Historic lime kiln Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
1907 prominent Tucsonan Levi Manning and his family spent the summer at a get-away log cabin high in the Rincon Mountains.
In the crow family (Corvidae). Large with thick neck and shaggy throat feathers, and large thick beak, completely black. Common, Year-Round
In the new world vulture/condor family (Cathartidae). Often seen soaring in a wobbly/unsteady manner and forming a V shape with its wings. Large dark bird with featherless red head and pale white bill. Scavenge More
Vegetation map of Mica Mountain, Rincon Mountain District, Saguaro National Park
Donor Recognition Wall at Saguaro National Park. This is a mosaic made out of tiles. The installation is located outside the Tucson Mountain District Visitor Center.
“I chose iconic images of the area to inspire my piece. I created stylized versions and used colors often associated with the region to bring the scene to life. While the focus of the park is the amazing Sagu More
View from the Tanque Verde Ridge, mile 2.5 Public domain photograph of hiking trail, National Parks tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Vegetation map of Tanque Verde Peak, Rincon Mountain District, Saguaro National Park
In the Icterid family (Icteridae). Males have glossy black body and rich brown head, females are completely brown with lighter heads and underparts. Beaks are short and pointed. Common, Year-round
Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
In the silky-flycatcher family (Ptilogonatidae). Male is shiny black, with white wing patches that are conspicuous during flight. Both sexes have distinct crests and red eyes. Common, Year-Round
This is a donor recognition wall is a mosaic. It is located outside of the Tucson Mt. District Visitor Center. "
Accipitridae family. Chestnut brown above and below with chestnut shoulder patches, leggings, and wing linings. White at base and tip of tail. Inhabits semiarid woodland and brushlands; declining in southern Te More
Vegetation map of Tucson Mountain District, Saguaro National Park
Vegetation map of Cactus Forest Loop Road, Rincon Mountain District, Saguaro National Park
A rare snowy morning in Saguaro National Park's Cactus Forest, one of the hottest and driest regions on the continent. In a typical year, less than 12 inches of rain fall in the area. Summer temperatures common More
In the true owl family (Strigidae). Streaked back, heavily barred wings and tail, broad white eyebrow. Densely spotted breast and solid brown crown. Common in cactus country, arid hillsides and valleys. Abunda More
Not everyone can boast about having their own personal rainbow to welcome visitors! Our Red Hills Visitor Center in the Tucson Mountain District (west) of our park sure loves to show off!
One of the many submissions to the Centennial Youth Art Show at Saguaro National Park
Public domain scan of print / book page depicting birds, ornithology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Dense stand of the invasive grass buffelgrass choking out native vegetation in Saguaro National Park, Arizona.
Vegetation map of Rincon Peak, Rincon Mountain District, Saguaro National Park
w Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
In the true owl family (Strigidae). Short ear tufts, yellow eyes, black bill. Wings boldly barred dark and light, tail with same pattern but not as bold. Common in a variety of habitats. Uncommon, Year-Round
In the Icterid family (Icteridae). Males bright yellow body with black face & bib, wings and tail. Wings have white bar. Females duller yellow and lack black bib, wings and tail are duller than males. Uncommon More
In the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). Overall gray bird, males have red face, wings and crest. Females are a paler red but with crests as well. Both sexes have yellow bills. Common, Year-Round
Conspicuous crest, cone-shaped orange bill. Male is red with black face, female is buffy-brown or olive tinged with red on wings, crest, and tail. Inhabits woodland edges, streamside thickets, and suburban gard More
Beautiful sunsets can be seen from both the east (Rincon Mountain District) and west (Tucson Mountain District) sections of the park.
In the hummingbird family (Trochilidae). Long red bill with a dark tip. Males have a blue throat and green chest. Uncommon, Fall
In the Accipitridae family. Most common of North American buteo. Wings broad and fairly rounded, most have belly band of dark streaks on whitish underpants, a dark band on the leading edge of the wings, and red More
Rainbows are common in the area, especially after summer and winter rains. Rarely, though, is a fully complete arch seen, and even more so over our driving loop.
Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) flowering season is from April to June, with slight variation depending on the year's rainfall and temperature fluctuations. Many different types of desert wildlife are attracted to More
In the Melanerpes family. Has triangular black spot on chest, males have orange/red markings on cheeks. Inhabits saguaro deserts and low open woodlands in Arizona. Rare, Year-Round
President Herbert Hoover signed a proclamation on March 1, 1933 creating Saguaro National Monument, including the Rincon Mountains and Cactus Forest.
The Civilian Conservation Corps built a scenic drive, which was paved in the 1950’s – visitors still enjoy the newly-rebuilt road today.
In November of 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation adding 15,000 acres of the Tucson Mountains to Saguaro National Monument.
Like most desert animals, rock wrens don't drink water (even in captivity). They get their water from the insects and spiders they eat. They are also fantastic singers, especially males. He may have an amazing More
Digital Photographs Relating to the Environment Public domain photograph of cactus plant, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Javelina (Tayassu tajacu) are constant visitors of Saguaro's East visitor center and resident's at both the West and East sides of the park. These wild peccaries can also be seen through our website's webcam at More
Saguaro National Park has approximately 91442 acres of protected land, with about 13,300 acres belonging to the Tucson Mountain District and 58,100 acres to the Rincon Mountain District. With such a large amoun More
Saguaros and paloverde, Saguaro NP (RMD). These saguaros have far outgrown their nurse trees.
Ocotillo and saguaro, Saguaro NP (RMD) Public domain photograph of cactus plant, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Saguaro cactus with nurse trees and other vegetation. Public domain photograph of nurses, hospital, medical care, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Saguaro cacti, Saguaro NP (RMD) Public domain photograph of cactus plant, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Cholla, Saguaro NP (RMD) Public domain photograph of cactus plant, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Barrel cactus, Saguaro NP (RMD) Public domain scan of drawing, botanical illustration, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Prickly pear is an edible cactus who's fruit, called tuna, is not only popular among animals, but humans as well! Prickly pear tends to grow in large groups that may have come from one original plant due to the More
Soon tourists were streaming out from the sleepy little desert town of Tucson to enjoy picnics and hiking in an exciting landscape setting …
In mid-June the bright red fruits of the saguaro open like a second flower, attracting fruit-eating bats and birds to help spread the seeds.
Saguaros begin life in the shade of a mesquite nurse tree. How many can you count?
The blossom of the saguaro has been chosen as the State Flower of Arizona.
This bobcat came right up to the windows of the Rincon Mountain District's visitor center. He was just as interested in us as we were in him.
The black-tailed is the more common jackrabbit (really, a hare) found in Saguaro's desert habitats. Watch for its black-tipped ears and bouncing gait as it runs from hikers.
The Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum), despite its colorful scales is very well camoflauged in its gravel-speckled desert floor habitat.
The unique Teddy Bear Cholla obtained its name from the fuzzy look it gets from its spine covered stems. They can grow quite large giving it the appearance of a small fuzzy tree.
Mostly nocturnal, the Packrat (Neotoma albigula) is better known by its large nests, covered with sticks and cactus pieces.
One of the smaller animals in the park has the longest name -- Harris Antelope Ground Squirrel (Ammosperophilus harrisii) -- and is one of the most frequently encountered by visitors.
Individual saguaros are the most expressive symbols of the Park and the American Southwest.
Saguaros have a limited range. In the United States only southern Arizona and extreme southwest California harbor these giant cacti.
The Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) is a subtropical desert species that feeds on some cactus fruit at Saguaro National Park.
A Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) visits a water hole in the Rincon Valley area of Saguaro National Park.
The Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) emerges from its underground den in the spring and feeds on vegetation -- the sweet fruits of Prickly Pear Cactus are a particular favorite.
Indigo Bush is the common name given to many of the thirty-six species of Dalea found in Arizona. This picture is of one of the blossoms up close.
The flowers of the Staghorn Cholla come in many different colors including yellow, brown, red, and orange. The buds of this cactus, when consumed, are excellent sources of calcium.
An alarming die-off of older cactus led to extraordinary measures, including this destruction of saguaros believed to be “diseased”.
The protective spines of a saguaro are thickest over the newset part of the trunk or branch.
The Ironwood is one of the Sonoran Desert's most beautiful trees, especially when coverd with lilac-colored blossoms in May.
Dr. Alice Boyle’s studies of saguaros included treatments with penicillin that were somewhat successful. Later research showed that the loss of old saguaros was a result of age and periodic freezes, not a “blight”!
Flowers on the Buckhorn Cholla (Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa) can be red, orange, or yellow. This species of cholla only occurs in the Park's Tucson Mountain District.
The Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) is a nocturnal animal well adapted to the park's rocky terrain. A good mouser, it is sometimes called "miner's cat" even though it is related to the raccoon.
This picture shows all the pollen that can be found deep inside the bloom of a prickly pear cactus.
The Fishhook Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizenii) gets its name from the large red spines that curve into a fishhook shape. They tend to grow at an angle facing the south which often leads to them falling over More
This bright violet bloom on a Hedgehog Cactus caught the eye of many a visitor.
Students Tracking the Desert Tortoise Public domain photograph of cactus plant, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
The roadrunner is a common bird in the Sonoran Desert. This one was putting on a show just outside the Rincom Mountain Visitor Center.
The Short-horned Lizard (Phyrnosoma hernadesi) is found in somewhat higher reaches of the Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park.
Title Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
Rainbows are common events in Saguaro National Park, however not all of them arch perfectly across the loop drive.
Three species of Whiptail Lizard (Aspidoscelis spp.) are commonly seen in the desert flats of Saguaro's Cactus country.
"The Grand-daddy" was considered the world's largest saguaro. Evidences of decay appeared in the early 1990's, and the giant succumbed to old age in the Park's backcountry.
The bright flowers of the Palo Verde tree can literally cover the tree in a blanket of yellow. The Palo Verde is the state tree of Arizona.
The Spanish Bayonet (Yucca thornberi) occurs on the fringes of Saguaro's desert scrub, especially in the adjacent Rincon Valley. White flowers, pollinated by moths, bloom in April.
The Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) is a member of the tropical Silky Flycatcher family. Visitors often call it "a black cardinal."
Mica Bowl Prescribed Fire, near Manning Camp 2002
The Javelina (Pecari tajacu) is a peccary, not a pig, common in Saguaro National Park. Everyone here uses the Spanish name which refers to the sharp tusks of the male: like javelins.