There is a wide variety of birds in this park; the gila wood pecker and the glided flicker. They construct their own nests by making big holes with their beaks. They make several holes before deciding on which they are going to start a family in. The holes left become homes for other animals like the American kestrel, purple martins, owls and others.

The Saguaro Cactus is also another amazing plant in the park. The plant takes a very long time to grow such that in a year it is only a quarter inch. By 100 years it is 25 feet long with its first branches growing at 75 years. They live for over 150 years or more. This is definitely a very unusual plant. Other plants found here are the desert marigold, the prickly pear and many more.

For those who enjoy camping, there are 6 camping sites to explore. The Douglass spring, grass shack, happy valley saddle, Junisper basin, Manning camp and the Spud rock. Campers are therefore spoilt for choice.

The entry charges to the Rincon Mountain are very affordable with individual visitors paying $5 for the whole week if they come on foot or by bike but if they come with a personal vehicle they are charged $10 for the whole week.

Horse riders have to go to the Douglass spring trail as horses are prohibited from going through the trail all through the Tucson park.

Pets are also allowed though they must keep on the pavements and must have leashes to avoid them from running all over.

There are 7 picnic sites; the Cam-boh, Javelina, Ez-kim-in-zin, mica view, Signal hill and the Sus. Visitors gave to come with their own water but facilities such as the toilet and tables are provided.

The Saguaro National Park, located on the Tucson city's edge, protects magnificent forests of Saguaro cactus, an endangered species. Just to grow a single arm of a Giant Saguaro, it takes 50 to 100 years and these cacti are considered a national treasure. There are plenty of guided tours and hiking trails available at the Saguaro National Park.

The Saguaro National Park consists of 2 districts, Saguaro West or the Tucson Mountain District and Saguaro East or the Rincon Mountain District which are located 30 miles apart. Though both the areas are similar in terms of animals and plants, there are subtle differences which makes both of them worthy of a visit.

Tour of Tucson Mountain District (Saguaro West)

- You can visit the Signal Hill Picnic Area, where you can view hundreds of ancient petroglyphs.
- Take a short hike on the park's Valley View Overlook Trail, where you can view the distant mountain ranges and the Aura Valley.
- Visit the Red Hills Visitor Center where a great orientation program is shown daily offering the Native American perspective on Saguaro cactus.

Tour of Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East)

- Take a hike along the Freeman Homestead Trail and learn about homesteading in modern Tucson and the desert.
- You can take an auto or bike tour around the scenic Cactus Forest Drive which offers picturesque Rincon Mountain views.
- Those having a taste of adventure can take a trip to the Manning Cabin in the Saguaro Wilderness Area.

Accommodations

The Saguaro National Park doesn't have any campsites but a number of hotels and Tucson city are located nearby. One of the closest hotels is the Holiday Inn Express Tucson which is situated close to the park's west section.

To know more about the Saguaro National Park you can visit:

http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm

http://www.saguaro.national-park.com/

http://www.saguaronationalpark.com/

http://www.pickatrail.com/sun/s/america/saguaro_national_park.html

One of the many fun activities to do while in Tucson, Arizona is to go camping. Camping will allow you to experience a full on adventure right at the natural surroundings of Tucson. A famous park in Tucson where many go backcountry camping is in Saguaro National Park.

What are the Saguaro National Park camping guidelines?

Although backcountry camping is allowed in Saguaro National Park, it is only permitted in certain areas and drive-in camping is not allowed. Backcountry camping is permitted but those who want to camp need to secure a permit at the visitor center. For overnight campers, aside from a permit, a fee of $6 will also be charged.

How many campgrounds are there in the park?

The park has 6 wilderness campgrounds which can be reached only by walking or by riding a horse. These campgrounds are about 6 miles away from the trailhead and water is only available depending on the season.

For more information on Saguaro National Park, check their official site at:

http://www.saguaro.national-park.com.

How to find hotels near the park?

When planning a camping trip to Tucson, you may also need to stay at a Tucson Arizona hotel. For hotel bookings and reservations, you may visit the following sites:

http://hotel-guides.us/arizona/saguaro-national-park-az-hotels.html

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/hotels_motels/poi/64633.html#visited=true&trafficLogID=570661819&clickingLogId=52678171