In all my travels, I can't say I ever made a trip to go see a plant, of all things! That is of course prior to my recent trip to the Sonoran desert. And I am not sure I will ever again, for there aren't too many places in the world average travelers head to, specifically to admire flora.    

The Saguaro cactus is one of the most striking symbols of the American wild west. The Sonoran desert is the only place on the planet where they grow in the wild and in large numbers ... really really large numbers. Yet they are endangered and protected.

Saguaro National Park in the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona probably is the best place to admire the Saguaro cacti in their natural desert habitat. The park offers opportunities to hike and drive among the giant cacti. The park was granted National Park status only in 1994. It is divided into two separate, disjoint parts east and west of Tucson city. The eastern part along the Rincon mountain range offers an excellent scenic drive and opportunity to do some back country hiking. The western part along the Tucson mountains, in my opinion, has better hikes in the Saguaro forests. 

The park can be covered in one day. And get your souvenirs at the park itself, I did not find any other gift shops between the parks and the airport.

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My pictures of the Saguaro at the Saguaro National Park.

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