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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 »
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Fire Restrictions in effect for Saguaro National Park
Due to increased fire danger in southern Arizona, Saguaro National Park will implement fire restrictions in both the Rincon and Tucson Mountain Districts, beginning Wednesday, May 22, 2013. More »
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Tucson Mountain District (west) road re-opened
The Golden Gate Road has been re-opened north of Sendero-Esperanza and is is now rated for high clearance vehicles due to the rough nature of the terrain. More »
Park Planning
Post-Disturbance Restoration Environmental Assessment (EA) Saguaro National Park is evaluating restoration treatment activities to address natural and human-caused ecological disturbances. These disturbances range in scale from very small to hundreds of acres, and include impacts from events such as fire, non-native plant invasions, off-trail human use, and off-road vehicle use. The primary disturbance of concern to the park is the invasion of buffelgrass. Current efforts to restore these disturbances are all ground-based treatments and limited to areas that can be accessible for field crews. Restoration treatments proposed to address these disturbances include aerial application of herbicides, aerial seeding, and aerial mulching in remote inaccessible areas of the park. The Invader Visitors from around the world arrive at Saguaro National Park anticipating a breath-taking view of giant cacti and a prime example of Sonoran desert plants and animals. This splendid landscape is threatened by invasive plants, like buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare). Buffelgrass, native to Africa, was brought to the US for cattle forage and erosion control in the 1930s. Its rapid and aggressive growth crowds out native plants, alters wildlife habitat, and increases the risk of wildfires. Buffelgrass-fueled fires burn very hot, spread rapidly, and are capable of destroying cactus and wildlife alike, changing the Sonoran desert, as we know it. 
Buffelgrass in Saguaro National Park Buffelgrass was first noted here in 1989; hand removal of this weed began in the early 1990s. Manual removal is labor intensive, and the rapid growth and spread of buffelgrass outpaces our efforts. The Park's 2004 Exotic Plant Management and Environmental Assessment Plan authorized the use of herbicides based on cost, effectiveness, and Park Service regulations. The choice of herbicide is based on effectiveness versus potential impacts to the environment and non-target species. Herbicides with the active ingredient glyphosate are very effective at killing buffelgrass, virtually nontoxic to wildlife, and do not accumulate in water or soils. However, they must be applied when plants are actively growing, which is limits treatments to the monsoon season. The disadvantage of some herbicides like glyphosate are that they are non-selective, and impact non-target plants. 
Success - at a Small Scale Our ground-based control efforts include manual pulling of plants, and spraying herbicides with backpack or truck-mounted sprayers in areas reached on foot or by road. Through a process called adaptive management (assessing the results of our actions to ensure that our goals are met without unacceptable side effects, and adjusting our strategies accordingly), we've learned that to successfully control buffelgrass, treatments need to occur several times a year for up to five years. Despite the challenges of controlling buffelgrass, we are encouraged by our successes, but they have been at a small scale. If we remain constrainted by factors such as, inaccessibility, limited treatment window, and the need for repeated treatments, there is little hope of removing the estimated 2,000 acres of buffelgrass growing throughout the park. At a predicted spread rate of 10% - 35% annually, we simply cannot keep up with the growth of buffelgrass. 
Next Step in Reducing the Threat In 2010, we partnered with other local, state and federal agencies to evaluate the use of helicopters to deliver herbicides for buffelgrass control. Both a boom mounted to the underside of a helicopter, or a "spray ball" tethered from a helicopter, proved to be effective delivery mechanisms. The boom application is proposed for treating large infestations that no longer support native plant communities, and the spray ball is proposed for treating small infestations, because of it precision. Studies found that many native species, including cacti, were largely unaffected by glyphosate. Only remote and difficult to access sites that are dominated by buffelgrass would be treated using the aerial application of herbicides. No spraying would be allowed within a quarter-mile of occupied private property, one hundred and sixty-five feet of a water source or drainage, or above six thousand feet elevation. We will continue to monitor treated areas to evaluate effectiveness and negative impacts. Click on the district name to see a map of the treatment exclusion zones. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Science-based Solutions At Saguaro National Park we are evaluating the effectiveness and costs of different methods of buffelgrass. Our research includes studies on herbicide efficacy and toxicity on both buffelgrass and non-target native vegetation. The Park has funded studies on the use of remote sensing techniques, such as satellite photography, to identify and monitor buffelgrass and its fuel loads. We are also developing computer models to predict buffelgrass spread and buffelgrass-fueled fire behavior. In partnership with the University of Arizona, we are also conducting research to determine the effects of buffelgrass on desert tortoises and other wildlife. _______________________________________________________________________________________ What do you think? Your national parks are meant to preserve and protect special resources for the enjoyment of future generations. To honor that commitment, we must consider the current and future impacts of buffelgrass and how to control it. In the coming months, park staff will be writing a draft Environmental Assessment, taking into consideration all public comments. When completed in early 2013, there will be further public review and additional opportunities to comment. You may send initial thoughts and concerns to guide our planning. Comments can be submitted to the NPS's environmental planning analysis program: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=50587; OR by email: SAGU_Planning@nps.gov; OR by mail to: Superintendent, Saguaro National. Park, 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85730. Please stay involved with this process by checking for updates on this website. For more information please visit the links and video below. Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) Identification Evaluating Aerial Application of Herbicides for Buffelgrass Control Southern Arizona Buffelgrass Coordination Center Buffelgrass fuel loads in Saguaro NP increase fire danger and threaten native species 
Desert tortoise enjoying the fruits of the desert.
The new Quilter Trail connects 807 miles backcountry landscape of Arizona. Laura Bolyard Trails Plan Implementation Trail Improvements Continue at Saguaro National Park After the July 2009 approval of the park's Comprehensive Trails Management Plan, Saguaro National Park has implemented changes called for in the plan. Using a variety of funding sources, these changes have been accomplished. This season the park's trail crew worked with a variety of partners and volunteer groups to complete trail work. One of the most significant projects completed this season is the final piece of the Arizona Trail through the park. The 5-mile Quilter Trail (linking the Hope Camp and Manning Camp Trails) and the eastern extension of the Hope Camp Trail opened on April 2, 2011. Designated a National Scenic Trail, the 807 mile Arizona Trail traverses north-south across the state. The trail begins at Coronado National Memorial on the International border with Mexico, and ends on the Kaibab Plateau at the Utah state border. Some more trails work completed during 2011includes:
Saguaro Comprehensive Trail Management Plan Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) Cost-Benefit and Regulatory Flexibility Analyses These are Adobe PDF files. Please allow time to load Adobe Acrobat Reader or to download to disk. Saguaro National Park has several planning documents which guide the park's managment team in long range decision making. There are several available here. Saguaro National Park Abbreviated Final General Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement Saguaro National Park Draft General Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement |
Did You Know?
March and April are the best months to view wildflowers in the Sonoran Desert. Popular flowers include the Mexican golden poppy, the Arizona penstemon, and the Fairy duster.