Accessibility

With paved trails at both districts of Saguaro National Park, everyone can enjoy some time off road in the desert.

NPS photo

For All to Enjoy

The staff at Saguaro National Park invites all visitors to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the Sonoran Desert. We are continually working to improve the accessibility of our facilities and interpretive programs, but we need your help.

The best ideas for accessibility often come from folks like you. If you have a suggestion for improving your national park, stop by one of the visitor centers and ask for a comment card. We value your input and look forward to hearing from you.

 

Visitor Centers

Saguaro National Park has two districts: Saguaro West in the Tucson Mountains west of the city of Tucson, and Saguaro East in the Rincon Mountains east of Tucson. Both visitor centers have a fully accessible visitor center with assistive door systems and flat surfaces.

Accessible features found at both visitor centers include designated parking spaces, accessible restrooms and drinking fountains, paved cactus garden paths and captioned orientation programs. Saguaro West offers volume assist, audio description, and Neckloop telefoil Couplers for its theater program.

You may obtain a Braille version or large text version of the park brochure at the information desk. Touchable objects are included in public exhibit areas.

 

Interpretive Programs

Interpretive programs are offered throughout the year, with the most programs offered in the busy winter season from November through April. Many of these programs are held in accessible areas in or near the visitor centers or on paved trails out in the desert. Some programs are auto-caravans where interpretive rangers will speak near your car. Indoor and patio programs are another way to access fascinating programs about the saguaro cactus and the Sonoran Desert.

For more information about guided programs, visit our calendar or call either visitor center. Visitor center summer hours (June 1 - September 30) are 8 am - 4 pm, and winter hours (October 1 - May 31) are 9 am - 5 pm. Hours are Mountain Standard Time, year-round.

Rincon Mountain District (east)
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Tucson Mountain District (west)
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Scenic Drives

Saguaro East offers the 8 mile Cactus Forest Drive in the Rincon Mountain foothills. This scenic loop route features spectacular views of the Sonoran Desert. Seven scenic parking areas have accessible parking spaces and colorful interpretive signs explaining park features. Keep in mind RV parking is limited on the driving loop and the Visitor Center does not have RV Spaces (contact entrance station attendant for alternatives). Numerous pullouts also allow beautiful views of the cactus desert. This paved route is open from 5 am to dusk every day of the year.

At Saguaro West, the 5 mile Bajada Loop Drive winds through a thick stand of saguaros and various other desert vegetation. There are pullouts for sightseeing and photography from the car, and there is accessible parking at picnic areas. This unpaved route, passable for all vehicles, is open from dawn to dusk every day of the year. Paved alternative drives are nearby, and more information about these drives can be obtained by asking at the visitor center. Keep in mind the loop does not have RV parking, but the Visitor Center has ample RV parking.

 

Accessible Trails

Check out trail accessibility information for hiking in the park.

At Rincon Mountain District (east), there is the Desert Ecology Trail. This 1/4-mile paved trail has exhibits along the way about the plants and animals that comprise the Sonoran Desert ecosystem. Resting benches are spaced along the trail. Also at Saguaro East, a 0.7 mile portion of the Mica View Trail is graded to ADA standards and surfaced with a natural material that supports all types of wheelchairs. Park at Mica View Picnic Area or the Broadway trailhead.

At Tucson Mountain District (west), there is the Desert Discovery Trail. This is a 1/2-mile paved trail with exhibit signs about the life of the Sonoran Desert. Pavement texturing and shade ramadas with resting benches are found along the trail. Trail guides in braille and cassette-tape format may be obtained at the visitor center. This is an excellent trail for sunset views through a forest of saguaro cactus.

 

Picnic Areas

Saguaro National Park has six picnic areas that are accessible by vehicle. Mica View and Javelina are located in the Rincon Mountain District (east). Sus, Signal Hill, Cam-Boh, and Ez-Kim-In-Zin are in the Tucson Mountain DIstrict (west).

Each picnic area has at least one picnic table with an overhanging end for wheelchair access. A charcoal grill is located nearby. The restroom (no water) in each picnic area is accessible. Ground surfaces in all picnic areas are compacted soil and gravel. Access to the pit toilets at Javelina and Mica View picnic areas (Rincon Mountain District) is by paved path.