Colossal Cave Mountain Park

**RV Resort 55+ community**
Cactus Country RV Resort is conveniently located north of exit 275, I-10, just east of Tucson, Arizona. Cactus Country accommodates nearly all forms of recreational lodging. Surrounded by untouched cactus fields, our park enjoys the peaceful ambiance of a desert oasis, while never leaving you far from the 

shopping and dining of Tucson. Whether you stay for a night or make your home here, we look forward to welcoming you to Cactus Country.

Cactus Country RV Park - 55+

The story of Saguaro National Park dates back much farther than its establishment in 1994. Prior to this, the area was designated a national monument in 1933 as a way to preserve the unique Sonoran Desert landscapes of the Tucson and Rincon mountain districts. This saved the area from the ranchers and miners who settled in the area in the 1880s. These followed the Spanish explorers who established a military fort in Tucson in the 1770s, nearly a century after founding a mission in the ares in the 1690s. Petroglyphs and potshards indicate that the Hohokam peoples inhabited the area for more than a millennium prior to the Spanish. Travel back even farther, and there’s a complex geologic history of exactly how the landscape came into being—and why it’s worth preserving.

Camping in Saguaro is like entering a time machine. With no campgrounds in the park accessible by vehicle, the only way to camp is to hike in to any of the six designated campgrounds. The trails to get to the campgrounds typically start from developed roads and trailheads, but venture deep into the Sonoran backcountry, where only the rocks, plants, and animals tell the story of a landscape that’s changed little—with the exception of who’s occupied it—for the past several thousand years. One of the more popular campsites for those looking to bag 8,482-foot Rincon Peak, is the Happy Valley Saddle, which lies in a grove of scrubby pine and juniper forest, about halfway along the hike to the peak.  

This small campsite is located on the east end of the Rincon Mountain District. The campsite is accessible via a 3.9-mile trail that climbs 2,000 feet from the Miller Creek Trailhead. The road to this trailhead is not maintained, so may not be passable by passenger vehicles, or following inclement weather. The site offers three spaces for pitching tents. The water supply at nearby Miller Creek is seasonal at best, so visitors should plan accordingly. There are no facilities here, so hikers should exercise Leave No Trace and pack-it-in-pack-it-out practices. Camping in the Saguaro Wilderness backcountry requires a park-issued wilderness permit, which can be acquired in person at the park visitor center, or by submitting an application in advance.  

Happy Valley Saddle

\*\*Dry camping \*\*available at Tucson Speedway. Conveniently located next door to the Pima County Fairgrounds, and about 5 minutes from Interstate 10. Visit https://www.tucsonspeedway.com for race day details. **CAMPING IS AVAILABLE YEAR ROUND.**

Take the Rita Road exit 273 if eastbound or Houghton road exit 275 if westbound (some construction on Houghton) and follow sign to fairgrounds---we are at the south boundary---enter through double red gates. this is a great stopover place for Rv's, truckers, horse haulers and campers. We race from March to the end of October---see our website for race days---Saturdays. we also host Monster Trucks and demo derbies that may add to the parking/camping, but most days there will only be 1-5 campers and the coyotes to sing you to sleep.



Tucson Speedway

Desert Sanctuary at Rincon Peak Pitch your tent and enjoy the amazing sunsets and night view of the stars at our new Backcountry site located at The Desert Sanctuary at Rincon Peak, a guest retreat offering dry tenting, RV sites with Full hookup and dry setup and cottage a sleeping 2 to 6 people. The property is a private 120 acres located 45 miles east of Tucson Arizona. Rich in history including the site of the Sri Ashram co-founded by famous Harvard Professor and LSD advocate Timothy Leary. Many of the original buildings have been restored including a dining hall that served as the original pottery studio and a prayer house. The properties amenities include outdoor showers with hot and cold water, games room with billiards and card table, fire pits, Olympic pool, hot tub and BBQ area... all situated in a beautiful and peaceful setting by the main house. Options for accommodations include tenting and quaint cottage rentals.Short and long term guests welcome. This site does not include a canvas tent and platform. Bathroom facilities are located at the main house near the pool. Please bag all of your trash in order for me to dispose of it. No aerosol cans in burnable trash.

The Desert Sanctuary at Rincon Peak - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

## Overview

There are no campgrounds accessible by vehicle (including RV) within Saguaro National Park. For fit hikers interested in backpacking a minimum of 4.4 miles into the rugged Rincon Mountains, 6 wilderness campgrounds are available. 

The Rincon Mountains in Saguaro National Park rise out of the Sonoran Desert to over 8000 feet in elevation and host vegetative communities ranging from desert cacti, desert grasslands, and oak woodlands, to mixed conifer forests. 

In 1976, congress designated 57,930 acres of the Rincon Mountains within the park as the Saguaro Wilderness managed as "an area where the each and its community of life are untrammeled by humans, where people themselves are visitors who do not remain."

## Recreation

**Water**

Without question, water will be your most important concern while visiting the Saguaro Wilderness. Surface water is generally scarce during most of the year. At times, it is non-existent. Start your trip with plenty of potable water. Know where water sources are located and plan your trip according to water availability.

It is recommended that you treat/filter all water used for human consumption. 

All campgrounds within the Saguaro Wilderness are situated next to intermittent streams or springs. During dry seasons, water may not be available. The water source at Manning Camp is a spring surrounded by chain link fencing. Please do not enter the fenced area. Water may be obtained a short distance downstream. The water tap at the Manning Camp Cabin is not for public use and is usually turned off. 

If your itinerary calls for you to exit on the same trail you entered, you might consider caching potable water along the trail. This will assure a source of drinking water on your way out. We recommend sealed water containers with your name and the date written on them. 

For current water reports, inquire at the visitor center - (520) 733-5153. 

**Weather**

Temperatures and weather can vary greatly across the Saguaro Wilderness and is largely dependent on elevation. 

Manning Camp is located at an elevation of 8,000 feet, and the visitor center is at an elevation of 3,080 feet. 

The average high temperature at the visitor center in January is 63 degrees and the average low temperature is 38 degrees. For the same month, the average high temperature at Manning Camp is 44 degrees and the average low is 25 degrees. 

In June, the average high temperature at Manning Camp is 77 degrees and the average low temperature is 48 degrees. For the same month, the average high temperature at the visitor center is 98 degrees and the average low temperature is 67 degrees. 

Winter Rainy Season: The typical winter rainy season occurs from December through February. Rainfall is generally light and gentle but may fall for extended periods. Expect snow at higher elevations. 

Summer Rainy Season: The typical summer rainy season occurs from July through September. Rainfall can be intense and heavy. Lightning and flash flooding are common - extra caution is advised. 

**When to Go**

Summer temperatures in the Sonoran Desert regularly exceed 100 degrees and can reach 115 degrees. Higher elevation areas such as Manning Camp can receive significant winter snowfall. 

Spring and Fall can be ideal times to backpack in the Saguaro Wilderness but it is still important to pay attention to projected weather. If the predicted high temperature at your trailhead is between 80 and 95 degrees, plan your trip so that you arrive at higher elevations by early afternoon. If the predicted high temperature is between 95 and 110 degrees, leave the trailhead early enough that you can arrive at elevations over 7000 feet by 10 am - leaving the trailhead before sunrise is recommended. And, if the predicted high temperature is over 110 degrees, consider cancelling your trip. 

At any time of the year, backpackers should plan to leave their trailhead by noon. Backpacking in the Rincon Mountains is a difficult endeavor. Later starts frequently lead to camping illegally in areas other than designated campgrounds. 

**Topographic Maps**

All visitors to the Saguaro Wilderness should have the necessary orienteering and map reading skills to safely get around. We suggest that you carry National Geographic’s “Trails Illustrated Map”, which covers the entire park in one waterproof, tear-resistant map. The map is available at the visitor center. 

If you would like to purchase the map to aid in planning trip, by mail or phone prior to your arrival contact the Western National Parks Association bookstore. 

WNPA Bookstore

3693 South Old Spanish Trail

Tucson, Arizona 85730

(520) 733-5155 

**Livestock**. Limited overnight livestock pack trips are permitted in the park. Please contact 520-733-5153 for additional information.

## Natural Features

The 70,000 square mile Sky Island region of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico is globally important because of its rich diversity of species and habitats. These mountain "islands", forested ranges separated by vast expanses of desert and grassland plans, are among the most diverse ecosystems in the world. The Rincon Mountains of Saguaro National Park are the largest roadless sky island in the region.

## Charges & Cancellations

For more information on cancellations or changes, visit <https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies>.

Saguaro National Park Wilderness Permits

Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: https://www.campendium.com/camping/boondocking-101/

Redington Pass - Dispersed Camping

The Lake - Dispersed Camping

In 1884, Levi Manning emigrated from Mississippi to Tucson, Arizona, and after some years established L.H. Manning and Company. He later expanded his business interests with ranching and acquired a 160-acre homestead in the Rincon Mountains. There, at an elevation of 8,000 feet, amid pine forest near a perennial spring, he selected a site for what would become his family’s summer home. Manning hired local workers to build an 11-mile wagon road to the site, which was used to transport the tools and materials used to construct his remote, five-room retreat. However, Manning would only enjoy his mountain getaway for a couple summers before his homestead was absorbed into the newly-formed Coronado National Forest in 1907.

For the next half-century, the Manning Cabin was used mostly by Forest Service fire and trail crews. During this time, it went through various states of disrepair and reconstruction. From the late 1950s until the late 1970s, the cabin was largely abandoned until it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. One again restored and back in operation, the Manning Cabin serves as a base for area research and backcountry rangers. The cabin is not open to the public, but visitors can hike to the cabin and pitch their tents in the nearby Manning Camp. This small campground has six tent sites that can accommodate up to six people each. Camping here requires obtaining a Saguaro National Park backcountry permit, which can be acquired at a park visitor center, or by mailing in a request form in advance.  

There are several hiking trails that can be used to get to Manning Camp. All are long, and all are difficult. The trail from Happy Valley is 9.8 miles (one-way), and gains a total of 4,700 feet of elevation. This trail starts at the Miller Creek trailhead, near the eastern border of the park, and requires driving an unmaintained forest road; 4WD and/or a high-clearance vehicle are recommended. From the Loma Alta trailhead, in the southwest corner of the Rincon Mountain Unit, the route is 13.5 miles (one-way), and gains more than 5,700 feet of elevation. The trails to Manning Camp climb through a mix of desert scrub, oak woodlands and conifer forests. This area is home to black bears and mountain lions; store all food in the camp’s bear-proof lockers. Hikers should follow LNT guidelines, and treat all backcountry water sources.

Manning Camp

**[2020 Tripadvisor Hall of Fame!](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60950-d1175969-Reviews-Voyager_RV_Resort_Hotel-Tucson_Arizona.html)** **Voyager RV Resort** in Arizona has it all: the special feeling of a real community, wonderful friends, neighbors, and the endless array of things to do and places to go. Setting your course for Voyager, a premier **Tucson RV resort** , means truly discovering the "Best of the Southwest" in Arizona. For a day, a season, or a lifetime, we are here to show you all of the perks of desert living. The newest development at Voyager RV Resort, The Bay, is an upscale manufactured home community. Our homes are custom built in Phoenix, ground-set, fully landscaped, and finished with a beautiful, durable sand stucco finish. Efficiency in heating and cooling is enhanced by dual glaze windows and high level insulation. Some of the homes at our RV resort in Arizona even offer large screened patio areas and matching storage buildings. The Bay has been designated a "Blue Ribbon Community" by the MHC. We are proud to present The Bay as yet another way to enjoy the resort lifestyle at the Voyager! Top-Rated RV Resort in Arizona Whether you're planning a retreat for a group of friends or a getaway for two, there's no shortage of unique activities to explore at Voyager RV Resort & Hotel. Plan activities upon arrival or visit this page before your departure to plan ahead. Looking for more? Our friendly staff can fill you in on all of the great ways to make your stay a memorable experience.

Voyager RV Resort & Hotel

Crazy Horse RV Park

Great spot 

Super cheap. The sites and restrooms needs some tlc. We were the only ones in the tent camping area which was a plus. This campground is good if you r doing tours in the day or just need a trip to get out.

Not bad for the price

I want to give this place 5 stars but not having a natural water source and locking the gates at night don’t get ya 5 stars 🤓 ...I understand their reasoning behind locking the gates however; bad humans out there that come in late at night and trash the place and don’t pay the measly $7 a night to camp - so locking the gates prevents that. Anyway, the picnic tables were nice and the entire canyon was just beautiful. It’s also a simple drive to Saguaro National Park (East) as well. We saw a deer in the morning too which was cool being that it seemed so out of place in the “desert” ha ha...we will definitely go back. Good times. 

Colossal Cave Mountain Park

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2022 Explorer Giveaway

Great spot

Not bad for the price

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