Red Hills Visitor Center (West)
32.2545, -111.1973 · Park boundary: National Park Service
The Red Hills Visitor Center is a great place to learn about the park and start your visit to Saguaro National Park's West District. Views from the patio are spectacular and overlook the Red Hills and majestic Saguaro cactus forest nearby. Learn more about the unique geology of the Tucson Mountains, get great recommendations on how to get the most out of your time in the park, or explore the park bookstore. General information, park maps, and hiking guides are available on the southern patio 24/7.
- Every day
- 9:00AM - 5:00PM
The park is always open, except under emergency conditions. You can hike into the park 24 hours a day. The Visitor Center is open daily 9:00am - 5:00pm from October 1st to May 31st, and switches to 8:00am - 4:00pm from June 1st to September 30th. In the Tucson Mountain District (West), the Bajada Scenic Loop Drive is open from dawn to dusk (actual times vary throughout the year).
- Summer Hours (June 1-September 30) · Jun 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026 · Every day 8:00AM - 4:00PM
- Thanksgiving · Nov 25, 2026 – Nov 25, 2026 · Closed
- Christmas · Dec 25, 2026 – Dec 25, 2026 · Closed
Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04
Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04
In Visitor Center
Getting to the Tucson Mountain District from the City of Tucson Travel west on Speedway Boulevard. At the junction of Camino de Oeste, Speedway Boulevard will change names to Gates Pass Road. From this junction, drive 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) west on Gates Pass Road until it ends at Kinney Road (turn right on Kinney Road). Drive 3 miles (5 kilometers) north on Kinney Road to the Park entrance (entrance is on the right side of the road). Vehicles exceeding 12,000 pounds GVWR are prohibited on Gates Pass
Drive to Red Hills Visitor Center (West)
Byway plans the scenic way in — real places, real weather, every stop verified. Zero hallucinations. Google Maps for turns. Byway for soul.