National and State Parks Photo Itinerary
Marana is near many locations that make you feel like you've stepped inside a postcard or screensaver!
Marana is synonymous with the outdoors, with several mountain ranges surrounding it, and a National Park, National Monument, and several state parks just a short drive away. All of these offer unique opportunities to capture amazing, diverse vistas of the Southern Arizona landscape. Visiting these parks may make you feel like you’ve stepped into a postcard or a screensaver – bring your camera and make sure your memory card is wide open!
Saguaro National Park West
Saguaro National Park is divided into two districts, and the West District (known as the Tucson Mountain District) borders Marana’s Town Limits! The park’s namesake, the iconic Saguaro cactus, can only be found in Arizona and parts of Sonora. Even though the Saguaro is associated with the whole state of Arizona, it can only be found in Southern Arizona, Southwestern Arizona, and Phoenix, with some of the largest concentrations being located right here, near the Tucson area. Saguaro National Park is home to the world’s largest cactus forest, striking sunsets, and a variety of wildlife including javelinas, bobcats, coyotes, mountain lions, bats, a variety of snakes and lizards, and a variety of birds!
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_5244.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=06784d8e23c4e1c2eb406c73fa23d82d 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_5244.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c466ad088e1e741041d89c12fe013779 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_5244.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=a99f3dd548465201e499c30f996c0042 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_5244.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=93d62436ef40566c1d58f6863236b206 1024w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_5244.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=f1d5db8d1ff3b72f0811997312410658 1200w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_5244.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=82016837462fd3fd3fc6478f49ff10ba 1440w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_5244.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=34f9baa4578f58cd5348c8abac498c63 1920w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_5244.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=eefb66107d7c0f95c9d16d8552f40196 2560w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_5244.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=6953700fd98434ea48c92fb92d554006 3024w)
Saguaro National Park has many great hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, for all skill levels. All of these trails offer panoramic views of the expansive desert, the saguaros, and the back side of the Tucson Mountains. Stay into the evening and you can capture some of those cactus-and-sunset photos that Arizona is famous for. Or, hike the easy, 0.3-mile Signal Hill Trail, to catch a glimpse of some ancient petroglyphs.
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e3722-Rocks-Road-and-Sandario-Road.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=04c61bb15661e3070cb08be3280a89b3 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e3722-Rocks-Road-and-Sandario-Road.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=f19db5c6dd1f103c2adb0ab3f3d270ea 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e3722-Rocks-Road-and-Sandario-Road.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=d195341e48c11ab29ae02d0fabe8fd74 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e3722-Rocks-Road-and-Sandario-Road.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=63d7a4fe76fd86f60333696762548945 1024w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e3722-Rocks-Road-and-Sandario-Road.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=bc4e3db2872e2f2b5bec6a1ef6342e9d 1200w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e3722-Rocks-Road-and-Sandario-Road.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=0d370906fcd7c4c0685565185e5bbe3c 1440w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e3722-Rocks-Road-and-Sandario-Road.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=a2f51e842ca7835ce83229b29fe8bef7 1920w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e3722-Rocks-Road-and-Sandario-Road.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=60aba8d3f7b2492da65487cf6a7d23f1 2268w)
Picture Rocks Road and Sandario Road both run through the park, and offer several pull-outs, for those looking to set up a camera and shoot photos of the cacti, sunset, or wildlife. The Tucson Mountains also block much of the light from Tucson and Marana, so the park also provides for some good stargazing. During the summer monsoon season, you can capture striking photos of rain curtains, lightning, and rainbows.
Another sight that is sure to amaze you are the cactus blooms, which can usually be seen starting in late April or early May, and running through August. The saguaros erupt with their white flowers, which is the state flower of Arizona, which are then pollinated and produce ruby-red fruit. The prickly pear and barrel cacti also bloom with yellow and magenta flowers, which then turn into fruit that is great in a margarita, ice cream, or lemonade!
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/saguaropark3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d6d840bbf4f45026e9e15f11337eb652 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/saguaropark3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=def91fcdf392a84b61cd87d9380c5c21 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/saguaropark3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=80367b99c6a106733f0ae2e47c870c4b 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/saguaropark3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=57bce22f90c308cd552dbacde301fc83 979w)
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e7179.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=dcdc6700de08ccbd1f8c9adb2cdfe879 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e7179.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=606577a0fb9b374fad4d6d58709a22cb 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e7179.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=db213440fcdd16d1506ddc7571789c45 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e7179.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=af223efec85f963d302ecf306aca4efd 1024w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e7179.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=159178169f46fc4f26870d566b47bdcd 1200w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e7179.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=d85175cd5ed2944d2605c60fb3402f91 1440w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e7179.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=f22353d2a98cc62c56191f4469f4409c 1920w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e7179.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=9d7fd58fcd42990f510bf5ccc6cd331a 2560w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e7179.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=6f20f757b79bf5cb7916d5174299de7c 3840w)
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_8371-cactus.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=afe93ac1bb33cf510def998707b8de11 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_8371-cactus.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=6eb89ec704e706225bdffc6c3b8b915a 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_8371-cactus.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=75be2b61daa7f0c1a71c022faabea935 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_8371-cactus.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=5f4b7a20146b7e5d1810387acb8ef3b3 1024w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_8371-cactus.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=82bed8879529a46467c29460329834c8 1200w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_8371-cactus.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=992828427e1ade519ee8de3f451b515a 1440w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_8371-cactus.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=e886c34f12f7db969a101cd326ee829e 1920w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_8371-cactus.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=0fb9fedde90df2ca18ba328670a5b694 2560w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_8371-cactus.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=ec3d448287f60b6934bd05b152940a19 3840w)
Catalina State Park
Catalina State Park is located on the westernmost slope of the Catalina Mountains, just east of Oro Valley. The park is famous for its soaring granite formations, which may make you think of Yosemite. Hike, bike, or ride a horse through the savanna-like grasses and scrublands of the mountain foothills, tree-shaded stream valleys, and the steep-but-rewarding trails of the granite slopes.
The park offers the opportunity to capture (on camera, that is) a variety of plant species, including wildflowers (that turn the park into an explosion of color every spring), saguaros; and animal species, including mammals, reptiles, and over 170 species of birds.
Catalina State Park offers RV and tent campsites, which makes it the perfect home base for all of your Southern Arizona adventures. For equestrians, the park offers staging areas, pens and hitching posts for overnight campers, and plenty of trailer parking.
Ironwood Forest National Monument
For a true, secluded, desert experience, look no further than Ironwood Forest National Monument. This place is the definition of “off the beaten path” – which makes it prime real estate among its loyal regulars. The 129,000-acre monument contains several desert mountain ranges, including the Silverbell, Waterman, and Roskruge Mountains, a significant system of cultural and historical sites covering a 5,000-year period, and the park’s namesake, one of the densest concentrations of Ironwood trees anywhere.
Other significant and photogenic sites include the famous 80-Armed Saguaro (count them for yourself!), Ragged Top Mountain with its sawtooth rock formations, and the Waterman Restoration Site, where you can see the desert reclaiming an illegally-cleared airstrip once used by a mining executive.
In addition to the Ironwoods, you can also see saguaros (there’s even a site where several of them are in a circle, similar to Stonehenge), mesquites, palos verdes, creosotes, and plenty of wildflowers! You can also see a variety of mammal, reptile, and bird species, and the park’s remote location lets you capture some cool photos of the night sky.
Ironwood Forest National Monument offers 2 primitive campgrounds, which are popular among RV and Tent campers, so you can spend a night in the secluded desert.
Three areas within the monument, the Los Robles Archeological District, the Mission of Santa Ana del Chiquiburitac and the Cocoraque Butte Archeological District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Tortolita Mountains
The Tortolita Mountains are located on the northwest edge of the Tucson area, right between Marana and Oro Valley. The smallest of Tucson's mountain ranges, the Tortolitas feature rugged peaks, gullies, canyons and alluvial fans, with rocky soil and vast stands of cacti.
The mountains include extensive cultural resources. Hohokam Native Americans heavily occupied the area for approximately 700 years beginning around AD 500, and if you look hard enough, you can still see some remnants of their civilization. The Tortolitas were also home to ancient Native American tribes, whose petroglyphs have remained secluded in the mountains for millennia. Ruins of a homestead from the Wild West era also remain in Wild Burro Canyon, and can be seen from several of the trails in the mountains.
The Town of Marana maintains a system of 9 trails in the mountains, which pass over diverse terrain and varying terrain, and offer excellent hiking, biking, and equestrian experiences for people of all skill levels.
If camping’s not really “your thing”, the Tortolita Mountains are home to basically the opposite – the Double Five-Star, world-renowned luxury of the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, which still offers amazing views of the canyon it’s located in and the valley down below, as well as access to all the range’s hiking trails. Wind down after a hike with a dip in the pool, a treatment at the luxury spa, or an excellent gourmet meal and craft cocktail.
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e6630-picacho.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b30b5d233df876756b22dbc81b522c84 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e6630-picacho.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=d9ad2e0c418e0fbccc040217ad0d26df 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e6630-picacho.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=23052dc122519d8b6f9463b9c66f4b8a 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e6630-picacho.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=4f7ab2e6d9b2aff23e9c3bf3229a15b9 1024w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e6630-picacho.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=81a1ec8f85aa65367801fd74e32e0021 1200w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e6630-picacho.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=e0327192cbe906db723b61973a52e1b5 1440w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e6630-picacho.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=e3d105436dc2fa32f76ff20abf490369 1920w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/img_e6630-picacho.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=f694bc9a107c5be886a8321846da14a9 2268w)
Picacho Peak State Park
Located just under 20 miles north of Marana, this prominent peak can be seen for nearly 50 miles in either direction. Its prominence made it an ideal navigational landmark for thousands of years; for the Native Americans, early European settlers, cowboys and stagecoach drivers, and even today, is a sure sign that you’re getting close to the Tucson area once you see it headed south from Phoenix.
A 360-degree panorama of the surrounding desert and mountain ranges is visible from the top of the peak, which is accessible via a steep, challenging hike. Portions of the trails are precarious, and hikers are aided by cables and catwalks, making the routes some of the few via ferrata in the United States. Slightly easier hikes bring you to The Saddle, which still offers great views of the surrounding landscape, or let you stroll through the wildflower meadows around the peak.
During the spring, the park is covered in a yellow, orange, and purple carpet of wildflowers, helped along by the winter rains and cooler temperatures. These wildflower blooms draw people from all over the state and country to Picacho Peak to stroll through the meadows, and take photos of the colorful phenomenon. Spectacular sunsets can also be seen and captured year-round, but are especially striking when complimented by the wildflowers. The Sunset Vista trail winds its way through the wildflower meadows at the base of the peak.
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/lupines_with_sunset_-_khatya_s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=4a1217519e43947b2785b19ac11e60e9 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/lupines_with_sunset_-_khatya_s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=38f8eebe375d42c1b3dc09037d01bcd4 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/lupines_with_sunset_-_khatya_s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=989e9b84d50e95976ed255dd3fe0041f 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/lupines_with_sunset_-_khatya_s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=9866f0cbc7da1ebed9370cffb23a3e2a 1024w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/lupines_with_sunset_-_khatya_s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=eabc0e159bee38bd7b230c453f4460de 1200w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/lupines_with_sunset_-_khatya_s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=6dcd566db7e5c5bb3ff3db8cd2f944d2 1440w)
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/poppies_with_cactus_and_peak_-_khatya_s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d4a74cffb41db7459140356f93a11ed9 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/poppies_with_cactus_and_peak_-_khatya_s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=4f4463c490a009872c2f6d3c924acdda 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/poppies_with_cactus_and_peak_-_khatya_s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=6b21abf5d346bb58c3e58e2c566974da 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/poppies_with_cactus_and_peak_-_khatya_s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=cceb7f249a0dea206e206b7a100ecb19 1024w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/poppies_with_cactus_and_peak_-_khatya_s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=33370f4bcd44b6cbf577036fac323317 1200w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/poppies_with_cactus_and_peak_-_khatya_s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=813ee78118aa936968951dfb65cce453 1440w)
Picacho Peak State Park has 85 campsites for RV’s and tents. That, combined with the park’s location right off of Interstate 10, makes it another great home base for further Southern Arizona adventures.
El Rio Preserve
If you’re looking to capture some unique bird photos, look no further than the El Rio Preserve! The preserved riparian ecosystem is located along several bird migration routes. Egrets, vireos, herons, comorants, warblers, mallards, and hummingbirds are just a few of the 227 species that have been documented at the Preserve. The site is well-known within the birding community. The El Rio Preserve is located a short distance from the Twin Peaks & I-10 Interchange, just north of the Continental Ranch area.
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/black-necked_stilt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=fddf1594df5668d5e5397d91d13c3148 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/black-necked_stilt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=59b0a5e0aeae5d42f74ecb2c85d62d3a 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/black-necked_stilt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=9bb91fba0ea53b1a15608456a7cc973a 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/black-necked_stilt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=191bde4878761e5b494ca08f43154b5a 1024w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/black-necked_stilt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=4b51e08b1d557ea6f0d6e42bfb1e86ea 1200w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/black-necked_stilt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=818966dfedd243db8420e3e68a7fcdb3 1440w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/black-necked_stilt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=3d1dc9c697564db6b8ff034e763d0ccb 1920w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/black-necked_stilt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=6557d53488dc63996d87523962dce128 2048w)
Oracle State Park
Oracle State Park is located in the northern foothills of the Catalina Mountains, about an hour’s driving time from Marana. Its excellent stargazing conditions make it well worth the trip. The park is a certified International Dark Sky Park, due to the lack of light pollution. Tourists and locals alike flock to Oracle State Park for stargazing, star parties, and night-sky photography. The Milky Way can be seen faintly with the naked eye from Oracle State Park, and it can be seen even better through a telescope or with some more advanced camera equipment.
Ironwood National Monument photos courtesy Bureau of Land Management and the Friends of Ironwood Forest.
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