Parking
A-5 North Belmont Access: go west about 1.2 miles on Belmont Road from Silverbell Road and park in the small dirt area before the gate.
Overview
About Vertical Cliffs Short Loop
Why go
- Rugged cliff views on the Vertical Cliffs leg
- Shorter itinerary than the Abington loop
Heads up
- Rocky tread and a soft wash section
- Listed distance exceeds the connected mapped line
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Saguaro map
Full mapElevation2,316–2,434 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
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 Vertical Cliffs Short Loop, 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 tourMore stories near here in the app
- Box Canyon and Ringtail Loop
- El Camino del Cerro: Sweetwater to Wasson Peak
- 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 Vertical Cliffs Short Loop
A short Belmont circuitThis 2.
This 2.6-mile loop starts at A-5 and follows Belmont, Vertical Cliffs, Veteran’s, and Animal Wash before returning on Belmont. It skips the Abington leg of the longer Vertical Cliffs Loop. The connected mapped path measures about 2.15 miles; the difference from the listed distance is unexplained, so plan for 2.6 miles.
Footing and viewsExpect mostly hard-packed dirt, rocky patches, and a substantial stretch of soft but wide wash.
Expect mostly hard-packed dirt, rocky patches, and a substantial stretch of soft but wide wash. The Vertical Cliffs leg has the best views toward its western end, with rocky cliffs rising north of the trail.
Start, water, and petsAt A-5, park in the small dirt area before the gate, reached by going west about 1.
At A-5, park in the small dirt area before the gate, reached by going west about 1.2 miles on Belmont Road from Silverbell Road. There is no water along this route; the nearest drinking water is at the visitor center. Pets are not allowed on unpaved trails.
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.
