...Tucson's parks and canyons
Saguaro Natl Park and Sabino Canyon
A view of Sabino Canyon from the Rattlesnake Trail. Don't worry, we didn't see any.
Sabino Canyon is located northeast of Tucson in the Coronado National Forest. It offers wonderful hiking trails of all levels, gorgeous views and for those who just want to see the canyon with little walking: a shuttle that takes you up the main road of the canyon with nine stops along the way.
Equally impressive with massive fields of Saguaro is the Saguaro National Park, which is divided into two parks: East and West. Its was established in 1933 for the purpose of preserving the iconic cactus.
A view of Saddleback Ridge from the Sabino Canyon Road
At the top of the shuttle line where several hiking trails begin.
Lord willing, the creek won't rise. But if it does, just take off your hiking boots and go for it - carefully.
Boulders of Sabino Creek near Anderson Dam.
The little notch on the mountain top to the right is called The Thimble.
The Santa Catalina Mountains within the Coronado National Forest
Rattlesnake Trail, Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
Left: I'm thinking in general that the Saguaros are taller down here in the Tucson area than they are in the northern Sonora Desert.
Right: A Saguaro skeleton
A Mesquite tree lines the path near the Bajada Nature Trail.
A typical Saguaro is like the one on the right. The one on the left is atypical and is called a Cristate or crested Saguaro. It's not been scientifically decided what causes the mutation, but frost damage has been suggested. To the right and below are more pictures of the same one.
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A roadrunner, unfortunately behind glass, at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
A late-afternoon view of the mountains from the AZ-Sonora Desert Museum.
I got some parting shots of the sunset in the Saguaro National Park, West - outside of Tucson.
Petroglyphs can be found on a short hike of the Signal Hill Trail in the Saguaro National Park, West.
Saguaros come in all shapes and sizes. This one was kinda whimsical with all its arms entangled with each other.
The dead Saguaro skeletons are as impressive and interesting as the live ones. This shot and the ones below were taken in Saguaro Natl Park, East.
This roadrunner was NOT behind glass. He was found scurrying through the Saguaro Natl Park, East, on the Mica Trail.
The Javelina Rocks along the Cactus Forest Loop Scenic Drive in Saguaro Natl Park, East.
Hiking the Bear Canyon Trail in Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
For as far as the eyes can see, the Saguaros raise their arms to be counted in the Sabino Canyon.
This and the following images were taken on a second trip into Sabino Canyon.
How wonderous are the formations of the saguaros.
Oddly, a prickly pear takes up residence in the arms of a great saguaro.
On a return trip, along the Mica View Trail
A walk among the Javelina Rocks is an interesting trail often missed in the Saguaro NP East. A collection of low-lying rock formations with scatterings of the typical desert cacti makes a different type of hike as one travels up, over and around the bolders. The next several shots were taken at Javelina Rocks.
On my third visit to Sabino Canyon I did a wonderful hike, parts of which I had done before, but other parts for the first time. The combination of four trails was perfect for my hiking friends and me: We started out from the Visitor Center area and got on the Esperero Trail which led to the Rattlesnake Trail. From there we followed the wash to Sabino Canyon Road, where we hit the pavement for a short distance before taking off to the left onto the Bluff Trail. That trail took us to the Sabino Lake Trail which led back to the Visitor Center and parking lot, very roughly a 3.5-mile loop, easy to moderate. The following pictures were taken along those trails.
A saguaro skeleton on the Esperero Trail.
The wash on the Rattlesnake Trail
Cottonwood, sycamore, ash, walnut and willow trees are supported by the Sabino Creek which originates near Mt. Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains.
The Bluff Trail
The Sabino Dam
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