The cattle were removed beginning in the late 1950's, but it will be a long time before the saguaro forest recovers. Today there are mainly very young and very old specimens. Creamy white flowers, the state flower, appear in early May. There are many ways to enjoy the east Monument. 8-mile Cactus Forest Drive winds through the foothills of the Rincon mountains.
Views are fantastic.
About 2.2 miles into the drive you'll find the Mica View Picnic area to the north. There are picnic tables and outhouses, but no water. Another .3 mile past the turnoff look for the Desert Ecology Trail on the left. The 1-mile Freeman trail takes you through huge saguaro and into a wash filled with mesquite. There are various other trails and loops around.