At the dead-end of Broadway is a trailhead that takes you into East Saguaro National Park. The park is full of iconic Sonoran Desert saguaro cacti with the Rincon Mountains as a backdrop. The trailhead branches off into well-maintained dirt paths or you can stay on the paved path that is .7 miles to a picnic area that has restrooms. Dogs are welcomed on the paved path but they are prohibited on the dirt paths that lead further into the park to protect the natural wildlife. This is one of my favorite walks to take my 5-year-old daughter and our dog, the trail is very easy and the landscape is never boring.

Stop and smell the rain. The Creosote bush is found only in the arid southwest of the United States and Mexico. When moisture in the air changes right before it rains the oils of the Creosote bush release the signature desert rain scent. You can cup your hand around some of the leaves and breathe into your hands, the moisture from your breath will activate the oils and you will smell rain in the desert.

Barrel cactus bear fruit that can be harvested at the beginning of winter. Bright yellow in color it can be eaten raw or cooked. The fruit has a slight lemon taste to it and has shiny black seeds inside that are easily removed. They are not as popular as prickly pear but the squirrels and birds aren’t picky.

Saguaro cacti are found exclusively in the Sonoran Desert and normally grow to be 40 feet tall. Saguaros are very slow-growing and can take 10 years for them to reach 1 inch in height.  It takes 70 years for them to reach 6 and a half feet tall and produce their first flowers. By 200 years they reach their full height of 40 to 45 feet tall. Some Saguaros are full of arms and some have none. When they die their flesh rots and becomes an oasis for numerous insects leaving behind the skeletal remains. The woody ribs can be used for bow drills, fences, and furniture. Birds build a nest in the Saguaros that are referred to as a Saguaro boot. The Saguaro creates a callus around the wound and when the Saguaro dies it leaves a hollowed-out callus that can be used as a canteen.

Regardless if it is a typical sunny day or a rare overcast day the Broadway Trailhead is breathtaking. Home to an abundance of wildlife like javelina, Gila monsters, and tarantulas to name a few. This is a great activity if you are wanting to get out and do something without a lot of planning needed.