Tucson
This is a
partial guide to Tucson The full guide is in
Photo Traveler's Guide to Arizona
for $15.95.
The symbol of the western deserts is the
magnificent saguaro cactus--a tall plant with
forked arms. There is no better place to
photograph this wonderful subject than around
Tucson, Arizona.
If conditions are right, the best time to
visit Tucson is during spring-the prime desert
wildflower season. However, it is worth visiting
at other times of the year. High in the hills
there are summer wildflowers and fall color. Late
summer brings thunderstorms. Nothing is more
spectacular than driving out to the West Unit of
Saguaro National Park during an afternoon
thunderstorm to photograph the dark clouds and
lightning bolts in the west with saguaro cactus
in the foreground.
The best time for spring wildflowers is March
through May. Each plant, though, has its own
time. March has the most variety with penstemon,
brittlebush, fairy duster and desert marigold in
bloom. The giant saguaro cacti start blooming in
early May and run through early June. However,
you must be lucky and early to catch the saguaro
bloom. The flowers open at night and close by
noon the next day, and that is the end of it. The
ocotillo, a spiny plant, has red blossoms in
April. These blossoms also attract hummingbirds.
The paloverde, a green-bark tree, blooms in April
and May. Prickly pear cactus put forth their
showy flowers around late April. The desert
canyons are carpeted with lavender ironwood in
late May.
Because the attractions around Tucson are
spread out, you might want to concentrate on one
area at a time. Depending on your photographic
interest, some areas might require several days.
East Area
If you only have a day to visit the east side
of Tucson, spend the morning and early afternoon
at Sabino Canyon or Saguaro National Park, East
Unit, and then take the scenic drive up Mount
Lemmon. Plan to photograph the sunset and early
evening night lights of Tucson from Windy Point.
Sabino Canyon
Sabino Canyon has lovely trees, a creek,
reflecting pools, waterfalls, and saguaro cactus.
The main canyon road is only about four miles but
it is very popular with residents and tourists
alike. No cars are allowed. You must either walk
or take the tram. The scenic beauty of Sabino
Canyon is actually by design. A series of
natural-looking rock bridges across the creek
create reflecting pools above them and they are
positioned well for good composition. The water
encourages the sycamores and cottonwoods that add
to the beauty of the area.
The best time to visit is late April and early
May when the cactus are in bloom. Another good
time is late November when the cottonwoods and
sycamores put on their fall colors. Avoid summer
weekends-this is a "cool" outing for
literally hundreds of residents and they get in
the way of the best scenic shots.
You can either walk the canyon or take the
shuttlebus. The bus runs around every 30 minutes
from December through May and hourly the rest of
the year. It takes about 45 minutes to make the
round trip. You can hop off and on at any one of
the eight stops. One strategy is to take the bus
to the end and then walk back down the canyon. If
you've had enough exercise, you can always pick
it up again along the way. A tram also runs up
Bear Canyon. At the end there is a two-mile hike
to Seven Falls, a beautiful cascade of very
respectable-sized waterfalls.
To get to Sabino Canyon, take Sabino Canyon
Road. It is about ten miles northeast of downtown
Tucson off Tanque Verde Road.
Mount Lemmon Highway
A trip up the Mount Lemmon Highway takes you
from the desert of saguaro cactus to pine forests
at the summit, climbing over 5,000 feet. It snows
on the summit in the winter, making this the
southernmost ski area in the country. Along the
way you will encounter stunning views and curious
rock formations. Plan this trip for early
afternoon with a return after sunset. This is one
of the best places to photograph the sunset, but
even better to photograph the twilight and the
lights coming on in the basin below. Spring,
early summer, and fall are the best times. Spring
and summer are beautiful times for the
wildflowers with the display starting in March at
the lower elevations and midsummer being best at
the higher elevations. Autumn brings in
spectacular fall color. A good full day plan is
to combine a morning visit in Sabino Canyon and
the afternoon on the Mount Lemmon Highway.
The way to Mount Lemmon is well marked. Go
north of Tucson to Tanque Verde Road and head
east to the Catalina Highway. The scenic part of
the drive begins about seventeen miles from
downtown Tucson. The first viewpoint, Babat Duag,
is 2.5 miles from the start and is a good view of
the Tucson Valley. Three miles later, you will
want to stop at the Molino Canyon Viewpoint for a
good view of this canyon. Take the short hike
down to the creek to photograph a series of
waterfalls. About fourteen miles from the start
is Windy Point. Even if you don't intend to do
the whole drive, go at least this far. This
viewpoint, at 6,400 feet, overlooks the Tucson
Basin. The daytime view is spectacular. But plan
a sunset stop here. After the sun fades in the
west, the city lights come on below, creating an
awe-inspiring scene. Around Windy Point is an
interesting collection of rock pillars and
hoodoos. These are good photographic subjects,
but they are also popular with rock climbers. A
half mile beyond Windy Point is Geology Vista
with good views to the southeast. Nine miles
farther is San Pedro Vista. At 7,400 feet, this
viewpoint has good views east to the mountain
range and north into the San Pedro River Valley
that are framed by firs. Above this point the
road continues to climb, past more viewpoints,
the ski area, and campgrounds and picnic areas.
Many trails lead into the forests, down through
canyons, and to various mountain summits, for
those of you who might want to spend some time
here. The entire route is about 25 miles.
Copyright 1997,
Photo Traveler Publications. Not to be reprinted,
resold, or redistributed, except with written
permission. You may make a copy for your own
personal use.
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