Easy, 0.85 mi out and back
98 ft elevation gain
Hiked 3/29/24
A short hike up through a Saguaro cactus forest, located at the west section of Saguaro NP. The trail is well maintained and along the way you'll be able to view a nice diversity of desert flora, with signs to help identify them. At the top of the small hill is an expansive view lined with cacti.
An odd looking large Saguaro cactus. The top splits into a Y with two branches, while lower on the body 3 branches loop around. One of these branches almost looks like an arm pointing at the camera, sort of an alien being.
A cluster of Pink Fairy-Duster flowers in bloom, with both spent and unopened buds nearby. The flowers are small and round, with long white stamens that turn to pink on the tips.
The flowering head of a Buckhorn Cholla cactus, sporting many unopened red buds on it.
Yeah, its kind of wild how such an iconic feature has such a small range. One of the first things people think of when they hear the word desert is a Saguaro, and most deserts don't even have them.
Yup. It’s like the picture people have of Texas. Sand, dude on a horse, mesa/cliffs, oil pump (pump jack), cacti. Good luck.