Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park The Saguaro cactus only grows naturally in the Sonoran Desert. Rincon Mountain (East) District: 3693 South Old Spanish Trail
Tucson Mountain (West): 2700 N.

Kinney Road

If you're looking for the official source of information about Saguaro National Park please visit our homepage at www.nps.gov/sagu

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07/25/2026

Monsoon season is now officially in full swing! These beautiful storms bring out all sorts of wildlife, more shades of green than you’d expect from a desert, that refreshing smell of the creosote bushes, and dark storm clouds that beautifully compliment the landscape of the surrounding mountains. However, these mighty storms come at a cost. They also bring strong winds, dust storms, lightning, and flash flooding which can be deadly if not treated with caution; take Ranger Summer’s word for it.

Be aware of the weather; while it may appear sunny during one part of the day, the storms can build quickly! If you can see lightning, that means the storm is close and you should seek shelter immediately. Avoid high points like ridgelines, as well as low points like a dry riverbed. Powerful thunderstorms can bring a ton of rain all at once, this can cause flash floods which can damage anything in its path. Stay away from flood zones and stay alive!
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[Video Description: Vertical video, opens on a close-up shot of a young female ranger with long hair and a green polo holding a small square microphone, walking through a mountainous desert landscape. Scene cuts to a full shot of the same ranger standing behind a bush in a desert landscape with mountains in the background with the shot alternating between other clips of a rainstorm over a desert landscape and a time lapse of storm clouds rolling in with pouring rain. Scene cuts to a clip of a medium shot of the ranger standing in front of a creosote bush. A clip of the ranger’s hands cupping a piece of the plant is shown before returning to the previous shot of the ranger holding the plant and breathing into her hands. Scene changes to a shot of the ranger on the ground with small plants nearby and briefly cuts to a shot of a small hole in the ground that the ranger is pointing at. Scene changes to closer shot of the ranger walking through the desert landscape with rocks and mountains in the background. Scene changes to a full shot of the ranger in a wash full of sand with trees along the side. Scene changes to the ranger in front of a silver car and clicks car keys at the end of shot.]

07/08/2026

It’s warming up here at Saguaro! Take Ranger Summer’s advice and don’t underestimate the intensity of the dry heat! If you do decide to go outside in the park this summer, remember to bring enough sun protection, stay hydrated, and plan your outdoor activities for a reasonable time.

[Video description: Vertical video, opens on a close-up shot of a young female ranger with long hair and a green polo walking on a paved path through a desert landscape. Scene cuts to a clip of the same ranger in a similar angle under the bright sun with mountains in the background. Scene cuts to a clip of a medium shot of the ranger wearing a backpack and standing under a mesquite tree as she puts on a trucker hat and sunglasses. Scene cuts to a closer shot of the ranger in a hat and sunglasses carrying a backpack through a desert landscape. Scene cuts to a medium shot of the ranger in a hat next to a dirt trail under a mesquite tree holding up a green water bottle followed by a bag of almonds before walking away to the right of the frame.]

Congratulations to everyone who was able to participate in Saguaro National Park’s 16th annual Naturalization Ceremony t...
07/06/2026

Congratulations to everyone who was able to participate in Saguaro National Park’s 16th annual Naturalization Ceremony this weekend! Saturday, we had the honor of welcoming 15 new citizens, hailing from 3 different countries!

Thank you for continuing the American spirit and adding to the melting pot. In Arizona, we melt together quickly 🫠❤️ 🌵

"I was born in the summer of 1776. I started life as a minuscule seed, hidden beneath the canopy of a Palo Verde tree th...
07/04/2026

"I was born in the summer of 1776. I started life as a minuscule seed, hidden beneath the canopy of a Palo Verde tree that shielded me from the blistering Arizona sun. Out East, a new nation was declaring its independence. But right here, my roots were just taking hold in the soil of the Tucson basin.

I grew roughly an inch a year, watching history unfold without moving an inch: In my youth, I watched the Tohono O'odham farm the river valleys, their laughter drifting on the desert wind as they harvested the bright red Bahidaj (saguaro fruit) of my elders. I watched Spanish soldiers pack mud and straw into adobe bricks to build the Tucson Presidio (1775-1776).

It took me nearly 75 years just to grow my very first arm. By the time I did, the maps were changing, and the land beneath my roots was about to become a part of the United States (The Gadsden Purchase of 1854).

I was over 100 years old when the first iron horses chugged through the valley, bringing new faces, new languages, and a bustling train station to the desert (Southern Pacific Railroad Depot in 1880).

By 1933, I was a towering giant, providing shelter to generations of nesting owls and woodpeckers, when Herbert Hoover recognized the need to protect my home as a National Monument (established March 1, 1933).

In 1962, I was reunited with my relatives as Stewart Udall worked with Juanita Ahil to amend the regulations, allowing the Tohono O’odham to resume their traditional saguaro harvests.

Today, at 250 years old, I am one of the elders of Saguaro National Park.

My stature and my scars hold the memory of droughts, monsoons, and centuries of human footsteps. If my time on this earth has taught me anything, it is that a landscape—just like a nation—is not defined by a single moment or a single voice. America, much like this desert, is a living tapestry built by the resilience of its people and the myriads of unique perspectives, cultures, and stories that have led us to this historic milestone."

Happy 4th of July from some of America’s oldest living witnesses! 🌵

07/02/2026

NextGen Spotlight Series: Raeshaun Ramon, a member of the Tohono O'odham Nation, joined the NextGen program in 2022, where he specialized in Community Engagement and Outreach at Saguaro National Park. He focused on outreach services educating the local community about the Sonoran Desert through public events including STEM/Career fairs, Tucson Rodeo Parade, Tucson Festival of Books, Tucson Parade of Lights and many more! Raeshaun completed his internship and is currently working at Saguaro National Park as the first Tohono O'odham member to become a permanent Lead Park Guide in Community Engagement and Outreach! Since joining the National Park Service, he completed his degree at the The University of Arizona in Anthropology with a minor in American Indian Studies in 2026. Raeshaun continues to share his O'odham culture through events within and outside the Park.

With minimal fire behavior and no growth over the last couple of days, the Box Fire in Saguaro National Park is now 100%...
06/17/2026

With minimal fire behavior and no growth over the last couple of days, the Box Fire in Saguaro National Park is now 100% contained. The fire will continue to be monitored by infrared flights until there is no heat in the interior of the burn area. Temporary closures in the park have been lifted, and all Saguaro National Park trails and campgrounds are now open.
Thank you to all of the firefighters and support personnel for their incredible work!

06/15/2026

Forward progress on the Box Fire was stopped on Sunday, June 14. Crews continued to hold and improve line overnight and this morning, and fire activity today has been minimal. Because of the remote location of the fire, all firefighters and equipment (including crew meals) must be flown on and off the fire line. The fire received some rain overnight and continues to hold at 145 acres.
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[Video description: Vertical video, opens on a view pointed up into a pale blue sky with sparce white clouds. A helicopter is seen briefly as the camera pans down, following ropes from the helicopter down to two supply bags being lowered onto the ground. The ground is a large rock slab, along a ridgeline; beyond the ridge is an open valley with mountains in the background. At the 17 second mark, the bags are released and the ropes begin to pull away. The camera pans up as the ropes are taken away.]

A wildfire was reported in Saguaro National Park on June 13 at 7:15 am. The Box Fire is now 136 acres. The fire is burni...
06/14/2026

A wildfire was reported in Saguaro National Park on June 13 at 7:15 am. The Box Fire is now 136 acres. The fire is burning in the Rincon Mountains in the east district just west of Juniper Basin Campground. There are 97 personnel assigned, and the Southeast Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed control of the fire at 6:00 am on Sunday, June 14.

Wildland firefighters engaged in direct suppression tactics throughout the day and night to stop the fire’s spread, and air resources provided support through water and retardant drops.

Fire crews are continuing to secure the perimeter of the fire today and reinforce the progress that was made yesterday. The current weather system in the area brought increased relative humidities, and isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon and early evening.

To provide for public safety and allow firefighters to operate effectively, the following trails and areas are temporarily closed:

• Tanque Verde Ridge Trail
• Loma Alta Trailhead
• X9 Ranch access routes
• Juniper Basin and Grass Shack backcountry campgrounds

Computa, show me an education job working in Saguaro National Park...Does your search history have you seeking out envir...
06/10/2026

Computa, show me an education job working in Saguaro National Park...

Does your search history have you seeking out environmental education positions in Southern Arizona? Do you have experience working with students in grades K-12? Our Education Next Generation Ranger position might be what you are looking for!

The Friends of Saguaro National Park are looking for young adults from the Tucson area with a passion for learning and teaching about the rich ecosystems and cultural history of the Sonoran Desert to join our education department. Applicants must be 18-30 years old and have completed at least 2 years of a degree-seeking program; preferably in education, communication, sciences, recreation, or a related field.
We are also considering applications for positions within our interpretation division for visitor services and visual information.

Applications are due by June 30th, so apply today!
Visit https://go.nps.gov/nextgens to learn more about this position or reach out to [email protected] with questions.

Thank you, computa

06/04/2026

NextGen Spotlight Series: Tika Arnold joined the NextGen Program in 2024, after graduating from The University of Arizona with a degree in Global Studies, with an emphasis in Health and Development. She worked in Interpretation at Saguaro National Park focusing on environmental education. Her work consisted of programs and projects with students (grades 4-12) in southern Arizona that educated them about ecology, cultural history and the natural resources of the Park, both at the Park and in classrooms. In 2025, she helped the Park reach 47 schools and almost 7,000 students! She recently completed her internship and is now working for Sky Island Alliance as a volunteer coordinator.

Address

3693 S Old Spanish Trail
Tucson, AZ
85730

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15207335153

Website

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