DESERT GLORY

Saguaro National Park offers trail riders miles of trails through majestic saguaro cactus and unique desert ecosystems.

- KENT AND CHARLENE KRONE

Southeastern Arizona's Saguaro National Park is a place of timeless beauty. Even though we've ridden here before, we never tire of the magnificent display of saguaro against the Sonoran Desert background. This treelike cactus species is an iconic symbol of the Sonoran Desert and the American Southwest. It has been called the monarch of the Sonoran Desert, renowned for its size and unusual shapes.

This national park preserves the saguaro, as well as other members of the Sonoran Desert community, including different kinds of cacti, desert trees, shrubs, and wildlife. In fact, the Sonoran Desert surpasses all other North American deserts in terms of lushness and variety of life.

Saguaro National Park consists of two units: the Tucson Mountain District (Saguaro West) and the Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East). These two districts are separated by the city of Tucson. Both units together preserve more than 91,000 acres of Sonoran Desert and contain 165 miles of trails.

The best time of year to visit the park is October to April. In the summer, temperatures can easily soar over 100 degrees. The Red Hills Visitor Center offers park information, including trail maps. For more information, visit nps.gov/sagu.

You may bring your own trail horse and ride the park's extensive trail system. Here, we'll tell you where you can stay with your horse and where to ride. We'll also give you information on guest ranches in the area if you'd prefer to leave your horse at home.

Rocking M Ranch

Rocking M Ranch (rockingmranch.net) is a convenient, friendly place to stay with your horse adjacent to Saguaro West. The location allows you to ride your horse directly into the national park, yet is close to town for shopping and tourist activities.