Desert Discovery Trail

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 2376 - 2406 feet
Cellphone: 1-4 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Desert Discovery
Fee: $15/vehicle
Attractions: Wheelchair accessible, interpretive trail

The Desert Ecology trail is located in the Tucson Mountain District of the Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona. The Tucson Mountains form the skyline just west of the city of Tucson. A loop through the Tucson Mountain Park and the Saguaro National Park can be followed by using Interstate 10 exits 242 and 257. Various side roads throughout the area will take you to any number of trailheads where you can find good places to hike.

The Desert Discover trail is just north of the Red Hills Visitor Center. A roadside marker and saguaro cactus point in the direction of the trailhead.

The paved trail begins a loop a few yards from the trailhead.

Numerous markers provide a wealth of information on this short interpretive trail.

Besides the many variety of cacti the trail signs provide information about the reptiles and small mammals that are found in the Sonoran Desert.

The barrel cactus display little pineapple looking fruit that is consumed by birds and small animals.

The Desert Discovery trail is short and very helpful for learning more about the ecosystem of the desert area. It is interesting that with 3 or 4 nature trails in the Saguaro National Park that each one is able to provide unique information for some of the same plants and animals rather than placing the exact same signs at each location. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.