cactus garden trail

The cacti are identified and the trail is accessible. If you have the opportunity to do this with a ranger or interpretive volunteer, go!They can add a lot to your knowledge. Watch for young saguaro sprouting under taller plants like mesquite or palo verde.

This trail may seem like a Garden but it is really called Forest. 

It is 2.5 miles from the North Point on Cactus Forest Drive to the South Point on same road (the road is a complete loop back to the Visitor Center). The trail is listed as Easy for hiking. You can see many Saguaros both small and big. The Trail is clearly marked. Since it may be too long for some inexperienced hikers, one can go to about the half way mark where another trail intersects the trail and walk back. 

You can see some rabbits, woodpeckers, and maybe a gila monster.

The best times for seeing animals is early morning before 8:00 AM and late afternoon about 6:00 PM.

From a couple of high points near the Southern entrance, you will see back to the Catalina Mountains and the Saguaro Cactus Forest below you.

This trail may seem like a Garden but it is really called Forest.It is 2.5 miles from the North Point on Cactus Forest Drive to the South Point on same road (the road is a complete loop back to the Visitor Center). The trail is listed as Easy for hiking. You can see many Saguaros both small and big. The Trail is clearly marked. Since it may be too long for some inexperienced hikers, one can go to about the half way mark where another trail intersects the trail and walk back. You can see some rabbits, gila woodpeckers, and maybe a gila monster.The best times for seeing animals is early morning before 8:00 AM and late afternoon about 6:00 PM.From a couple of high points near the Southern entrance, you can see back to the Catalina Mountains and the Saguaro Cactus Forest below you.

Easy walking trail, fun to see the Saguaro and other plant species up close. A good place to start in the park after the Visitor Center. Saw lots of birds in this area including cactus wren ducking into their homes in the Saguaro. Would probably be good with kids without committing to a hiking crusade. Easy terrain.

I visited the site as part of a flash photography workshop. The group had to shoot saguaros at sunset. In broad daylight the place looks good, but it turns spectacular at sunset. I have joined a photo to demonstrate. I enjoyed it. It is also very quiet.

The Adventures of the Two Wise Oneswww.twowiseones.comI think that whomever submitted this "Thing To Do" made a mistake. The Cactus Garden Trail is behind the Visitor Center and is just okay. It's a short nice little walk to do.The REALLY GOOD one to do is just up the road and it's called the Desert Discovery Nature Trail. I personally think that if you have a choice of only one little hike to do... this one is it.There are displays telling you what everything is and the amazing adaptations of the plants. Meaning... how does anything survive in this inhospitable landscape? For example, with all of the Harris Hawks that hunt like wolves, how is it possible for a packrat to live? They build their nest out of cholla cactus. Cholla cactus are like mini porcupines with sharp quills. Nothing in their right minds would go anywhere near the packrat nest.