Saguaro National Park

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Entrance to the Visitor's Center, Saguaro National Park, West.

Saguaro National Park, located in the state of Arizona, is part of the United States system of national parks.

Saguaro National Park is divided into two sections, lying approximately 20 miles east and 15 miles west of the centre of the city of Tucson, Arizona. Total area in 2002 was 143 square miles (91,327 acres) (370 km²) of which 111 mi² (289 km²) is designated wilderness. There is a visitor center in each section. Both are easily reached by car from Tucson, but there is no public transport into either section. Both sections conserve fine tracts of the Sonoran Desert, including ranges of significant hills, the Tucson Mountains in the west and the Rincon Mountains in the east. The park gets its name from the saguaro cactus which is native to the region. Many other kinds of cactus, including barrel cactus, cholla cactus, and prickly pear, are also abundant in the park. Three endangered species of animals live in the park: the Mexican Spotted Owl, Sonoran Tiger Salamander, and Lesser Long-nosed Bat.

The park was established as Saguaro National Monument on March 1, 1933 and changed to a national park on October 14, 1994.

Saguaro National Park scene

Facilities in the park include 150 miles (240 km) of well marked and maintained hiking trails, and shorter walking trails with interpretative information available. Hiking is not advisable during the hot summer months.

Rincon Mountain District

The Rincon Mountain District is located at the eastern edge of Tucson, Arizona; the east side of the park was the first side created between the two. What is unique about this park is that it starts off in the Sonoran Desert and gradually gives way to the High Alpine Forest of the Rincon Mountains. While this side of the park has fewer Saguaros than its counterpart they remain larger in size, due to higher amounts of rainfall and run off from the Rincon Moutains.

The key feature of this district is its 8.3 mile loop, which connects its two picnic areas and central trails. However the road is undergoing extensive work and remains closed to all of the park's vistors until the end of September 2006.

Panorama, Saguaro National Park

See also

• List of areas in the National Park System of the United States

External links

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Saguaro National Park

State Parks of Arizona
Northern Region
Dead Horse Ranch • Fool Hollow Lake • Fort Verde • Homolovi Ruins • Jerome • Lyman Lake • Red Rock • Riordan Mansion • Slide Rock • Tonto Natural Bridge
Southern Region
Boyce Thompson Arboretum • Catalina • Kartchner Caverns • Lost Dutchman • McFarland • Oracle • Patagonia Lake • Picacho Peak • Roper Lake • Sonoita Creek Natural Area • Tombstone Courthouse • Tubac Presidio
Western Region
Alamo Lake • Buckskin Mountain • Cattail Cove • Lake Havasu • Yuma Crossing • Yuma Territorial Prison
National Parks within Arizona
Grand Canyon • Petrified Forest • Saguaro
National Monuments
Canyon de Chelly • Casa Grande Ruins • Chiricahua • Hohokam Pima • Montezuma Castle • Navajo • Organ Pipe Cactus • Pipe Spring • Rainbow Bridge • Sunset Crater Volcano • Tonto • Tuzigoot • Walnut Canyon • Wupatki
Municipal parks
South Mountain Park • Papago Park