Earthgoers Guide: Saguaro National Park

Rincon Mountain District

Occupying 66,947 acres in the Rincon Mountains, this district is the larger of the two and is located east of Tucson.  These mountains and their foothills range from 2,670 to 8,666 feet and cover six biotic communities from desert scrub in the lowlands to pine forest near the tops of the peaks.

As in the Tucson Mountains District, there are ample trails for all skill levels.  The easy interpretive trails include the 0.3-mile paved Desert Ecology Trail and the one-mile Freeman Homestead Trail.  These are both located along the 8-mile Cactus Forest Drive loop, a one-way paved road with numerous pullouts and scenic overlooks.

For those looking for something a bit more strenuous, the northwestern corner of the park has a network of trails that can be used by hikers or horseback riders to create various routes to some popular destinations.  Loma Verde Mine, the remnants of an old copper mine, is 1.3 miles one way from the trailhead along Cactus Forest Drive or 1.6 miles from the trailhead near the east end of Broadway Blvd.  Garwood Dam is an old dam that provided water year-round to nearby Garwood Ranch, and is 1.8 miles one-way from Douglas Spring Trailhead at the east end of Speedway Blvd.  Bridal Wreath Falls is a very popular destination whether there is water flowing or not, and is 2.6 miles one-way from Douglas Spring Trailhead.

Much of the higher elevations of the Rincon Mountains are part of the Saguaro Wilderness Area and contain a number of designated campsites for backpackers.  The two tallest peaks in the mountain range are Mica Mountain at 8,666 feet and Rincon Peak at 8,482 feet, both of which are great destinations for multi-day trips or very long day hikes.  At those high elevations you will find Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, Alligator Juniper, and Aspen forests.

Other activities are similar to the Tucson Mountains District such as numerous picnic areas.  Mountain biking is limited to the section of the Cactus Forest Trail within Cactus Forest Drive Loop.  Many choose to ride on the scenic paved loop itself which is shared with cars.