Cactus Canyon and Gila Monster Loop

Route Description for Cactus Canyon and Gila Monster Loop

The Cactus Canyon and Gila Monster Loop is a wonderful moderate hike that makes for a perfect morning out in the desert. With countless saguaros, prickly pears, and chollas along your trail, it’s a quintessential Tucson area scene. Dogs are not permitted on this route, and you’ll need to pay a fee to access the trails in Saguaro National Park.

This hike has no shade and it can get extremely hot in the afternoons, so we suggest an early morning hike or planning your visit outside of the summer months. Bring plenty of water and consider wearing sun protection. Finally, this route can be hard to follow in some spots, so consider downloading a GPS route ahead of time to help you navigate.

From the trailhead, take the obvious route into the park. Pass Thunderbird Mine and continue to a 4-way junction, where you’ll stay left. At the next junction, stay right. Hike in between two small peaks to where the trail splits. Here, head left, then turn east at the next junction to hike through the top of the loop. A right turn brings you back to the main trail, which you can follow back to the trailhead.