How to See the Ironwood National Monument While Touring U.S. 89

After visiting the Saguaro National Park, it is a short drive to the Ironwood National Monument, 129,000 acres that contain one of the largest groupings of Ironwood trees in the Sonoran desert. It also contains multiple historic and prehistoric sites, some dating as far back as 5,000 years.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Investigate the Ironwood National Monument by exploring its Web site, hosted by the Arizona Bureau of Land management (see below).
2. Leave the Saguaro National Park via the Old Spanish Trail and retrace your route back to Interstate 10. Take Interstate 10 north, through south Tucson. At the Marana Road exit, leave I-10 and head west on Marana road.
3. Continue on Marana Road until it turns gently south to become the Trico-Marana Road. Continue on the Trico-Marana road heading west. When this road reaches an intersection with North Trico Road, continue through the intersection. The next intersection will be West Silverbell road. Take this road heading northwest. It will eventually turn due west and head into the Ironwood National Monument.
4. Explore the various hiking trails and large stands of Ironwood.

Tips & Warnings

• The roads within the Ironwood Monument are rough and undeveloped. This should be considered in any planning, and particular attention must be paid to weather conditions.