• Gates Pass Scenic Lookout - Next on the itinerary is the Gates Pass Scenic Lookout, providing stunning views of Tucson’s ancient rock formations. There is also a trail here, which will be discussed further as we approach it.

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

Enjoy new, lifetime access with no expiration. Use it anytime, on any trip, as often as you like.

• Gates Pass Trail - This trail is abundant with cholla and prickly pear cacti. Prickly pears are identifiable by their flat circular pads, resembling Mickey Mouse ears! In contrast, chollas have cylindrical segments and tree-like growths. Like the creosote bush, these cacti excel at storing moisture in their stems, allowing them to bloom even in dry years.
• Saguaro National Park - Welcome to the tour of West Saguaro National Park! From mountain formations to colorful historical figures, Hollywood history to prickly cacti, there is much to admire on this tour.
• Old Tucson - The park has been rebuilt and remains 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 is moderately challenging and should take less than two hours to complete. Some hikers have reported seeing coyotes on this trail, and it’s not unusual 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 famous saguaro cacti! Speaking of cacti, did you know many species are edible? However, this doesn’t mean you should pick them to taste during your walks.
• Hugh Norris Trail - The Hugh Norris Trail is approaching. It’s a challenging 9-mile trail often used by horseback riders! It’s named after Hugh Norris, a 20th-century tribal police officer known for searching for truant children for the Fort Yuma Indian School.
• Valley View Overlook Trail - The Valley View Overlook Trail is approaching. It’s an easy 1-mile trail that takes about 20 minutes to complete. The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed this trail in the 1930s!
• Signal Hill Trail - Signal Hill features approximately 200 prehistoric petroglyphs created by the Hohokam, who inhabited this area from around 450 to 1450 C.E. Indigenous people say that 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. The tour begins at the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center at 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson. If you’re not there already, you should head there now. To start your tour, simply continue straight along Cactus Forest Drive.
• Sonoran Desert Overlook - The Sonoran Desert Overlook is approaching. It will be on the 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 approaching. It will be on the 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 cacti.
• Mica View Trailhead - The Mica View trailhead is approaching. It leads to a 4-mile loop trail that is considered easy and should take less than ninety minutes to complete. There’s a lovely picnic spot too! From there, you’ll get excellent 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 approaching. 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 gradual 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 constructing 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 the left are the Rincon Mountains. They’re beautiful, but they also have a wild history. On August 29, 1984, a Cessna 310 flew above these mountains. Four people were inside the twin-engine aircraft. Outside, a thunderstorm raged.
• Javelina Rocks - Approaching are 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 approaching, marking the end of the tour. Notification will be given upon arrival. The trail is a moderately challenging 3-mile route that should take under two hours to complete.

• Self-guided audio tour through our easy-to-use mobile app.
• Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.
• Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
• Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.
• Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
• One purchase covers everyone in your car, not per person.
• Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
• Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
• Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
• Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.

• Self-guided tour — no live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.

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 ambition and intrigue involving 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.

Enjoy new, lifetime access with no expiration. Use it anytime, on any trip, as often as you like.

Please note, this is not an entrance ticket. Verify opening hours before your visit.

• Check current road closures, park conditions, and entrance-fee requirements before your visit. An entrance pass is required to enter Saguaro National Park and is not included with this tour.
• Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
• Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
• At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
• Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
• Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
• More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
• Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
• Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
• Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
• Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.

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