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Made up of two separate districts—the Tucson Mountain District and Rincon Mountain District—Saguaro National Park is just outside of Tucson, Arizona. The first federal park created to protect a single plant species, this is where you can see America’s tallest cacti.

A saguaro cactus can reach a height of more than 40 feet and grow several branches, often living more than 150 years. In Saguaro National Park, visitors can walk through dense saguaro forests, explore arid mountains and see Native American petroglyphs. A couple of scenic loop roads attract motorists and cyclists alike.

Best Day Hikes in Saguaro National Park, Arizona

When hiking in Saguaro National Park, you get to see iconic saguaro cacti, the “sentinels of the desert”, from up close. You’ll walk among them, underneath them and past them, on the way admiring multi-armed saguaros, baby saguaros hiding in the shade of a nurse tree, and other regional desert flora.

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