Parking
Use the Desert Discovery Trailhead along Kinney Road, about a mile northwest of Red Hills Visitor Center. Parking is beside the loop; visitor reports vary on how much space is available.
Overview
About Desert Discovery Trail
Why go
- Broad paved path with very gentle grades
- Desert ecology signs, saguaros and shaded benches in a short visit
Heads up
- A brief, simple walk rather than a mileage or elevation challenge
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Saguaro map
Full mapElevation2,402–2,425 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 Desert Discovery Trail, narrated.
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
Desert Discovery Trail0:00 / 0:25
“Desert Discovery Trail is coming up, a gentle paved loop for a close look at the plants without taking on a hike.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Saguaro Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Where the Tortoises Go
- Sus Picnic Area
- Hugh Norris: A Long Ridge Hike
- Red Hills Visitor Center
- 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 Desert Discovery Trail
A quick Sonoran Desert loopDesert Discovery is a 0.
Desert Discovery is a 0.4-mile paved loop beside Kinney Road in Saguaro’s Tucson Mountain District. Allow about 20–30 minutes to walk and pause at the interpretive panels. It is an easy, close-up introduction to Sonoran Desert habitats rather than a long wilderness hike. Slow down for the signs and look between the cacti; there is no summit or single destination to rush toward.
Saguaros, signs and open viewsThe path winds through large saguaros and varied desert plants.
The path winds through large saguaros and varied desert plants. Interpretive panels introduce the ecology and habitats around you, and the loop opens toward Avra Valley to the west and the Quinlan and Baboquivari Mountains to the southwest. Prickly pear and palo verde are among the plants photographed along the trail. Shaded ramadas and benches make natural places to stop between the open stretches.
A wide, easy surfaceThe hard-paved trail is about 60 inches wide, with a typical grade of 2.7% and a maximum of 6.
The hard-paved trail is about 60 inches wide, with a typical grade of 2.7% and a maximum of 6.7%. Its gentle slope and paved surface make it suitable for many mobility devices; check the detailed accessibility profile against your own needs. Dogs may join the walk on leash. This is a rewarding short introduction, but it will feel slight if you want distance, solitude or a strenuous climb.
Start on Kinney RoadBegin at the Desert Discovery Trailhead on Kinney Road, about one mile northwest of Red Hills…
Begin at the Desert Discovery Trailhead on Kinney Road, about one mile northwest of Red Hills Visitor Center. Parking is beside the loop. Visitors report both tight and plentiful parking, so availability can vary. The trail has shaded ramadas and benches; no water source or food is listed for the loop, so bring water and plan any other services separately.
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.
