We elected to go see both units of Saguaro National Monument today. The west unit is northwest of Tucson so we started there. Not long after you leave the developed part of town, the Monument starts. The road must go along a park boundary because there is some residential stuff on the way in but mostly it is just gorgeous.
We continued west for a bit before hitting North Sandario Road where we turned south onto one of the lumpiest roads known. The paving is okay – the road surface goes up 10′ and then into a swale and then up 10′ a bunch before reaching Kinney Road which takes you right through the center of the Monument. It has been a wetter than normal summer here and all of the varieties of cactus are very happy. There are flowering plants putting on a show, the palo verde trees are green with foliage and so are the Ocotillos which normally look like spiked sticks. Prickly pears, mesquite trees, chollas, yuccas and barrel cacti are all demonstrating how gorgeous this place can be when it gets a little water.
We left the north unit via Gates Pass Road, one of our favorites. It is a narrow, steep pass over a small range of rock mountains that are covered with forests of saguaros. Once you reach the top, it is a short spin back into Tucson which we crossed northwest to southeast on good city streets. After about 20 minutes, we arrived at Saguaro National Monument east unit and took another spin through the park loop. We took this same drive back in January when we passed through Tucson.
The east unit showed us more proof that water is good for desert plants because all the flora was in the peak of health, ready to impale fools who might attempt to cross this terrain without Kevlar. Even the mesquite trees have formidable thorns awaiting the opportunity to snag the scalps of those reluctant to duck far enough.
It was getting dark so we headed back home, stopping at a Bev Mo for some medicinal alcohol. They may have a great selection but their Jack Daniel’s is overpriced.