National Parks 2020: Saguaro National Park

It’s time once again to explore more National Parks through yarny goodness. Over the past four years, we have explored the United States through its National Parks, and in 2020, we will have represented them all. Many of these are lesser-known National Parks, and we hope you spend some time exploring them through the links we’ve shared.

Check out our Socks on Vacay/Socks on Staycay summertime sock knitting collaboration with our friend Shannon Squire, too: https://shannonsquire.com/socks-on-vacay-staycay-2020/

Thanks for exploring parks and making socks with us once again this summer! To get your yarn, check out our list of LYS’s offering National Parks (Parks yarn will ONLY be available at our LYS partners through the summer): https://knittedwit.com/

Where is this National Park located?

Saguaro National Park is located in southern Arizona; its 2 sections are on either side of the city of Tucson.

Whose land does this National Park reside upon?

About 2,300 years ago, a group we now call the Hohokam had settled in southern Arizona – including the Santa Cruz valley. By AD 700, they had a well-developed agricultural economy including extensive irrigation systems. Hohokam villages existed in the areas surrounding what is now Tuscon and Saguaro National Park for about 600 years – along Rincon Creek and its tributary washes. Then, during the 15th century, the Hohokam culture simply vanished. Other native people that have resided in this area include Akimel O’odham (also known as Pima), Apache, Hopi, Maricopa, Yaqui, Tohono O’odham (“Desert People”), Yavapai, and Zuni.

When was it established as a National Park?

October 14, 1994

Why is this park amazing?

The park is named for the large saguaro cactus, native to its desert environment. In the western Tucson Mountain District, Signal Hill Trail leads to petroglyphs of the ancient Hohokam people. In the eastern Rincon Mountain District, Cactus Forest Drive is a loop road with striking views of the desert landscape.