Shantz, Cholla, and Cactus Forest Loop
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Shantz, Cholla, and Cactus Forest Loop
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The Shantz, Cholla, and Cactus Forest Loop is an easy trail in Tucson’s Saguaro National Park East. The star of this route is the varied desert vegetation along the trail, so the beauty is more in the small things than in big, impressive views on this adventure. Try to time your visit for when the creosote is blooming for the best experience. This route generally sees moderate traffic.
Getting there
The trailhead for the Shantz, Cholla, and Cactus Forest Loop is off E Broadway Boulevard.
About
| Backcountry Campground | No |
| When to do | October-May |
| Pets allowed | No |
| Family friendly | Yes |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | Moderate |
| Route Type | Loop |
Shantz, Cholla, and Cactus Forest Loop
Elevation Graph
Weather
Shantz, Cholla, and Cactus Forest Loop Description
The Shantz, Cholla, and Cactus Forest Loop is an easy hike in Saguaro National Park East in Tucson, featuring the varied plants that line the trails in this part of the Sonoran Desert. This route is suitable for hikers of all levels, including families with kids, who can enjoy this trail thanks to its lack of elevation gain. Note that dogs are not permitted on the trails in Saguaro National Park East.
This route gets hot in the summer months, so we recommend avoiding it when temperatures are at their highest. Early morning hikes are ideal, but no matter when you visit, bring plenty of water. There isn’t any shade on this route.
From the trailhead near the road, take Shantz Trail as it heads east and then north. Take a right onto Vanover Trail and then another right onto Loma Verde Trail. Follow Loma Verde until the sharp right turn onto Cholla Trail. At the 4-way junction, go straight onto Cactus Forest Trail, which will lead you back to the trailhead.
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