"Western Saguaro NP" Saguaro National Park by gubbi1

The Saguaro National Park got his name from the cacti which have this area as their home, the Saguaros. Devided is the park by the city of Tucson and the eastern part has its own entry here on Virtual Tourist.
Being so close to the city, it is perfectly reachable by car in just a few minutes. Just outside the park there is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which is so closely linked to the life and landscape of the park, that I included it in this location. The museum is amazing as it covers all aspects of the Sonora desert, to which the park and all the region around Tucson belong to. It is build in a way that it seems to be open into the desert. You will be able to see a lot of different cacti, plants, larger animals and hummingbirds living in the desert. Also there are changing exhibitions inside the museums buildings, where I had the chance to see all the different rattlesnakes living in Arizona. At least here I could see that these dangerous but beautiful creatures really exist. I was actually really surprised how small some of them are. My picture of rattle snakes was always the relative big snake hiding in the shade and making the typical noise. But some of them were just slightly longer than my lower arm and thin like my thumb. This explains why people accidentially get to close sometimes.
Coming to the park you should get the map in the Visitor Center to be prepared for the tour. Continueing the road after the Visitor Cneter you will reach a small parking on the left, from which a loop trail gives you impressions of the park. It is not very long, about 1 km. I recommend to look around as I have seen several lizzards 'escaping' me. Well, my interest in them and the camera probably did not help to make them calmer, but I got some nice shots. Always have something to drink with you when being around, also on this short round. Everything is well prepared, but still you are in a wild environment! You are in a desert!
Actually I saw a wild coyote crossing the street, while driving back to Tuscon.
Further the road after the desert trail you can turn right for a loop road bringing you deep into the Saguaro National Park. It is a beautiful drive and you can admire the huge Saguaros, which are (thanks to the Tucson Studios) nowadays the typical cacti of 'every' desert ;)

• Pros:Extremely interesting area, much to do!
• Cons:---