Cactus Forest Lime Kilns

These historic lime-kiln remains sit beside Cactus Forest Trail in Saguaro's Rincon Mountain District. Look for the signed spur east of the trail, about 50 to 100 yards north of the Lime Falls spur junction. It's a small walking stop for anyone curious about how desert building materials were made, not a pullout you can see from the road.

This is a multi-use trail, shared by hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. The kilns are a short detour, but you still reach them on foot along a desert trail.

Saguaro has six historic lime-kiln sites, four in Rincon Mountain District and two in Tucson Mountain District. Kilns heated limestone to make quicklime for mortar and plaster; hydrated lime was also used as whitewash. Demand for lime grew with Tucson in the 19th century, and these ruins preserve a small piece of that building history.

The circular kiln opening, rough stone wall and pale plaster rim are the details to notice. Frame the opening with some of the rocky wash and desert shrubs so the structure stays connected to its desert setting.