The Towering Saguaros of Saguaro National Park

In southern Arizona, tucked into the dry desert, you'll find Saguaro National Park. The park is named after the largest cacti species in the world: the saguaro. In the park, these cacti tower over the desert floor in thousands. These cacti can grow up to 70 feet tall and live up to 200 years. However, on average, they grow to around 40 feet. Saguaros grow very slowly and will only grow 1-2" in their first 8 years of life. Their branches tend to appear at 50-70 years old. 

The park itself is split into 2 districts. The west side has a denser population of Saguaros while the east side has a vast backcountry to explore. In the park, you'll also find a few mountain peaks such as: Panther, Safford and Wasson. When you summit to the top of Wasson peak, you have a great view of Panther and Safford - pictured below.

The Saguaros play a huge role in the ecosystem and provide refuge to not only birds but also nectar, food and moisture for the wildlife that live around them. They also share the land with other cacti species such as the Fish Hook Barrel cactus, the Bloomed Barrel Cactus (pictured below), the Prickly Pear and the Fuzzy Teddy Bear Cholla (also found in Joshua Tree NP).