Desrt Ecology Trail

Located just a few miles from the Saguaro National Park, the Desert Ecology Trail offers visitors a place to enjoy a short hike without having to plan for a major backpack outing. It is a quarter mile long loop that is paved and allows for wheelchair accessibility. The trail is self-guided and along the way there are signs explaining facts about animals and plants. The most frequent questions visitors to the desert ask is how plants and animals can survive without water in the desert. These signs explain the survival of plants and animals in the area. While walking the path you will see palo verde and mesquite trees, as well as a variety of cacti including prickly pear, saguaro, barrel, ocotillo, and cholla. While you may not see the actual animal, animals facts include information about lizards, rattlesnakes, desert tortoises, rabbits, and coyotes. There are longer hikes nearby that take hikers further into the backcountry in the area including The Douglas Spring Trail and the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail. Camping is allows further into these backcountry areas. The Desert Ecology Trail is an easy hike that is great for children and parents to experience the outdoors, the joy of exploring, and learning about the desert landscape.