Hiking Saguaro National Park East – Rincon Mountain District
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Day 1 of my two day hiking itinerary at Saguaro National Park on the east side of the park in the Rincon Mountain District (RMD). I hike in a cactus forest, see lime kilns, Lime Falls, and so many different kinds of cactus – including the giant Saguaro cacti that brought me here!
Arriving at Saguaro National Park East
This is the first day of my 2 days at Saguaro National park in Arizona. I took the obligatory ‘standing in front of the National Park sign’ photo when I arrived, then headed to Cactus Forest Trail.
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Hiking the Cactus Forest Trail
This was touted as an easy trail through a cactus forest and since I was there for the cacti, it was exactly what I was looking for! My hike included parts of the Cactus Forest Trail, Lime Kilns Loop Trail, Lime Falls Trail, Mica View Trail, and the Javelina Wash Trail.
I loved Cactus Forest Trail! There were so many different kinds of cactus – including the giant Saguaros I had come for!
There was a magical moment when two women on horseback came around a curve in the trail. I had fallen into an old western movie, only with more girl power.
Lime Falls
I made a side trip to Lime Falls, knowing there wouldn’t actually be a waterfall at this time of year (December). It was a fun hike, rockier than the rest of the trail. And, since there was no waterfall at Lime Falls, I was able to climb up to the top of the ‘falls’ for a look around.
The best part of the Lime Falls Trail, though, was the small pools of water along the way. This was my first real desert hiking experience, and there were so many differences I hadn’t thought of. I live in Michigan where we have LOTS of water. In Arizona, not so much. Where ever there was a puddle of water, birds and bugs gathered. The desert was so quiet but here, where water pooled in the rocks, birdsong filled the air. It was so lovely!
I saw the reddest cardinal I had ever seen in my life, but I just missed getting a picture of it. My reaction was probably slowed because I was distracted by this incredible place!
Planning a trip to Saguaro National Park
I was headed to Saguaro to hike the trails so I needed a good map. I went with the Saguaro National Park map from National Geographic Trails. It covered the east and west sides of the park and was clear and easy to read – a must-have for planning a hiking trip to Saguaro National Park!
Lime Kilns at Saguaro National Park
The Lime Kilns loop is a short loop off the Cactus Forest Trail, taking you to see… you guessed it – lime kilns! The lime kilns were used to make mortar, plaster, and whitewash from limestone. Wood was used in the kilns, and that’s why they were closed down – local ranchers weren’t happy about all the wood being used in the kilns. The ranchers had grazing rights to the area and the kilns closed in 1920.
Javelina Wash Trail
I was working to make my hike in Saguaro East a loop hike, so I didn’t have to take the same trail back. This led me to the Javelina Wash Trail. If you don’t know, a wash is a place where water flows when it rains. When it isn’t raining, it’s essentially a dry creek bed. Creeks in Michigan are nearly always filled with water – wash trails are new to me.
This particular wash trail was deep sand, with bits of gravel. It was really tough walking, and not as scenic as the Cactus Forest Trail had been. And it was getting hot. After walking a handful of miles through the wash, I consulted the map to figure out how to get back to the Cactus Forest Trail.
I did accidentally stumble across the Desert Ecology Trail, a very short interpretive trail – lots of helpful signs – just off the Cactus Forest Drive (a loop road around the park).
Lunch at the Javelina Picnic Area
After returning to my car near the start of the Cactus Forest Trail, I drove a short distance to the Javelina Picnic Area and ate my lunch comfortably inside my air conditioned rental vehicle. Don’t judge! It was so hot outside and I was overheated and tired after the 8-ish mile hike.
Tanque Verde Ridge Trail
Next on my hiking plan was the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail. This is a long trail with some decent elevation gain (remember I’m from Michigan). Since I’d already hiked 8 miles, I was only planning to do a short hike. I’d read that you hit the first peak about a mile in so my plan was to hike to that first peak then return back for a total of 2 miles.
I LOVE this trail! The rockiness, the views, the inclines that weren’t too steep – I wish I had more time to spend here and could have gone farther.
Driving through Saguaro National Park East
After the lovely hike on the Tanque Verde Ridge, I drove around the scenic Cactus Forest Loop Drive, enjoying more cactus views – this time from the air conditioned comfort of my rental vehicle. If you’re not a hiker, this is a great way to enjoy the views. You can stop for a short walk on the paved Desert Ecology Trail, too.
Sunset at Gates Pass Overlook outside the park
After the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail, I returned to my car for the drive back to my campground near the west side of the park. The sun was getting low in the sky and I saw a roadside park that looked like a great spot to catch a sunset. Pulling into Gates Pass Overlook I discovered everyone else had the same idea – it was packed!
As I drove through the full parking lot, a car pulled out just ahead of me and suddenly I had a place to park. It was AMAZING!
After the sun disappeared behind the distant mountains, I drove the rest of the way back to Gilbert Ray Campground to get some sleep before exploring Saguaro Park West.