The trail runs 5 miles with 150 feet elevation change in Saguaro National Park’s Rincon Mountain (East) district.
To reach the trailhead, from Interstate 10 in Tucson exit onto East Speedway Boulevard and head east. Turn right/south onto Freeman Road then left/south onto Old Spanish Road. Next, enter the park by turning left/east onto Cactus Forest Drive. Park in the pullouts at the southern Cactus Forest Trailhead.
Starting in a mesquite grove, the path ventures northeast with a mountain rising in the distance. The trail is moderately wide and made of hardpacked dirt, perfect for walking or hiking.
Mesquite is among the most resourceful trees in the desert. These trees have incredibly long roots that can reach deep into the ground to find precious water, which is often scarce in these arid environments. Mesquites also are considered one of the few sources of fixed nitrogen in the desert biome. Throughout the spring and summer seasons, these hardy trees bloom with beautiful flowers, which eventually transform into their signature fruits, the pods. Depending on where they grow and the climate in which they thrive, mesquite trees can reach up to 26 feet tall.
An excellent mix of desert fauna can be found on the trail. While saguaro dominate other trails, this route is more representative of what the Sonoran Desert really is like. Many of the plants have needles and spines to keep animals from eating them.
Beaver tail cacti lines much of the trail. With pink- to rose-colored flowers and hundreds of flattened pads covered in spines, it stands out amongst the rugged landscape. This plant is actually a different species than the Engelman’s prickly pear cactus, which also is common at the national park.
Agave forms large rosettes of strong, fleshy leaves that fan out in all directions. At its flowering stage, a tall stem can grow up to 40 feet high from the center of the rosette. The stem bears a large number of short, tubular flowers and sometimes even vegetatively produced bulbils. After pollination/fertilization and subsequent fruit development, the original rosette dies.
You’ll also see barrel cactus, Engelman’s prickly pear cactus, and cholla along the trail. Saguaro grows here as well.
Upon coming to the wash, go straight/east. Heading left up the wash puts you on the Javelina West Wash Trail. The trail here is little rocky and washed out as ascending.
The terrain begins to roll. Eventually you’ll descend through a rocky wash then briefly climb out of it to a narrow path on a ridge overlooking it. There is much more saguaro on this section of the trail.
Watch for the 0.6-mile round trip Lime Falls Trail spur to a seasonal waterfall. It heads right/east and is worth taking during winter and early spring.
As you set foot onto Lime Falls Trail, you’ll immediately notice a small hill in front of you. Limestone from this very hill was once used in nearby kilns. As you continue along the trail, the terrain turns rockier and the vegetation more plentiful. It’s a welcome change in scenery. The increased biodiversity is a result of there being more water in the area.
As you near the seasonal falls, take a moment to rest and investigate the steep rock outcroppings around the falls. You be rewarded with a rare shady spot.
Returning to the Cactus Forest Trail, go right/north.
You’ll soon dip into a wash and ascend from it on a very narrow path. A nice vista of the wash with its rocky sides and surrounded by saguaro awaits on the other side.
With about a mile left in the hike, you’ll pass the remains of two lime kilns used in the 1800s through the early 1900s. It’s also the site of an early ranger station.
The trail ends at a parking lot on the other side of Cactus Forest Drive amid another mesquite grove. You either can hike back or arrange to have someone meet you there.
Other than the rock overhang on the spur, there’s no shade, so be sure to don sunscreen, sunglasses and sunhat and to bring plenty of water.
TRAIL MAP
