Parking
Start at Access Point A3 at the North Sandario Road and West Rudasill Road access. The NPS map marks A3 as the loop’s start; parking capacity and lot details were not found.
Overview
About Cactus Wren/
Why go
- Mostly level, fairly smooth walking
- A short loop through Sonoran Desert vegetation
Heads up
- Some sandy footing
- Pets are prohibited
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Saguaro map
Full mapElevation2,257–2,352 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Saguaro alerts
- ClosureTucson Mountain District road closuresMentions Tucson Mountain District, referenced in this guideSeveral Tucson Mountain District roads are closed; follow posted closures and use McCain Loop to bypass the Kinney Road closure.Official details
- CautionVehicle break-ins reported at trailheadsVehicle break-ins have occurred at King Canyon Trailhead and other park trailheads; secure your vehicle and valuables.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Saguaro Tour Guide
Your drive to Cactus Wren/
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Saguaro National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Saguaro audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Cactus Wren A3: The Short Desert Loop0:00 / 0:22
“You're nearing Cactus Wren Access Point A3, the start of an easy loop through native desert plants. Follow Cactus Wren, Encinas and Manville for a one point seven mile circuit, allowing forty-five minutes to an hour.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Saguaro Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Grass That Carries Fire
- Hawks That Hunt Together
- How Mountains Build a Bajada
- Signal Hill Petroglyphs
- 43 audio storiesacross Saguaro’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Mule Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 74 trails, 40 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Cactus Wren/
The short desert circuitCactus Wren/Encinas/Manville is a 1.
Cactus Wren/Encinas/Manville is a 1.7-mile loop from Access Point A3 in Saguaro’s Tucson Mountain District. It crosses the district’s western flats through Sonoran Desert vegetation, with mostly level, fairly smooth tread and sandy patches. If you want a straightforward desert walk instead of a climb, this is an easy choice; allow 45 minutes to an hour.
Follow the junctionsFrom A3, take Cactus Wren to Encinas, then continue to Manville and head back.
From A3, take Cactus Wren to Encinas, then continue to Manville and head back. The short stretch of Cactus Wren between A3 and the Manville junction is shared at the start and finish. Keep an eye on the trail names at junctions so you stay on this circuit. The separate Cactus Wren/Signal Hill/Manville loop starts at Signal Hill and is 4.3 miles.
A few things to knowExpect a mostly flat walk with some sandy sections.
Expect a mostly flat walk with some sandy sections. Dogs are not allowed on this loop because it includes the northern section of Cactus Wren; service animals are allowed. The route passes through native Sonoran Desert vegetation, with no marked summit or destination viewpoint.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Saguaro
19 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
56 sightingsMountain LionMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
266 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
113 sightingsCollared PeccaryMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
53 sightingsBobcatMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
127 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Saguaro. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
