News Release

Saguaro National Park Reopens Trails and Campgrounds on Mica Mountain Closed Due to Fire in Rincon Mountains

News Release Date: September 12, 2020

Contact: Andy L Fisher, 520-733-5139

Tucson, AZ – Saguaro National Park announces the reopening of Spud Rock and Manning Camp Campgrounds and all trails closed due to the Mica Bowl and Spud Rock Fires burning on Mica Mountain in the east district of the park. The Mica Bowl Fire has been burning within natural features with minimal fire activity, no observable smoke, and no growth since August 29. The Spud Rock Fire is 100% contained as of Friday, September 11. It remains 760 acres in size and firefighters have been working to repair the trail system used as holding line, as well as rehabilitating sensitive habitat and other resource values at risk from the fire.
Camping permits for all six wilderness campgrounds, including the Manning Camp and Spud Rock Campgrounds, in Saguaro National Park can be only be obtained from Recreation.gov website. Hikers should use extra caution and stay on the trail when hiking through burned areas. There may still be some fire burning, including within stump holes causing weak and unstable ground which may be difficult to identify. Trails may be slick with fallen pine needles or ash and some fire weakened trees may still fall. Watch for flash flooding, rolling debris and erosion during rain events. It is also possible that smoke may settle into low areas overnight, including within campgrounds. A history of fire in the area has created a mosaic of previously burned areas, reducing the fuels and helping to moderate fire behavior in this important sky island habitat. The area received just under 3.0” of rain during a recent storm which further reduced active fire behavior.

For more information about wilderness camping and hiking Saguaro National Park, please visit the park webpage, www.nps.gov/sagu. For more information about the Spud Rock Fire, including maps of the burned area and photos of the fire, please click here
Smoke may remain visible from Tucson, Redington Pass, Vail, Mescal, and the surrounding area. 
For updated information please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ or call the park’s Fire
Information Hotline at [phone].