Is The Red Hills Outdoor Garden Handicap Accessible

Three people, two walking one in a wheelchair, on a paved path in a desert setting. — With paved trails at both districts of Saguaro National Park, everyone can enjoy some time off road in the desert.
NPS photo

For All to Enjoy

The staff at Saguaro National Park invites all visitors to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the Sonoran Desert. We are continually working to improve the accessibility of our facilities and interpretive programs, but we need your help.

The best ideas for accessibility often come from folks like you. If you have a suggestion for improving your national park, stop by one of the visitor centers and ask for a comment card. We value your input and look forward to hearing from you.

Visitor Centers

Saguaro National Park has two districts: Saguaro West in the Tucson Mountains west of the city of Tucson, and Saguaro East in the Rincon Mountains east of Tucson. Both visitor centers have a fully accessible visitor center with assistive door systems and flat surfaces.

Accessible features found at both visitor centers include designated parking spaces, accessible restrooms and drinking fountains, paved cactus garden paths and captioned orientation programs. Saguaro West offers volume assist, audio description, and Neckloop telefoil Couplers for its theater program.

You may obtain a Braille version or large text version of the park brochure at the information desk. Touchable objects are included in public exhibit areas.

Interpretive Programs

Interpretive programs are offered throughout the year, with the most programs offered in the busy winter season, November through April. Many of these programs are held in accessible areas in or near the visitor centers, or on paved trails out in the desert. Some programs are auto caravans where interpretive rangers will speak near your car. Indoor and patio programs are another way to access fascinating programs about the Saguaro Cactus and the Sonoran Desert.

For more information call either visitor center daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Hours are Mountain Standard Time, year-round, centers closed December 25.

Saguaro East
(520)733-5153

Saguaro West
(520)733-5158

Scenic Drives

Saguaro East offers the 8 mile Cactus Forest Drive in the Rincon Mountain foothills. This scenic loop route features spectacular views of the Sonoran Desert. Seven scenic parking areas have accessible parking spaces and colorful interpretive signs explaining park features. Keep in mind RV parking is limited on the driving loop and the Visitor Center does not have RV Spaces (contact entrance station attendant for alternatives). Numerous pull-outs also allow close-up views of the cactus desert. This paved route is open from 5 a.m. to dusk every day of the year.

At Saguaro West, the 5 mile Bajada Loop Drive winds through a thick stand of saguaros and other desert vegetation, including ironwood trees. There are pullouts for sight-seeing and photography from the car, and accessible parking at picnic areas. This unpaved route, passable for all vehicles, is open from dawn to dusk every day of the year. Paved alternative drives are nearby, ask at the visitor center. Keep in mind the loop does not have RV parking but the Visitor Center has ample RV parking.

Accessible Trails

The Desert Ecology Trail is located at Saguaro East. This 1/4 mile paved trail has exhibits about the plants and animals that comprise the Sonoran Desert community. Resting benches are spaced along the trail. Also at Saguaro East, a 0.7 mile portion of the Mica View Trail is graded to ADA standards and surfaced with a natural material that supports all types of wheelchairs. Park at Mica View Picnic Area or the Broadway Trail head.

The Desert Discovery Trail is located at Saguaro West. This is a 1/2 mile paved trail with exhibit signs about the life of the Sonoran Desert. Pavement texturing, and shade ramadas with resting benches are found along the trail. Trail guides in braille and cassette tape format may be obtained at the visitor center. This is an excellent trail for sunset views through a forest of saguaro cactus.

Picnic Areas

Saguaro National Park has six picnic areas that are accessible by vehicle. Mica View and Javelina are located at Saguaro East. Sus, Signal Hill, Cam-Boh, and Ez-Kim-In-Zin are at Saguaro West.

Each picnic area has at least one picnic table with an overhanging end for wheelchair access. A charcoal grill is located nearby. The restroom (no water) in each picnic area is accessible. Ground surfaces in all picnic areas are compacted soil and gravel. Access to the pit toilet at Javelina and Mica View picnic areas is by paved path.