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    Saguaro

    National Park Arizona

  • Bottled water no longer for sale in Saguaro National Park

    Water bottle filling stations have been installed at both visitor centers and the Rincon Mountain District bike ramada for visitors to refill their reusable water bottles. A variety of BPA-free waterbottles are available inside the visitor centers. More »

  • High Desert Temperatures

    Desert temps are over 100 degrees with extremely low humidity. Drink water before you hit the trails, and during your hike drink a quart of water per hour and some form of electrolytes to replace minerals your body needs. Wear a hat and sunscreen. More »

Fire Stories

Fire Education Teacher-Ranger-Teacher
Saguaro National Park hosted a Fire Education Teacher-to-Ranger-to-Teacher during June and July 2010 More

Alpine and Arrowhead Hotshots Work Together on Prescribed Fire
In late June 2010, the Arrowhead and Alpine Interagency Hotshot crews were both assigned to the Mica Mountain Prescribed Fire at Saguaro National Park. More

Telegraph Fire

The lightning-ignited Telegraph Fire was discovered on July 18, 2009. Firefighters monitored the fire from the air and on the ground as it progressed naturally, clearing vegetation on the forest floor.More

 

Invasive Grass Fuels Treatment in WUI

In 2009, the park hired a crew of three Student Conservation Association interns to treat buffelgrass along all roads within or bordering the Tucson Mountain District of the park. More

Buffelgrass Fire Behavior Research Burn
Saguaro National Park teamed up with Tucson Water and the University of Arizona to conduct a 160-acre prescribed burn on City of Tucson land in Avra Valley on May 28, 2008. More

Interagency Management of 2008 Rincon Mountain Fires
In late June 2008 lightning started four fires in the Rincon Mountain range. These fires were seamlessly managed under shared fire management operations provided through an interagency agreement which has been in place for several years. More

Returning Natural Fire to the Rincon Mountains
The 130-acre Chimenea Wildland Fire Use was ignited by lightning on June 26, 2008. Located in the remote Saguaro Wilderness in the Rincon Mountains, the fire was within an area pre-approved for wildland fire use in the park’s fire management plan. More

National Public Lands Day Volunteers Fight To Save Saguaros
Over three dozen people armed with digging bars and trash bags worked to defend the silent saguaro sentinels of the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park on National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 29. More

National Park Service Provides Local Community of Rincon Valley Rural Fire Assistance
Working with Saguaro's Fire Management Staff, Rincon Valley Fire developed a grant request through the Rural Fire Assistance Program for 2005. The Department was awarded $5,000 through the grant process, which enabled the Department to add several pieces of important equipment to their engines. More

Saguaro National Park Receives Award from Sky Islands Wildlands Network
The Fire Management Program at Saguaro National Park received special recognition from the Sky Islands Wildlands Network for exemplary efforts to protect and restore Nature. More

Saguaro National Park Fire Management

  • Great Grass of Fire Great Grass of Fire

    Hear from some of the volunteers and scientists working with Saguaro NP.

Did You Know?

Snow on the spines of a Saguaro Cactus

Even though the Sonoran Desert is known as very hot and dry place, snow sometimes falls and accumulates on the desert floor of Saguaro National Park.  When it does it turns the desert into a winter wonderland. More...