Saguaro National Park Wilderness Permits

Overview

Wilderness campgrounds are the ONLY campgrounds in Saguaro National Park. For fit hikers interested in backpacking a minimum of 4.4 miles (7 km) into the rugged Rincon Mountains, six wilderness campgrounds are available.   

The Rincon Mountains in Saguaro National Park rise out of the Sonoran Desert to over 8000 feet (2438 m) in elevation and host vegetative communities ranging from desert cacti, desert grasslands, and oak woodlands, to mixed conifer forests. In 1976, congress designated 57,930 acres (23,443 ha) within these Mountains as the Saguaro Wilderness managed as "an area where the each and its community of life are untrammeled by humans, where people themselves are visitors who do not remain."  

None of these wilderness campgrounds is accessible by vehicle (including RVs). For car or RV camping, the only options in the immediate area are private or commercial campgrounds. Further away, there are campgrounds in the Coronado National Forest, some of which may be available to book on Recreation.gov. 

Recreation

Solitude awaits you on these cool, forested slopes. A strenuous hike and the solitude of the wilderness are the primary forms of recreation in the Rincon Mountains. From cactus-covered desert to pine-cloaked mountain heights, the Saguaro Wilderness Area in the Rincon Mountains protects the last roadless ‘sky island’ mountain range in Southern Arizona. All within sight of the sprawling city of Tucson. Limited overnight livestock pack trips are permitted in the park. Please contact 520-733-5153 for additional information.  

Plant and wildlife viewing is also popular...a hike to any of the six wilderness campgrounds in the Rincon Mountains provides a stark chronical of plant and animal life as you climb from saguaro cactus forests at your trailhead to grasslands, manzanita and scattered juniper at Douglas Spring (minimum 6 miles/9.6 km and a 2000 foot/609 m climb) to a full stand of juniper trees at Juniper Basin (6,000 feet/(1829 m). By the time you reach Manning Camp at 8000 feet (2438km) you’re in a ponderosa pine forest with reliable water year-round except in the very driest years.  

Water

Without question, water will be your most important concern while visiting the Saguaro Wilderness. Surface water is generally scarce during most of the year. At times, it is non-existent. Start your trip with plenty of potable water. Know where water sources are located and plan your trip according to water availability.

It is recommended that you treat/filter all water used for human consumption. 

All campgrounds within the Saguaro Wilderness are situated next to intermittent streams or springs. During dry seasons, water may not be available. The water source at Manning Camp is a spring surrounded by chain link fencing. Please do not enter the fenced area. Water may be obtained a short distance downstream. The water tap at the Manning Camp Cabin is not for public use and is usually turned off. 

If your itinerary calls for you to exit on the same trail you entered, you might consider caching potable water along the trail. This will assure a source of drinking water on your way out. We recommend sealed water containers with your name and the date written on them.      

For current water reports, inquire at the visitor center - (520) 733-5153.   

Weather

Temperatures and weather can vary greatly across the Saguaro Wilderness and is largely dependent on elevation. 

Manning Camp is located at an elevation of 8,000 feet (2438 m), and the visitor center is at an elevation of 3,080 feet (939 m).  

The average high temperature at the visitor center in January is 63° F (17° C) and the average low temperature is 38° F (3° C). For the same month, the average high temperature at Manning Camp is 44° F (7° C) and the average low is 25° F (-4° C).

In June, the average high temperature at Manning Camp is 77° F (25° C) and the average low temperature is 48° F (9° C). For the same month, the average high temperature at the visitor center is 98° F (37° C) and the average low temperature is 67° F (19° C).  

• Winter Rainy Season: The typical winter rainy season occurs from December through February. Rainfall is generally light and gentle but may fall for extended periods. Expect snow at higher elevations. 
• Summer Rainy Season: The typical summer rainy season occurs from July through September. Rainfall can be intense and heavy. Lightning and flash flooding are common - extra caution is advised.   

When to Go

Summer temperatures in the Sonoran Desert regularly exceed 100° F (38° C) and can reach 115° F (46° C). Higher elevation areas such as Manning Camp can receive significant winter snowfall.   

Spring and Fall can be ideal times to backpack in the Saguaro Wilderness but it is still important to pay attention to projected weather. If the predicted high temperature at your trailhead is between 80° and 95° F, plan your trip so that you arrive at higher elevations by early afternoon. If the predicted high temperature is between 95° and 110° F, leave the trailhead early enough that you can arrive at elevations over 7000 feet (2133 m) by 10 a.m. -- leaving the trailhead before sunrise is recommended. And, if the predicted high temperature is over 110° F, consider cancelling your trip. 

At any time of the year, backpackers should plan to leave their trailhead by noon. Backpacking in the Rincon Mountains is a difficult endeavor. Later starts frequently lead to camping illegally in areas other than designated campgrounds.  

Livestock. Limited overnight livestock pack trips are permitted in the park. Please contact 520-733-5153 for additional information.

Topographic Maps

All visitors to the Saguaro Wilderness should have the necessary orienteering and map reading skills to safely get around. We suggest that you carry National Geographic’s “Trails Illustrated Map”, which covers the entire park in one waterproof, tear-resistant map. The map is available at the visitor center. 

If you would like to purchase the map to aid in planning trip, by mail or phone prior to your arrival contact the Western National Parks Association bookstore. 

WNPA Bookstore

3693 South Old Spanish Trail

Tucson, Arizona 85730

(520) 733-5155   

Facilities

• This is not car or RV camping! It is not possible to drive to the campgrounds.The 6 campgrounds are primitive and offer few, if any, amenities. Campgrounds require a minimum hike of 4.4 miles (7 km) to the closest (lowest elevation) campground, while Manning Camp is a minimum hike of 10 miles (22.5 km) depending on your starting trailhead.

• Water: While all campgrounds are near intermittent streams or springs, during dry seasons, water may not always be available. Start your trip with at least one gallon (4 L) of water per person per day. Treat all water for human consumption.

• Campfires. While some campgrounds have fire rings and grills, fires are prohibited at others. Gas stoves are encouraged at all campgrounds.  

• Toilets. Toilets at campgrounds are rarely visited by park staff. Campers are strongly encouraged to carry and use personal hand sanitizer. 

Primitive Campground Amenities:

• Douglas Spring (4,800 feet/1463 m): 3 campsites, No Campfires! There are plenty of mesquites and junipers in the area that provide some shade in the hotter months. Water is seasonal. The campground has a vault toilet. 

• Grass Shack (5,200 feet/1585m): 2 campsites under the shade of large oaks and other trees. No Campfires! Chimenea Creek provides water most of the year. The campground has a vault toilet. 

• Juniper Basin (6,000 feet/1829 m): 3 campsites. Water is seasonal (often dry during the spring and fall). The campground has a vault toilet. Fires are allowed here using only dead and downed wood. 

• Happy Valley Saddle (6,200 feet/1890 m): 3 campsites. Water is available only during wet times. The campground has a vault toilet.

• Spud Rock Spring (7,400 feet/2255 m): 3 campsites under the shade of pines and aspens. Water is available seasonally. The campground has a composting (pit) toilet.

• Manning Camp (7,920 feet/2414 m): 6 campsites, each with a fire ring and grill, shaded by ponderosa pines. Water is virtually always available. The campground has a vault toilet.

Natural Features

The 70,000 square mile (18,1299 sq. km) Sky Island region of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico is globally important because of its rich diversity of species and habitats. These mountain "islands"--which include the Rincon Mountains—are --forested ranges separated by vast expanses of desert and grassland plans and , are among the most diverse ecosystems in the world. The Rincon Mountains of Saguaro National Park are the largest roadless sky island in the region.   

Are you constantly checking out cool flowers, bugs, and mushrooms along the trail? Saguaro National Park biologists would love to know what you're seeing! The park is revamping a project to document rare plants in the remote Rincon Mountain backcountry. If you make a free iNaturalist account (at inaturalist.org or the iNaturalist app), you can submit photo observations of plants and other living things you notice while hiking. Our staff and other specialists will help with IDs! For more information, check out our iNaturalist project Plants of the Saguaro NP High Country. Join the project if you’d like occasional updates on target species, seasonal trends, and exciting findings. Visitor-submitted observations help us learn more about mountain plant communities including distributions, flowering times, and leaf emergence. Rare sightings are always a possibility too! This project complements focused survey efforts conducted by botanists, park staff, and trained volunteers.

Charges & Cancellations

Changes/Modifications

• Changes may be made prior to the day the reservation begins.
• If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee.
• There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. 
• If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date.

Cancellations

• Customers may cancel their reservation prior to day of arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 cancellation fee will be withheld from any refund due back the customer. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see below).

Late Cancellations or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window

• A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will have a $10.00 cancellation fee withheld from their refund AND will forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.

Review Rules and Reservation Policies for additional details about changes and cancellations.