Best Of Tucson®

Best National Park

Saguaro National Park

Well, OK, it's our only local national park, but it's still the best. Tucson is in the heart of saguaro country, and Saguaro National Park celebrates that fact. Two units—the Rincon Mountain District to the east, and the Tucson Mountain District to the west—showcase the big green plant. There are more than 165 miles of hiking trails in the park, from easy nature trails to serious backpacking adventures. The Tucson Mountain District is serious Sonoran Desert, while the Rincon Mountain Unit is more diverse, beginning in the desert and climbing up into the pine forest and mixed conifers, topping out at 8,866 feet.