Parking
Access from the Pima County El Camino del Cerro Trailhead near 7341 W El Camino del Cerro; follow Sweetwater Trail about 0.2 mile west to Thunderbird. Parking capacity, fee, toilets, and water were not confirmed.
Overview
About Thunderbird Trail
Why go
- A defined short outing into a network with longer loop options.
- Saguaro-dotted slopes and a gradual route around the mountain.
Heads up
- Loose, rocky tread.
- More route branches beyond the turnaround can add miles.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Saguaro map
Full mapElevation2,543–2,940 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 Thunderbird 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
El Camino del Cerro: Sweetwater to Wasson Peak0:00 / 0:27
“El Camino del Cerro Trailhead is ahead, the start of the Sweetwater route to Wasson Peak. Choose this for a full day’s hike to wide views across the ridges and desert basins.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Saguaro Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Box Canyon and Ringtail Loop
- Ez-Kim-In-Zin and Sendero Esperanza
- The Tree That Works Without Leaves
- Cam-Boh Picnic Area
- 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 Thunderbird Trail
The four-mile routeThunderbird Trail is a 4.
Thunderbird Trail is a 4.02-mile out-and-back from the Pima County El Camino del Cerro Trailhead. Walk about 0.2 mile west on the Sweetwater Trail connector, then follow Thunderbird to its junction with Cactus Canyon Trail and retrace the same line. This is the defined shorter outing; longer loops continue through the surrounding trail network. Allow about two hours, longer if you stop or choose a longer loop.
Around the mountain and backThe dirt path rises gradually around the mountain before dropping into the lower hills.
The dirt path rises gradually around the mountain before dropping into the lower hills. Expect loose, rocky footing. The return follows the same rises and dips, with the hardest climb coming as you leave the low junction and work back toward El Camino del Cerro. Stay on Thunderbird to the Cactus Canyon junction for this version; taking another branch turns the walk into a longer network route.
Access and desert conditionsThe access is at the west end of W El Camino del Cerro.
The access is at the west end of W El Camino del Cerro. No water, toilets, or food at the trailhead or along the route were confirmed, so bring your own water. Pets aren't allowed on Thunderbird Trail; service animals are excepted. Loose rock, cactus spines, and desert heat are the main lasting concerns.
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.
