Desert Discovery Trail in Saguaro National Park

Desert Discovery Trail

This self-guided nature trail features exhibits that tell the stories of the plants, animals, and ecology that are native to the Sonoran Desert.

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Desert Discovery Trail Details

The trailhead to the self-guided Desert Discovery Trail is one mile northwest of the Red Hills Visitor Center off of Kinney Road. Exhibits along the trail tell the stories of the plants, animals and ecology that are native to the Sonoran Desert. The Desert Discovery Trail is wheelchair accessible, and resting benches and shade "ramadas" are available to escape from the sun's rays.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

0.4 miles

Estimated time

30 minutes

Region

N/A

Nearby Parks Around Desert Discovery Trail

Compare nearby parks around Desert Discovery Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

28.3 mi away

Saguaro

National Park · AZ

210.4 mi away

Petrified Forest

National Park · AZ

267.3 mi away

Grand Canyon

National Park · AZ

295.7 mi away

White Sands

National Park · NM

322.2 mi away

Joshua Tree

National Park · CA

355.7 mi away

Zion

National Park · UT

Nearby Points of Interest Around Desert Discovery Trail

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Desert Discovery Trail while the map context is still fresh.

0.6 mi away

Bajada Loop Drive

An unpaved, six-mile scenic drive through the park's Tucson Mountain District.

0.6 mi away

Sus Picnic Area

Make a stop during your tour of the Bajada Loop Drive and enjoy a picnic in this area built by CCC workers in the 1930s.

0.8 mi away

Hugh Norris Trail

The longest trail in the Tucson Mountain District was named after a former chief of the Tohono O'odham Indian Police.

1.0 mi away

Red Hills Visitor Center

The entrance into Saguaro National Park's Tucson Mountain District is also where you'll find a Visitor Center.

1.0 mi away

Overview

Located west and east of Tucson, Ariz., the two units of Saguaro National Park protect deserts inhabited by 1.6 million saguaro cactuses, the iconic multi-limbed giants of the Southwest.