south to the start point. This route crosses several washes which should provide an interesting mix of desert bird species.
Cactus Forest Trail 4 Miles
This is a smooth and sandy route that features many species of cactus. This route begins where the Cactus Forest Trail heads south from Cactus Forest Drive road (across the loop the Cactus Forest Loop Drive creates) and approaches another point in Cactus Forest Drive from the north. This is a moderately level route that crosses several washes and should yield some interesting desert bird species.
Tanque Verde Ridge Trail 7.6 Miles
This route begins at the Javelina Picnic Area and starts relatively flat. The route then quickly climbs in elevation to the Tanque Verde Ridge. The route then follows the ridge, providing some breathtaking views. At about the 5400’ elevation, this route then turns around and backtracks the way it came back to the start point. This is a challenging route both is length and elevational gain but should yield some very interesting and varied bird species.
Hope Camp Trail 5.7 Miles
This route generally follows a wash that parallels a south-facing slope of the Rincon foothills, passing through some of the district's taller saguaros stands and a healthy sampling of its diverse cacti and brush communities. This densely vegetated area is well lit at dawn and dusk, and coupled with limited use, is a good trail for spotting wildlife.
From the trailhead at the end of Camino Loma Alta, the trail drops gently for several dozen yards before leveling out on a wide, gravely 4x4 road. The trail rolls gently up and down with only one or two brief, moderate grades. Occasional wash crossings are necessary, but are generally easy to distinguish. Views to the north of steep, saguaro-riddled hillsides highlight the entire length of the trail. This route ends at the old Hope Camp site and doubles back on itself back to the start point. This trail is somewhat challenging in length, but not so much in elevational gain.
Madrona Ranger Station 5 Miles
This route begins at Madrona Ranger Station which is normally very difficult to access. For this event, there will be a shuttle taking people to the Ranger Station, the team will use this shuttle to reach their start point. The route then heads north on Manning CampTrialon a steady incline. The route reaches 5340’ in elevation and then backtracks on itself to end back at Madrona Ranger Station where the shuttle will return you to your vehicles. This is a challenging hike both is elevation and length but could yield some very interesting bird species!
Rincon Creek Trail 8 Miles
This route begins where Upper Valley Road ends into the border of SaguaroNational Park. The rotue then heads east along Rincon Creek which steadily increases in elevation. The route reaches 5400’ in elevation then doubles back on itself and follows the same route back to the start point. This is a challenging route, especially in terms of length so team members should be prepared. The high quality habitat and remoteness of this route should yield some very intersting birds!
Very Challenging Adventure Backpacking Hikes
The following routes are in the high elevation areas of Saguaro National Park East. They require that the teams backpack in at least one day before the survey and camp before surveying their route Saturday morning. There will be an opportunity to have some of your gear and water/food transported up to rendeavous points making this less challenging than it could be. Please note that the mapped routes of these Backcountry hikes are approximate. You will receive further details if you sign up for one of these. If you are interested in joining one of these teams, please contact Jherime Kellerman directly at