Two views of the spectacular and unusual nature of Saguaro National Park. Photos courtesy National Park Service.

Saguaro National Park Then

The Tohono O'odham (the Desert People) of the Sonoran Desert - The Totono O'odham tribe lived within the desert in an area reaching from Arizona to Sonora, Mexico. They inhabited the land that would eventually be transferred, half, to the United States in 1853 through the Gadsden Purchase. The rights of the native people to control their land, as in the case of many Native Americans, was guaranteed through the treaty, although settlement, due to mining and the development of the transcontinental railroad, changed that dynamic. The tribe has now been divided into four recognized tribes, due to the effect of the the division between Mexico and the United States, and one of the difficulties ot the tribe to maintian their culture and family ties is involved within the border and immigration problem Many of the petrogyphs of the nation still remain within the park.

Saguaro National Park - President Herbert Hoover declared the east section of the park a national monument on March 1, 1933, and recognized the western section in 1937. Additional lands were added in the 1960s and 1970s, including the Wilderness Area and Tuscon Mountain Park. On October 14, 1994, it was elevated to Natoinal Park status.

Photo above: Tourists along the park road, paved in the 1950's, that had been built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Courtesy National Park Service. Below: Rainbow over the Saguaro National Park road. Courtesy National Park Service.

Saguaro National Park Now

Saguaro National Park is another of those parks that most in the nation couldn't name, and may bypass, on their way to bigger names, i.e. that big brother Grand Canyon to the northwest, and the Zion's and Byrce Canyon's of the world, too. But if you're going to be driving through Tuscon, or Arizona, for that matter, stop by the two sections of Saguaro National Park and marvel at one of the large sentinels of the day and night that guard the desert floor and marvel at the size and beauty of a tree, or a plant, or whatever you care to call it. Ask a ranger for the definition actually, they'll know.

Saguaro National Park is home to the Giant American cacti, the signature of the American west, and the trails and sights in the park within the Sonoran Desert are wonderful, although with the temperatures exceeding 100 degrees most days in the summer, can be a challenge many months of the year. A visit in the winter is wonderful, with pleasant temperatures and the same scenery. There are two parts to the park, the east, Rincon Mountain District, and west, Tuscon Mountain District, sections, with the city of Tuscon in the middle.

The Ranger Guided Talks and Walks - More plentiful in winter than summer, but available at all times of the year, these talks walks range from ten minutes to two and one half hours and take you to various locations in the park and cover the subject of history and nature. Some of the best occur at twilight and night, and seeing the desert at this time of day can be an even more special sight. You can also learn about the history of the making of the park and the Civilian Conservation Corp or even Wily Coyota and the Roadrunner, oh, well, maybe just the roadrunner and how he lives and runs through the desert floor.

Hiking and Biking - Many people enjoy the scenery of Saguaro National Park by foot or bike on their own. There are hikes for the novice and those with great experience such as the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail, among the 150 miles of trails within Saguaro National Park. Biking the loop drives can be a great way to see the park as well. At all times, care should be taken in this environment because of the hazards of the desert, including heat, terrain, and the animals who live there from black bears to snakes, as well as those prickly things.