Definitely worth the drive if … Bicycling Information Fees “A … Interpretive signs teach visitors about the plants of the desert and shaded benches offer … For a longer springtime walk, surround yourself with wildflower color by hiking the Cactus Forest. Elevation Gain:511 fe… The Desert Ecology Trail in Saguaro East is a short, 0.25-mile paved interpretive trail off Cactus Forest Loop Drive, offering the perfect introduction to the Sonoran Desert. The loop offers several pull offs to get a closer look and a few trailheads as well. A popular way to enjoy the park is to bike around one of our scenic loop drives. Horses are also able to use this trail. Note that trailers/RVs longer than 35 feet or any vehicle wider than 8 feet are not permitted. Their supplies are brought in by pack mules that are kept in corrals at the site. If you wish to drive or cycle the loop, you'll need to pay a park entrance fee. Saguaro National Park Scenic Drive/Tour. The gate to Cactus Forest Drive opens at 7 a.m. and shuts around sunset. Location: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 154 miles northeast of Seattle; Length: 7.2-mile round-trip loop; Difficulty Rating: Intermediate; Best For: A lovely day hike with stunning views and autumn colors in season; Dogs: Leashed Located in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, this hike tours the national forest on the southeastern edge of North … A 2.5 mi (4.0 km) dirt trail that bisects the Cactus Forest Loop Drive in East Saguaro. Compare efforts Toggle details. The drive provides a stunning view of Sonoran Desert life and varieties of cacti, plants, and wildlife that inhabit the area. The Desert Discovery Trail is a flat, 0.5 mile paved trail located in the western Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro… Park here and proceed on foot past the gate on the Monte Cristo Road for 4.0 miles to the junction with the Monte Cristo campground road. It’s a perfect choice for someone looking for an easy to moderate hike with pretty minimal elevation gain and close encounters with large saguaro cactusesalong with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and desert terrain. cactus forest drive While at Saguaro you will find it is desirable to take advantage of the recreational and educational facilities provided for your use. This is an 8-mile paved one-way road (until you near the end where local traffic creates need for a two-way) which allows access to the trailheads and general beauty of the park, it reminded me of Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park. The Bajada Loop Drive in the Tucson Mountain District (west) is a 6-mile gravel loop. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. Cactus Forest Drive is the main scenic drive found in Saguaro National Park (East District). Sort by: Rank Date. 1. The Loop Drive features several trailheads, scenic vistas, and pullouts in a total of 8 miles (12.9 km). “Bring plenty of water,” says Fisher. Cactus Forest Loop Drive. The Loop drive at Saguaro National Park provides a smooth and beautiful overview of Sonoran desert landscape. The Cactus Forest Trail is a long 10-mile hike that can be broken down into smaller segments, since there are essentially four starting points for the trailheads. Cactus Forest Loop Drive Flag entire segment (hazardous, bad data) Hide. The eight-mile paved road offers the best scenery of any route in the park—hiked or driven. What is Cactus Forest Drive? Park rangers plan to lead a series of “Holiday Cactus Caravan” tours around the park’s Cactus Forest Loop Drive on the evening of Thursday, Dec. 29. Numerous sharp turns and hills make this a challenging but scenic option. The forest spans 100,000 acres and is crisscrossed with trails for hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders and off-road vehicles. “One of our most concerning statistics at the park is that we have averaged 7 major bicycle related accidents a year over the past 5 years on the Cactus Forest Loop Drive. A guide to the natural and cultural history of the Cactus Forest Loop Drive is available for $2.00 at the visitor center. Cactus Forest Drive, Tucson: See 209 reviews, articles, and 176 photos of Cactus Forest Drive, ranked No.10 on Tripadvisor among 331 attractions in Tucson. Pause when finish line is crossed Leaderboard. Within the forest lies a small ghost town called Bordeaux that can be tricky to find, but its elusive nature makes it fun for explorers to track down. We visited in May 2015. In contrast to Bajada Loop Drive, Cactus Forest Drive travels through parts of the park, which were subject to livestock grazing in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The primary attraction in Saguaro National Park East is the Cactus Forest Loop Drive. Cactus Forest Trail is a 10 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Tucson, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Upon entering the East side of the park you drive onto the seriously scenic Cactus Forest Loop Drive. This drive is very nice for seeing these cactus from afar and then dropping right down into them. Cactus Forest Loop + 8 miles: 500' rolling: Ride anytime, night riders need lights and reflectors: Rincon Valley: 4.1: 2880: Saturday morning farmer's market: Jnct Pistol Hill Rd (&OST) 9.9: 3415: A beautiful section of Old Spanish Trail: Colossal Cave (out and back) + 3 miles: 3680: Out and back through pristine desert when the gate is open: Jnct Camino Loma Alta: 13: 3280 Drive 30.5 miles to Barlow Pass. Note: The visitor's center is outside the fee entrance station for the park. The loop drive in Saguaro National Park East is a great way to see the landscape with plenty of Saguaros. You’ll see the cactus forest and have multiple opportunities for overlooks, hiking, and Instagram photo ops with a saguaro. The Civilian Conservation Corps created much of the infrastructure in the eastern district including the 8-mile Cactus Forest Drive through a part of the Sonoran Desert. Fly-Drive: Seattle & The Cascade Loop Most folks who come to visit the Cascade Loop fly into Sea-Tac International Airport , operated by the Port of Seattle . Cactus Forest Trail. These are accidents that require helicopter evacuation, ambulance transport, and/or hospital time. Where can I ride? It’s a paved, one-way, eight-mile loop road that should take you at least 45 minutes to an hour to properly explore by taking multiple stops at the different overlooks. Saguaro National Parkss Rincon Mountain Division, also known as Saguaro National Park East, features the Cactus Forest Drive, a meandering paved loop for cars and bicycles that takes visitors to several vistas and points of interest throughout the park. Well worth the time! Bicycling is allowed on the Cactus Forest Loop Drive and two park trails. This campground is located in a beautiful forest setting offering 40 miles of combined four-wheel drive and motorcycle/quad trails of varying difficulty. Click to review Biking Regulations. Stop and pause along the way and you might catch the drumming of a few Gila woodpeckers. From Granite Falls, go east on the Mountain Loop Highway. At a Glance For someone from the Midwest, this is very different from what we are used to seeing. Here, travelers rent a vehicle at the airport and many enjoy a city break in Seattle for a day or two before they head out on the Cascade Loop. Playback Speed. It's a paved 8.3 mile road, which provides access to two picnic areas and several hiking trailheads. Heather/Maple Pass Loop. Saguaro National Park East is known for its Cactus Forest Scenic Loop Drive. This paved 8-mile drive provides a great overview of all Saguaro East has to offer. Elapsed time: 00:00:00 ; 32x. Fodor's Expert Review Cactus Forest Drive. Cactus Forest Loop Drive. After you leave the Administration Building, signs along the 9.1-mile loop road will direct your attention to special exhibits along the way. This one-way, 2-hour drive meanders through the dense forest and offers countless places to pull over for photos, short walks, and long hikes. Beginning at the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center, the one-way Cactus Forest Drive Loop leads visitors on a leisurely eight-mile journey through a saguaro forest. Rank Time Performed at Athlete Associated ride Someone a little TOO quick? 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