TUCSON, ARIZONA - APRIL 29-MAY 6, 2025

TUCSON, ARIZONA - APRIL 29-MAY 6, 2025

After our time in the Phoenix area we headed to another HipCamp location -Saguaro (suh-waa-row) National Monument West, near Tucson.  Private property located right next to the Saguaro National Park.  It was a true desert experience.  The sunsets were beautiful, and the howls of the coyotes could be heard every evening.  We were all by ourselves on this property, which included full hookups (water, 50amp electric, and septic).  We had no idea we would enjoy the desert so much.  

We were surrounded by so many different types of cacti; Saguaro, Prickly Pear, Barrel, Jumping Charro, and Octillo.  We got to star gaze at night.  For the first time in my life I was able to see the constellation Leo in the sky.  Since I am a Leo, it was a special moment for me.  The birds of the desert sang us their lullaby every evening.  We heard white winged doves, cactus wren, Gila woodpeckers and Gambel's quail.  Quite lovely.


It was the beautiful southwest.  While there we visited the Saguaro National Park, both east and west, and spent a day driving up Mount Lemmon.  

Did you know that Saguaro only grown in the Sonoran Desert?  They need a specific amount of heat and rain to survive, and their range mostly from central Arizona down into Sonora, Mexico, and some parts of California.  Saguaros are slow growers, their branches normally begin to appear when a saguaro reaches 60 to 75 years of age. In areas of lower precipitation, it may take up to 100 years before arms appear. When a saguaro reaches 35 years of age, it begins to produce flowers.  An adult saguaro may weigh 2 or more TONS, and be as tall as 50 feet.

5' 2" against a saguaro!

If you've never seen a Saguaro cactus flower, they are magnificent.  The flowers have large, creamy white blossoms with golden yellow centers.  The flowers can measure up to 3" in diameter.  The flowers bloom at night, and will last for a day.  They have a sweet fragrance and are a food source for bats, birds and insects. 


We took a day and drove to the Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway.  The road leads to the upper portions of Mt. Lemmon and the Santa Catalina Range.  It is one of the most scenic drives in southeast Arizona.  The rock-scapes are amazing.  The road starts in the lower Sonoran desert and climbs to the high forests.  It's like driving from the deserts of Mexico to the forests of Canada in just 27 miles.  The temperature changes are dramatic, and the summer months can have a 20-30 degree difference. 

We were mesmerized at every turn.  Between seeing trees and shrubs to natural rock sculptures, one never knew what to expect next.  Some of the rock sculptures looked as if they would topple at any moment.  We'd stop every few minutes to take photos.   Luckily, there are scenic overlooks where you can pull over, making picture taking much easier.  Navigating the hairpin turns can be a challenge but it was well worth the adventure.



We really enjoyed our time in Tucson and visiting Saguaro National Park and Mt. Lemmon.  We loved the desert southwest and have thought about our time there so many times after we left.  I think it is one of our favorite locations, so far.

Next stop, Erhenberg, AZ for a short stopover.  Till then, TallyHo!

Patty & Steve



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