Just north on I-10 is the Picacho Peak State Park near Eloy, Arizona. With about seven miles of hiking trails throughout the park, you will be led to beautiful outlooks, up mountain peaks, and treated to stunning desert vistas. Not only that, but the park is also the site of the Civil War’s largest battle in Arizona, the Battle of Picacho Pass. You can learn all about the park history from the visitor’s center. Just a short drive south toward Tucson is the Saguaro National Park near Marana, Arizona. The park is named for the towering saguaro cacti that dominate the landscape, which can grow to be as tall as 40 feet. You can take an easy and calm mile-long hike and see an old homestead and more cacti than you can count, or you can challenge yourself a little and hike up some of the ridges and peaks that decorate the landscape. Regardless of what hiking opportunity you choose, be sure to not overwork yourself. If you’re looking to truly immerse yourself in the Arizona desert, then head to the Sonoran Desert National Monument near Gila Bend, Arizona. Just south of Phoenix, Sonoran is one of the most ecologically diverse deserts in all of North America. There are three mountain ranges, each somewhat creating their own mini-biomes, giving adventurers plenty of opportunity for exploration. You will see brilliant wildflowers, strong cacti, and wildlife such as bighorn sheep and the Sonoran desert tortoise. You will feel transported to another world as you journey through this biologically diverse pocket of the Southwest.