Highlights:
Varied collection of Sonoran Desert animals (300 species) and plants (1,300 species), set in cactus-covered surroundings near Saguaro National Park; 2 miles of trails and dedicated sections for cacti, yucca, agave, flowers, and many more
Nearby town:
Tucson, 12 miles
Management:
Location:
Seasons:
All year; very hot in summer
Rating (1-5):
★★★★★
Weather:
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is part of the Arizona Deserts itinerary
Featured Hotel
Clarion Inn Tucson
Part of a group of hotels near the Starr Pass Boulevard exit of I-10, a couple of miles from the city center and 14 miles from the museum, via Gates PassCheck Rates
Desert plants are abundant across south and west Arizona, but a small number of species predominate, and the many rarer varieties require much more effort to locate in the wild. Animals are even harder to spot, and most are active at night or early morning, preferring to hide away underground during the heat of the day, hence zoos and botanical gardens provide the best way to view many species, and the premier site in the state is Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 12 miles west of Tucson.
The museum contains about 300 animal species and 1,300 types of plants, nearly all native to the Sonoran Desert, which covers the southwest third of Arizona, far southeast California, and extends south into the Baja California peninsula and Sonora in Mexico (see map); around a quarter of the museum's plants and animals are found only in Mexico. Elsewhere in Arizona are several other botanical gardens including Boyce Thompson Arboretum east of Phoenix, which has a larger collection of plants originating from a wider area, but the Desert Museum has the premier collection of Sonoran Desert species, plus the added attraction of animals.
The museum contains about 300 animal species and 1,300 types of plants, nearly all native to the Sonoran Desert, which covers the southwest third of Arizona, far southeast California, and extends south into the Baja California peninsula and Sonora in Mexico (see map); around a quarter of the museum's plants and animals are found only in Mexico. Elsewhere in Arizona are several other botanical gardens including Boyce Thompson Arboretum east of Phoenix, which has a larger collection of plants originating from a wider area, but the Desert Museum has the premier collection of Sonoran Desert species, plus the added attraction of animals.
Aravaipa Canyon Table of Contents
- Photographs
- Location
- Museum prices and opening hours
- Layout
- Map of the museum grounds
- Sections of the museum
- Nearby places
- Similar places
Photographs
Animals - 16 views
Mexican agave and cacti - 35 views
Plants - 61 views
Location
The museum is situated in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains, along Kinney Road just south of the west section of Saguaro National Park, nearly opposite the trailhead for Gould Mine. The surroundings, all part of Tucson Mountain Park, are quite densely covered with cacti and other plants, and across the park's 98 acres, many dozen species grow naturally and may be viewed along an unpaved, half mile trail, while all the exhibits and collections are arranged along a one mile paved path.
Museum Opening Hours
The minimum time to see every exhibit, albeit briefly, and walk along all trails, is around three hours. A more leisurely tour that includes waiting for all animals to show themselves could easily last a full day. Opening hours are 7.30 am (8.30 am in winter, Oct to Feb) to 5 pm, extended to 10 pm on Saturdays in midsummer, while the entrance charge (2024) is $29.95 for adults and $19.95 for children aged between three and 12; rates may be a little higher at some times during the winter.
Layout
The museum is very popular and its large parking lot may hold hundreds of cars by mid-morning. The entrance is attractively laid out, lined with numerous species of wildflowers, shrubs and cacti, some identified with notices, and including a few non-native plants like the large-flowered torch cactus (trichocereus). An old car is permanently stationed outside, the museum's logo on the doors; this dates from the early years of the establishment, which opened its doors 1st September 1952. The main buildings comprise a restaurant, cafes, education center, gallery, theater and gift shop, in addition to the various specimen rooms, all linked by a network of well signposted trails. Animal exhibits seem to be the most popular, even some of their residents are not always visible, but docents stage special demonstrations and viewings of some of the larger species.
Museum Map
Sections of the Museum
Major areas are as follows:
Reptiles and Invertebrates; a dimly lit enclosure containing several dozen species of snakes, lizards, salamanders, frogs, toads, scorpions, spiders and other insects, all easily viewable in glass tanks. Docents are usually present to answer questions and may have some non-venomous snakes available for touching.
Mountain Woodland; example of a high elevation environment as found in the isolated mountains (sky islands), of southeast Arizona. Animals here include mountain lion, black bear, Mexican wolf (an endangered species), and white-tail deer.
Desert Grassland; a collection of plants and animals of the grassy regions between the mountains and the low desert - animals on display here are prairie dogs, snakes and owls.
Agave Garden; many types of agave, the majority native to Mexican regions of the Sonoran Desert though there are around ten species from Arizona. Many look very similar, but most are identified by signs.
Cat Canyon; a large enclosure containing, grey foxes, cougars, ocelots and bobcats, all somewhat secretive and not easily spotted during the middle of the day.
Desert Loop Trail; a half mile unpaved loop through mostly undisturbed Sonoran Desert landscapes on the south side of the museum, the same terrain found in nearby Saguaro National Park. Along the way are a coyote enclosure, a small grove of palo verde trees, a javelina cage, a lizard area and a spur path to an overlook used for raptor demonstrations.
Desert Grassland; a collection of plants and animals of the grassy regions between the mountains and the low desert - animals on display here are prairie dogs, snakes and owls.
Agave Garden; many types of agave, the majority native to Mexican regions of the Sonoran Desert though there are around ten species from Arizona. Many look very similar, but most are identified by signs.
Cat Canyon; a large enclosure containing, grey foxes, cougars, ocelots and bobcats, all somewhat secretive and not easily spotted during the middle of the day.
Desert Loop Trail; a half mile unpaved loop through mostly undisturbed Sonoran Desert landscapes on the south side of the museum, the same terrain found in nearby Saguaro National Park. Along the way are a coyote enclosure, a small grove of palo verde trees, a javelina cage, a lizard area and a spur path to an overlook used for raptor demonstrations.
Cactus Garden; more than 100 varieties of cacti, of which about a third are Mexican-only species. Not all are named and a few are in poor condition but the collection is still impressive. Major genera are ferocactus, echinocereus, opuntia and mammillaria. The garden includes the rare organ pipe and senita cacti, found naturally in Arizona only in the far south.
Riparian Corridor; wetlands, pools and a short stream, home to beaver, otter, coati and a selection of fish. Nearby is a bighorn sheep enclosure.
Walk-in Aviary; a large building containing about 14 types of birds, including quails, ducks and doves; next door is a pond with tortoises.
Desert Garden; many trees, shrubs and wildflowers.
Hummingbird Aviary; another walk-in enclosure filled with bushes and flowers and housing several species of hummingbird. Nearby are groups of plants favored by butterflies, moths and bees, plus a small group of yuccas, and a pollination garden featuring more colorful, scented flowers.
Riparian Corridor; wetlands, pools and a short stream, home to beaver, otter, coati and a selection of fish. Nearby is a bighorn sheep enclosure.
Walk-in Aviary; a large building containing about 14 types of birds, including quails, ducks and doves; next door is a pond with tortoises.
Desert Garden; many trees, shrubs and wildflowers.
Hummingbird Aviary; another walk-in enclosure filled with bushes and flowers and housing several species of hummingbird. Nearby are groups of plants favored by butterflies, moths and bees, plus a small group of yuccas, and a pollination garden featuring more colorful, scented flowers.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - Nearby Places
- Ironwood Forest National Monument (14 miles) - pristine Sonoran Desert landscapes
- Saguaro National Park (adjacent) - dense forests of the saguaro cactus, plus other desert plants
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - Similar Places
- Boyce Thompson Arboretum - largest botanical gardens in Arizona
- Living Desert State Park, New Mexico - zoo and botanical gardens near Carlsbad
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