Get Involved

Help Saguaro Stop the Spread of Invasive Species

Saguaro National Park offers many different kind of opportunities for volunteers to contribute to the management of non-native, invasive species that have made their way into our wilderness. Depending on the season, opportunity events include mapping buffelgrass infestations, participating in the Weed Free Trails program, and joining monthly buffelgrass and fountaingrass pulls.

 

Weed Free Trails volunteers hike the trails of Saguaro looking for invasive species.

NPS photo

Weed Free Trails

Hike the trails and help the park! The goal of the Weed Free Trails program is to hike Saguaro National Park's trail network while eradicating non-native, invasive plants that threaten the native ecosystem. Volunteer Weed Free Trail monitors will hike and examine trail segments a minimum of three times per year. This monitoring is done independently and on a very flexible schedule.

The Weed Free Trails program is a great way to get involved with the parks efforts and hone a variety of skills such as:

• Plant identification
• GPS navigation
• Outreach
• Cultural site recognition
• Park radio communication
• Safe hiking principles

Orientations are held periodically. Contact our invasives coordinator at [e-mail] if you are interested or have any questions regarding the Weed Free Trails program.

 

Boot brush stations are a great way to help stop the spread of invasive species.

NPS photo

Do Your Part in the Park

In many cases, invasive species are spread by humans and the dirt and seeds of our hiking boots! Boot brushing stations are gaining popularity throughout different parks and trail systems to help stop the spread of invasive species. Saguaro is working to put these posts at all major trailheads throughout the park in order to better manage what gets tracked in and out of the trails. Learn more about boot brush stations.

Boot Brushes at Saguaro

If you see a boot brush station, use it!

In the Rincon Mountain District of the park, there is a boot brush station at the Broadway trailhead located at the eastern end of Broadway Boulevard and more to be installed in the near future, so keep an eye out.

In the Tucson Mountain District, you can find a boot brush station at all major trailheads.

 

Volunteer pulls invasive buffelgrass on a desert hillside.

Frank Staub

Adopt-an-Area

Help protect the park from invasive plants!

Saguaro National Park is looking for volunteers who want to adopt a piece of the park as their very own--to cherish and protect its plants and animals from invasive plants, especially buffelgrass.

Adopt-An-Area program is for people who are interested in taking care of their own area of the park on their own time. This allows for deeper connection with the land and an impactful way of taking care of it.