Parking
Use the A2 access on North Sanders Road shown on the park map. The sources reviewed do not identify a dedicated lot; confirm parking permissions and do not use private residential drives.
Overview
About Desert Winds Trail
Why go
- Nearly level walk through open desert scrub
- Connects to the park’s wider trail system
Heads up
- Crosses Sandario Road
- Route distance differs between the map and trail signs
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Saguaro map
Full mapElevation2,192–2,300 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Saguaro alerts
- ClosureTucson Mountain District road closuresSeveral 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 Winds 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 area
How Mountains Build a Bajada0:00 / 0:30
“When you stop for a mountain view, look at the gentle slopes below the steep rock. Some are built from material washed out of the mountains.”
Plays on the road 0.3 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Saguaro Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Cactus Wren A3: The Short Desert Loop
- A Cactus That Changes Size
- Hawks That Hunt Together
- The Grass That Carries Fire
- 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 Winds Trail
What this walk isDesert Winds Trail is a flat, 1.
Desert Winds Trail is a flat, 1.3-mile one-way connector across Saguaro’s western desert flats to the park trail system. Walk it out and back for about 2.6 miles; allow roughly 1 to 1.5 hours. It suits an easy desert walk more than a summit climb or a destination viewpoint.
Follow the full connectorStart at the A2 access on North Sanders Road and follow the trail east through open scrub, past…
Start at the A2 access on North Sanders Road and follow the trail east through open scrub, past residential homes and across Sandario Road into the park. The 2025 park map lists 1.8 miles round trip, while the trail sign and access information indicate 1.3 miles one way. This entry uses the full signed connector and return, about 2.6 miles; the published figures do not fully reconcile, so check the signs at your chosen turnaround.
Desert flats and wildlifeThe route is mostly level and winds through Sonoran Desert scrub.
The route is mostly level and winds through Sonoran Desert scrub. Birding and wildlife watching are good reasons to come, though no particular species or viewpoint is promised. This is open desert with limited shelter from sun and heat; carry water and plan for a cooler part of the day. Pets are prohibited on park trails; service animals are exempt.
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.
