cactus forest drive

What a sight to behold. We drove through late afternoon and there were a lot of people there. We didn't really see any animals but the saguaros were impressive. It will he gorgeous in a month or so when things start blooming. For $10/car you can't beat this attraction.

A nice drive with beautiful views. There are quite a few places to pull off for walks, photos or walking among the cacti. We went first thing in the morning because it was so hot - I would probably avoid it all together in the summer...

This is a beautiful drive while you can go on the road while watching the great cactus trees. Various sizes, shapes and varieties of cactus are worth watching. You can also get down and see the cactus from near. We can see almost everything in Cactus forest drive. Also get some nice beautiful pictures of the huge and tall Cactus. If you are in a hurry just drive around this place and get a beautiful picture of the giant cacti. Can also go on some small trails.

An easy drive with a couple of places you can pull off the road and walk along paths. We liked this better than Saguaro West.

Even though we were anxious to get on with our road trip after a night in Tucson, we wanted to squeeze in something quick yet unique before we left the area. Cactus Forest Drive in Saguaro National Park fit the bill! It costs $10 per vehicle, but we bought the America the Beautiful Annual Pass for $80 as we plan on visiting other national parks on our trip. The drive was easy and beautiful! We stopped several times at scenic turnoff points and got some terrific photos.We hadn't planned on hiking and so weren't dressed for it, but we did walk 25 yards or so along a trail to see some views. Our younger daughter unknowingly stepped on some cactus spines that were on the path. They poked right through her Crocs and jabbed her in the foot. They didn't cause great harm, but do be careful if you're planning on walking on the trails.

very quiet easy trail with wildlife and few people. wonderful towards late afternoon and dusk, but a good pick anytime of day.

I love a good national park, though this one is just a little sad because so many of the saguaros have disappeared! Keep an eye out for the rare cristate saguaro cactus, though, it's quite exciting when you spot one!We didn't see any of the wildlife that reside in the park during our visit but I think you'd be more likely to see them if you took a true hike. We did the one-way driving tour which was great for the amount of time we had (just a few hours). Snapped a great family photo on top of the javelina rocks, which was a great memento of this fun excursion!The visitor center is small but is getting a much-needed overhaul. I think it'll be much more informative-- and less of a pure gift shop-- when it's complete!

My wife and I interrupted our drive by doing a 6.5 mile hike from one of the trailheads along the drive. But we thoroughly enjoyed the drive before and after our hike. Near the end are several turnoff points with great views of the canyon covered in cacti and beautiful mountain ranges. While my wife enjoy hiking, I think this is a great way to see much of the park if you can't hike it.

I had intended to hike through Saguaro when I visited, but do to time limitations and extreme heat, I drove the loop road instead and am not disappointed at all. Along it you see some incredible cacti and great ridge lines. Even though I was there mid-morning, there was only one other car and three bikers on the entire loop.

Living in Tucson I enjoy driving this 8-mile loop several times a year. It has several hiking trails along the route also. I definitely drive here if we have snowfall. It's a great biking route also.

If you never want to get out of your car then this drive will give you a good feel for the desert. Take the time to get out and do some of the short trails for a more informative experience.

Nice drive but... nothing compared to the scenic Bajada loop in the western section.If you have to choose, go to the western section to drive the loop and do some hiking.If you happen to be in the eastern section, the Cactus Forest drive is worth doing it at a slow pace and for hiking, I recommend the Loma Verde trail.

Great photo ops, 9 mile loop was just the right length. I would definitely go back. Lots of places to stop.

Went with a friend for a day trip to the cave nearby and then here. Very worthwhile to see all the HUGE cacti and is a very nice drive with gorgeous views. Great place to spend at least a few hrs. or just drive through and pullout here and there for some great pics. Never been anywhere like it ever.

This approximately eight-mile drive offers wonderful vistas of the saguaros as well as surrounding buttes and extensive prairie. The road is narrow but there are plenty of places to pull over for photos. This is very different scenery than the Bajada Loop Drive in Saguaro West. I imagine the trip could be tedious at busy tourist periods given how narrow the road is and the minimal parking spaces. The Javelina Picnic area is a nice place for.... well, a picnic.