Saguaro National Park Wilderness Permits

About

Saguaro National Park's six wilderness campgrounds represent the only overnight options within the park, situated in the rugged Rincon Mountains of the east district. Each campground requires a minimum 4.4-mile hike through challenging terrain, with distances ranging up to 10 miles depending on the route. The campgrounds span elevations from Douglas Spring at 4,800 feet to Manning Camp at 7,920 feet, providing access to one of the last roadless sky island ecosystems in southern Arizona. The Rincon Mountains offer a remarkable ecological gradient, transitioning from iconic saguaro cacti at lower elevations through oak woodlands and juniper stands to ponderosa pine forests at the highest camps. Manning Camp provides the most reliable year-round water source; all other campgrounds are near intermittent streams or springs that may be dry during much of the year. Fire rings are available at four campgrounds (Manning, Spud Rock Spring, Happy Valley Saddle, and Juniper Basin), while fires are prohibited at Douglas Spring and Grass Shack due to grassland fire risk. Spring and fall offer ideal backpacking conditions, though summer temperatures at trailheads regularly exceed 100°F, requiring pre-dawn departures to reach higher elevations safely. Winter brings snow to upper elevations. All permits must be reserved through Recreation.gov at $8 per site per night, with a maximum of 6 people per site.

Directions

Five trailheads access the wilderness. Douglas Spring Trailhead at the east end of Speedway Boulevard offers 24-hour access. Tanque Verde Ridge Trailhead is on the park scenic loop drive (gate locked 8:30pm-5am). Miller Creek and Turkey Creek trailheads are on USFS Route #35, 16 miles north of I-10 exit #297 on graded gravel roads. Italian Spring Trailhead requires high-clearance 4WD via Redington Road and USFS Route #37. Camino Loma Alta Trailhead provides south boundary access. There is no public access via Madrona.