Cactus Forest Drive

April is the perfect time of year to make the jaunt over to Saguaro National Park East for the Cactus Forest Drive. The weather is not yet scorching and the blooming flora is beautiful. My family and I took the 8 mile drive on a Saturday afternoon over a span of about three hours, we stopped at many of the pullouts for a bit of exploring and photography. The entrance cost is $20 for a regular vehicle and an annual pass is $80, pricing varies for large groups and tours.I highly recommend a stop and short climb at Javelina Rock, although we didn't encounter any javelinas, the view was one of our favorites from the drive. The visitor center also has a fun gift shop you shouldn't miss! Can't wait to visit again when I have more time for hiking and exploration.

After traveling to Tucson for almost 15 years for work, I finally made it to Cactus Forest Drive for the sunset!Due to some mechanical difficulties with our plane, I ended up staying another night, and made time to convince my colleagues to get out of the manufacturing facility for something encouraging.We paid the $15 for the car, and started the loop about an hour before sunset. We stopped at most of the pulloffs to read the plaques and take pictures. We were at Javelina Rocks right as the sun touched the horizon. I appreciated how considerate everyone was of others, letting others go ahead, driving slowly past bikers, making sure to get out of people's photos as warranted.The visitor center closes at 5pm. The entry booth is unmanned at that point, so it's an honor system for the fees. Though you could walk or bike, it is an 8mile loop, so you'd need to start pretty early to make it to the eastern point for the best sunset views (highest elevation). Watch out for hikers, as there are some trails, and respect the cyclists.Bring your camera, but don't obsess over the perfect shot because no camera can truly capture the expanse and the glorious colors.