Travel + Leisure: This Southwestern U.S. National Park Is Located in the World’s Wettest Desert — and It’s Home to Over 2 Million Giant Cacti

Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure | January 25, 2025

While the Grand Canyon may be Arizona’s most well-known national park, it’s not the only one worth a visit. With 22 total National Park Service monuments, parks, recreation areas, historic sites, and memorials, the southwestern state is filled with incredible wonders — one of which is Saguaro National Park.

Saguaro National Park, named for the country’s largest cacti, is made up of two distinct districts on either side of Tucson. Located within the Sonoran Desert, Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East) and Tucson Mountain District (Saguaro West) are nearly an hour’s drive apart. According to Stephen Romero, the operations manager at Trail Dust Jeep Tours, each district has its “own unique beauty and advantages.” If you’re searching for the famous saguaro cacti, head west, where the saguaro forest is denser. To access a plethora of mountainous backcountry trails, go east.

No matter how you plan to split your time between the two districts, you’ll want to come prepared with a game plan — plus comfortable hiking shoes and sunscreen. So to help guide your trip, we tapped Romero, as well as James Lorentzen of Tucson E-Bike Adventures, to share their best advice on visiting Saguaro National Park.

Places to Stay

Photo courtesy of Loews Hotels

Dude Ranches, Hotels, and Rentals

You won’t find traditional accommodations within either park district, but there are more than a handful of options in and around Tucson. “For a truly unique experience, I’d recommend staying at one of Tucson's historic dude ranches,” says Romero. “Tanque Verde Guest Ranch near the East District and White Stallion Ranch near the West District both offer unforgettable stays.” For traditional hotels, Lorentzen names Loews Ventana Canyon and Hilton Tucson East as two good options that are “within a short drive” of the park. Travelers who prefer rental properties — and plan to spend a lot of time in the East District — can check out the Solana Spanish Villas; the dog-friendly property has eight fully furnished villas and casitas and a pool.

Read the full story on Travel + Leisure here.