Ironwood Forest

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In contrast to the technical rocks and tiring sands of other area trails, Ironwood Forest is a lower-key, more relaxing route through a nice section of saguaros.

Starting from Picture Rocks Wash on its southern end, look for a sign marking the beginning of Ironwood Forest on the northern side of the wash. It isn't hard to see the singletrack climbing up and out of the arroyo, heading off into the cacti forest. The hardpacked dirt path has a few rocks to keep things interesting, but they are a minor inconvenience in comparison to some of the trickier sections of nearby trails like Cactus Canyon.

The first half of Ironwood Forest is easy ups and downs over foothill ridges. Pass by two massive saguaros on the left; the towering cacti here seem even taller than in other areas of the park, making for a number of nice photo opportunities. As the trail proceeds, a majestic view of Safford and Panther Peaks lie ahead atop a mesa-like mountain.

Three quarters of a mile in, the route turns into a low-grade, easy descent to the finish. Viewpoints through the foothills give different perspectives of downtown Tucson and the outlying suburbs. Sections of the trail requiring thought or planning are few and far between here, so it's a good place to let one's mind wander.

Eventually Ironwood Forest turns into a narrow dry bed, which it will jump in and out of a few times. Rock lines and small cairns mark these entry and exit points, and it's not as sandy as the other wash trails in the area, requiring little added effort.

A sign for Mule Deer is easy to spot along a flat portion near the end. It's only a few hundred feet further to where Ironwood dead ends into Cam-Boh Trail, also at a signed intersection.

With both desert and mountain areas, including the sky island of the eastern district, Saguaro National Park is home to an impressive number of plants and wildlife.

Over four hundred plant species call the Tucson District home. The most prominent are the saguaro cacti which give the park its name. Living well over a hundred years and growing forty to sixty feet tall, they live exclusively in the Sonoran Desert and can be seen by the thousands here. Arms won't grow until the plant is 75-100 years old. Ocotillos, cholla, prickly pear, creosote, mesquite, and palo verde are common sights.

Many animals associated with the desert can be found on the trails. Visitors may see roadrunners, horned lizards, Gila monsters, kangaroo rats, and collared peccaries. Owls and woodpeckers may fly overhead, with some making their home in the saguaros. Tortoises are uncommon, and give a wide berth if coming across one of the park's six species of rattlesnakes.