Posts Tagged Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park East
Our approach back into Phoenix allowed us to pass through the east section of Saguaro National Park and explore the Cactus Forest Drive. This section of the park is quite different from the West portion with a less dense concentration of Saguaros, more changes in elevation and more rocky vistas. We began the drive with a picnic lunch at the Javelina Picnic Area where we were entertained by birds and spritely little Harris’ Antelope Squirrels. It was really a pleasant change of pace from the hectic events and long hours in the car of the previous two and a half days. Near the end of the drive, we passed by this beautiful formation called the Javelina Rocks. Here are some additional photos of the park.
Javelina Rocks, on Cactus Forest Loop Drive
Saguaro National Park/Sonora Desert Museum
This morning we spent a couple of hours at the fascinating Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, a wonderful collection of desert plants and animals. This provided a nice introduction to desert flora and fauna and, surprisingly, we had a scrumptious lunch at the on-site Ocotillo cafe. The cool temperature and small number of visitors made for a quiet, leisurely morning. After lunch we sped back to Saquaro National Park West and meandered along the Bajada Loop Drive getting a real feel for the vast and stark Saguaro cactus forest. We spent several hours on the short six-mile drive and Trisha even hiked up the Signal Hill Trail to get a close up of the petroglyphs and desert panoramas. On our way back to the hotel, we got a nice overview of the area from Gates Pass.
- Me in the shadow of a Saguaro along the Bajada Loop road
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