• Gates Pass Scenic Lookout - Next up is the Gates Pass Scenic Lookout, providing stunning views of Tucson’s ancient rock formations. There’s also a trail here, which will be discussed further as we approach it.
• Gates Pass Trail - This trail is abundant with cholla and prickly pear cacti. Prickly pears are identifiable by their flat, circular pads, reminiscent of Mickey Mouse ears, while chollas have cylindrical segments and tree-like structures. Like the creosote bush, these cacti excel at storing moisture in their stems, allowing them to bloom even during dry years.
• Saguaro National Park - Welcome to the West Saguaro National Park tour! From mountain formations to colorful historical figures, Hollywood history to prickly cacti, there’s much to admire on this tour.

Note: The tour spans over 15 miles, includes more than 40 audio stories, and takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete.

Purchase once and enjoy for a year! Perfect for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

• Old Tucson - The park has been rebuilt and is open to the public today. To visit, take the upcoming turn. Otherwise, continue driving straight.

• Brown Mountain Trailhead - The Brown Mountain Trail is approaching. It’s a 5-mile loop trail that’s moderately challenging and should take less than two hours to complete. Some hikers have reported seeing coyotes on this trail, and it’s common to hear their calls echoing across Saguaro National Park.

• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - The King Canyon Trail and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum are coming up. The trail is a moderately challenging 7-mile path that should take about four hours to complete. It’s demanding, but offers spectacular desert views along the way!

• King Canyon Trail - The King Canyon Trail is approaching. This moderately challenging 7-mile trail should take about four hours to complete. It’s demanding, but offers spectacular desert views along the way!

• Desert Discovery Nature Trail - The Desert Discovery Nature Trail is coming up soon, a simple half-mile hike featuring numerous iconic saguaro cacti! Speaking of cacti, did you know many species are edible? However, it’s not advisable to pick them for tasting during your walks.

• Hugh Norris Trail - The Hugh Norris Trail is approaching. It’s a challenging 9-mile trail often used by horseback riders! Named after 20th-century tribal police officer Hugh Norris, who frequently searched for truant children for the Fort Yuma Indian School.

• Valley View Overlook Trail - The Valley View Overlook Trail is coming up soon. It’s an easy 1-mile trail that takes about 20 minutes to complete. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s!

• Signal Hill Trail - Signal Hill features around 200 prehistoric petroglyphs created by the Hohokam, who inhabited this area from approximately 450 to 1450 C.E. Indigenous people believe each petroglyph placement is intentional!

• Rincon Mountain Visitor Center - Welcome to East Saguaro National Park! Ancient cultures, ancient rocks, and trails await you on this tour. Our journey begins at the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center at 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson. If you’re not there yet, head there now. To start your tour, continue straight along Cactus Forest Drive.

• Sonoran Desert Overlook - The Sonoran Desert Overlook is approaching. It will be on our left, offering breathtaking views of the landscape and cacti. The Hohokam, ancestors of the O’odham people, were among the first to inhabit this desert. This resourceful group gradually transitioned from a nomadic hunting-gathering lifestyle to a more settled farming life, developing a unique desert culture.

• Future Generations Overlook - The Cactus Forest Overlook is coming up soon. It will be on our left. Here, you’ll enjoy a view of a cactus oasis. While the saguaro cacti are the most famous, being exclusive to the Sonoran, the park actually hosts about 25 species of cacti! These include prickly pears and chollas, as well as some lesser-known varieties.

• Mica View Trailhead - The Mica View trailhead is approaching. It leads to a 4-mile loop trail that’s considered easy and should take less than ninety minutes to complete. There’s a lovely picnic spot too! From there, you’ll enjoy great views of the Rincon and Santa Catalina Mountains. Keep an eye out for birds like the Gila Woodpeckers and Gilded Flickers.

• Cactus Forest Trail - Up ahead is the Cactus Forest Trail. It’s a moderately challenging 10-mile route that should take about three and a half hours to complete. On this trail, you can see lime kilns dating back to 1880.

• Loma Verde Trail - The Loma Verde Trail is coming up next. This easy 3.7-mile loop should take about an hour and fifteen minutes to complete. The trail crosses a seasonal stream and leads to a gentle downhill walk through the cactus forest.

• Garwood Dam - There’s also the opportunity to explore the Garwood Dam. In 1945, Tucson residents Josephine and Nelson Garwood purchased 450 acres of land from two homesteaders. Three years later, while building a larger house, they noticed that the Wildhorse Canyon behind their property always held water.

• Riparian Overlook - Up ahead is the Riparian Overlook. Some claim this is the best view of the cactus forest! From here, you can see clear across the sprawling saguaro wilderness. One thing you can’t see from up there? Rattlesnakes.

• Rincon Mountains - Off to our left are the Rincon Mountains. They’re beautiful, but they also have a wild history. On August 29, 1984, a Cessna 310 flew over these mountains. Four people were inside the twin-engine aircraft. Outside, a thunderstorm raged on.

• Javelina Rocks - Approaching the Javelina Rocks. These rocks are named after javelina, a dog-sized animal found in this region that resembles a wild boar. They have short, coarse salt and pepper hair, with short legs and pig-like noses.

• Tanque Verde Ridge Trail - The Tanque Verde Ridge Trail is coming up soon, marking the end of our tour. Notification will be given upon arrival. The trail is a moderately challenging 3-mile route that should take under two hours to complete.

• Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

• Park Passes

Embark on a scenic driving tour of Saguaro National Park (East and West), where you’ll encounter a rich tapestry of history, majestic mountains, diverse wildlife, and the iconic Saguaro cacti! Listen to captivating tales of settlers, miners, and outlaws as you journey through landscapes filled with cacti and yucca. Uncover stunning trails, delve into the history of the ancient Hohokam people, and so much more!

After booking, be sure to check your email or text messages to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Simply follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.

Purchase once and enjoy for a full year! Perfect for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

Please note, this is not an entrance ticket. Be sure to verify opening hours before your visit.

• How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
• How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
• Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
• Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
• Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
• Please note that an entrance pass is required to visit Saguaro National Park, and it is not included with this tour.
• Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car’s stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
• For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
• Important Note: Due to the possibility of government shutdowns affecting national parks and certain attractions, we recommend checking official websites for any updates or closures before your trip. This will help ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.