All this cactus is starting to attract a crowd.
Saguaro National Park saw its busiest year ever in 2019, topping more than 1 million visitors for the first time in the park鈥檚 history.
The split 91,716-acre preserve bracketing 蜜柚直播 saw 1,020,226 visitors last year, up from 957,405 in 2018, according to statistics just released by the National Park Service.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a pretty big number,鈥 said Andy Fisher, Saguaro鈥檚 chief of interpretation, but the park seems to be weathering the onslaught pretty well so far.
The most obvious impact is springtime congestion on roads and in parking lots, especially along the Cactus Forest Loop Drive, at popular trailheads off Speedway and Broadway, and around the visitor center for the park鈥檚 east-side Rincon Mountain District.
鈥淥ur parking lot was not designed to handle the sorts of numbers we鈥檙e seeing out here,鈥 Fisher said.
People are also reading…
Once you get past such seasonal bottlenecks, though, 鈥渨e have plenty of room,鈥 she said.
Kevin Dahl is the senior program manager in 蜜柚直播 for the National Parks Conservation Association, an independent, nonpartisan group that advocates on behalf of the nation鈥檚 parks. He鈥檚 also a regular at Saguaro National Park.
鈥淚 spend a lot of time at Saguaro, and not just because of my job,鈥 Dahl said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 my backyard national park.鈥
He agreed with Fisher. Though the park does get crowded in certain places at certain times of the year, it is far from being overrun.
鈥淭here are parts of Saguaro that are visited by nobody. There鈥檚 plenty of capacity for visitors at the park,鈥 he said.
Filling up the Grand Canyon
Other treasured spots aren鈥檛 so lucky.
Some of America鈥檚 most iconic parks are being stressed to the breaking point by exploding visitation and shrinking federal funding.
According to Dahl鈥檚 organization, the past decade has seen a 16% increase in visitors and 14% reduction in staffing at the nation鈥檚 parks overall.
A massive maintenance backlog has only added to the problem, with nearly $12 billion in needed repairs at sites across the country.
The Trump administration鈥檚 initial budget proposal would slash $587 million from the park service budget, a roughly 17% cut that would result in the loss of more than 950 additional park employees.
However, Senate leaders and the Trump administration announced a deal Wednesday to devote more than $1 billion a year to clear the growing maintenance backlog at national parks.
Last year was the third busiest on record for the park service as a whole, with more than 327.5 million visitors at 379 sites nationwide.
Only 2016 and 2017 saw more traffic, with 331 million and 330.9 million visitors respectively.
Grand Canyon National Park also saw its third busiest year on record in 2019, with 5.97 million visitors.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 more than the number of people who live in metro Phoenix, and they鈥檙e concentrated in a small geographic area,鈥 Dahl said.
The result was packed parking lots and long traffic jams at the South Rim entrance gate over spring break and the height of the summer travel season.
And the park has been left to manage the crush with a list of deferred maintenance projects that totaled $313.9 million at the end of 2018 and a full-time staff that is 40% smaller than it was a decade ago.
Park hasn鈥檛 reached 鈥渃arrying capacity鈥 yet
Over the same period, Saguaro National Park saw its budget cut by almost 5% and its full-time staff cut by 20% , despite a more than 40% increase in visitation.
Thankfully, Fisher said, the staff gets a lot of help from volunteers and interns provided through the Friends of Saguaro National Park.
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of nice to live in a community with so much support so we can make it work,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 can say that our staffing is not keeping pace, but I don鈥檛 think we鈥檙e in trouble at this point.鈥
Park service records for Saguaro date to 1920, when just 5,000 visitors were counted, though the site wasn鈥檛 designated as a national monument until 1933 or elevated to national park status until 1994.
The sharp rise in traffic at America鈥檚 spiniest park has mostly come since 2014, when about 673,600 people visited Saguaro.
The previous record for annual visitation was set in 2017, when 964,760 people came to the park.
Those figures only include so-called 鈥渞ecreation visits.鈥
A special algorithm is used to tease out commuters who drive through the 蜜柚直播 Mountain District on their way between 蜜柚直播 and Avra Valley.
Fisher said the west side of the park sees a higher volume of visitors, but the facilities there are newer and better equipped to handle it, so the congestion feels about the same in both the east and west units.
March was the busiest month last year with 186,275 visitors, followed by February with 149,371 and April with 117,802.
September was the quietest month, with 44,812 visitors.
Fisher said officials haven鈥檛 determined the park鈥檚 official 鈥渃arrying capacity,鈥 but she knows they鈥檙e not there yet.
Starting next year, park officials plan to conduct their first comprehensive visitor use study since 2004. As part of that effort, Fisher said, visitors can expect to see traffic counters on roads and trails and people with clipboards collecting survey data.
The study should reveal how many visitors are tourists from out of town and how many are locals who 鈥渦se us for their morning fitness routines,鈥 Fisher said.
It should also help pinpoint which areas see the most traffic and when 鈥 information the park can use to shape staffing and construction priorities in the future.
Until then, expect a crowd, especially at this time of year, Fisher said. 鈥淐ome early, and bring your patience with you.鈥
Gallery: Saguaro National Park through the years
Photos: Saguaro National Park through the years
Saguaro National Park

The Saguaro National Monument cactus garden in 1955.
Saguaro National Park

The Saguaro National Monument visitors center in 1955.
Saguaro National Park

The Saguaro National Monument visitors center in 1955.
Saguaro National Park

The Saguaro National Monument visitors center in 1955.
Saguaro National Park

The Saguaro National Monument West visitors center, left, with two rangers' apartments under construction in 1966.
Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Monument East unit loop drive in 1958.
Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Monument East, ca 1950s.
Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Monument in 1935.
Saguaro National Park

Snow at Saguaro National Park East (then called Saguaro National Monument) on Dec. 23, 1965.
Saguaro National Park

Undated photo (probably 1950s) of tourists enjoying picnics and hiking at Saguaro National Monument.
Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Monument visitors center ca 1940s.
Saguaro National Park

Home Shantz, a plant scientist and president of the University of 蜜柚直播 in the 1920s, was instrumental in establishing Saguaro National Monument in 1933.
Saguaro National Park

Panorama of cactus forest in Saguaro National Monument, 1931.
Saguaro National Park

Dr. Alice Boyle applies Penicillin to a Saguaro cactus at Saguaro National Monument. Dr. Boyle鈥檚 studies of saguaros included treatments with penicillin that were somewhat successful. Later research showed that the loss of old saguaros was a result of age and periodic freezes, not a 鈥渂light鈥!
Saguaro National Park

The Freeman family in Saguaro National Monument in 1936.
Saguaro National Park

Freeman's adobe home in Saguaro National Monument in 1934.
Saguaro National Park

A park ranger with visitors on the loop drive in Saguaro National Monument in 1961.
Saguaro National Park

Centennial Saguaro cactus outside the Saguaro National Monument visitors center.
Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Monument cactus
Saguaro National Park

Snow storm in Saguaro National Monument in 1937.
Saguaro National Park

A view looking south from Signal hill at the 蜜柚直播 Mountain Range in Saguaro National Park, 蜜柚直播 Mountain District in 2016.
Saguaro National Park

A view looking east from Saguaro National Park, along Picture Rocks Road in the 蜜柚直播 Mountain District in August, 2016. In the distance, cloud rise over the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Saguaro National Park

A Saguaro carcass framed at the Saguaro National Park, West, The 蜜柚直播 Mountain District (TMD) in 2015.
Saguaro National Park

A southerly view out the window of a picnic shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s that was built with surrounding rock in the Ez-Kim-In-Zin Picnic Area at the Saguaro National Park, West, The 蜜柚直播 Mountain District (TMD) in 2015.
Saguaro National Park

A desert tortoise makes its way down Kinney Rd. in the Saguaro National Park West, Wednesday, August 10, 2016, 蜜柚直播, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / 蜜柚直播
Saguaro National Park

A Saguaro cactus off Golden Gate Rd. holds a top full of flower buds at the Saguaro National Park, West, The 蜜柚直播 Mountain District (TMD) in 2015.
Saguaro National Park

A view looking south from Signal hill towards Wasson and Amole Peaks from left in Saguaro National Park, 蜜柚直播 Mountain District in August, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

Visitors take a look at trail maps on the patio of the Red Hill Visitor Center at the Saguaro National Park, West, The 蜜柚直播 Mountain District (TMD) in 2015.
Saguaro National Park

Visitors from Denver stroll one of the many trails off Golden Gate Rd. at the Saguaro National Park, West, The 蜜柚直播 Mountain District (TMD) in 2015.
Saguaro National Park

Panoramic view from Spud Rock, including the city of 蜜柚直播, from six images, ranging from southeast at left to northeast at right, near Mica Mountain on the western slopes of the Rincon Mountains in the Saguaro National Park on June 2, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

A hawk watches from his perch at the Saguaro National Park, West, The 蜜柚直播 Mountain District (TMD) in 2015.
Saguaro National Park

A zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) perches on a rock near the Signal Hill Picnic Area at the Saguaro National Park, West, The 蜜柚直播 Mountain District (TMD) in 2015.
Saguaro National Park

Panther and Safford Peaks in the 蜜柚直播 Mountains North of Saguaro National Park, West, The 蜜柚直播 Mountain District (TMD) in 2015.
Ha:san Bak, Saguaro cactus fruit harvest

Stella Tucker uses the sharp edge of a stem of a Saguaro fruit to slice the husk to get to the sweet meat inside as she harvests the fruit in the Saguaro National Park in 2005.
Ha:san Bak, Saguaro cactus fruit harvest

Stella Tucker uses a kuipaD to harvest saguaro fruit in the Saguaro National Park 2005. During the early summer Tucker camps out in the park to harvest and cook the fruit just as her Tohono O'odham ancestors did. Tucker died in 2019 at age 71.
Ha:san Bak, Saguaro cactus fruit harvest

Bob Martens uses a kuipaD, lengths of Saguaro ribs topped by a small limb of creosote, to knock down ripe Saguaro cactus fruit as he helps Stella Tucker during the Tohono O'Odham harvest at Saguaro National Park in 2005.
Ha:san Bak, Saguaro cactus fruit harvest

Under the early morning sun, Jerry Yellowhair strengthens the joint where a small creosote branch is attached to a length of Saguaro rib to make a kuipaD, used to reach the Saguaro fruit.
Saguaro National Park

1907: Prominent 蜜柚直播an Levi Manning and his family spent the summer at a get-away log cabin high in the Rincon Mountains.
Saguaro National Park

Manning Camp in the Saguaro National Park East, in 2016.
Saguaro National Park

Some of the pots, pans and iron skillets used by the staff during their stays at Manning Camp in the Saguaro National Park on June 2, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

Next generation ranger Ryan Summers, left, and wilderness ranger Shannon McCloskey look over the camps visitors log shortly after arriving at Manning Camp 8,000 feet above sea level in the Saguaro National Park, on June 2, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

Horse shoes on one of the logs making a wall in the cabin at Manning Camp in the Saguaro National Park on June 2, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

Next generation ranger Ryan Summers splits wood for the evening's fire at Manning Camp in the Saguaro National Park on June 2, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

The view east over Reef Rock, lower left, from Rincon Mountains near Manning Camp in Saguaro National Park, June 2, 2016
Saguaro National Park

Wilderness ranger Shannon McCloskey, left, and next generation ranger Ryan Summers prepare to do some upgrades to the facilites at Manning Camp in the Saguaro National Park on June 2, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

Sid Kahla, left, and Thor Peterson get a pannier balanced on Goose while packing seven mules for a resupply of Manning Camp ranger station in 2016.
Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park trails supervisor Nick Huck, left, and chief of maintenance Jeremy Curtis split up a box of paper towels, distributing the weight evenly among the panniers while preparing for a pack mule resupply of Manning Camp on April 14, 2016. Seven mules were in the supply train and each mule can carry between 100 and 120 pounds.
Saguaro National Park

Wasson and Amole Peaks at the Saguaro National Park, West, The 蜜柚直播 Mountain District (TMD) in 2015.
Saguaro National Park

Monsoon clouds gather over the cactus forest in the Saguaro National Park West, Wednesday, August 10, 2016, 蜜柚直播, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / 蜜柚直播
Saguaro National Park

Saguaro cacti backlit by western sun at the Saguaro National Park, West, The 蜜柚直播 Mountain District (TMD) in 2015.
Saguaro National Park

A horizontal sliver of sun catches a stretch of cactus in front of the Rincon Mountains just off the Mica View Trail in Saguaro National Park East, Friday, August 12, 2016, 蜜柚直播, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / 蜜柚直播
Saguaro National Park

This old stone building was constructed in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps at the Cam-Boh Picnic Area at Saguaro National Park West.
Saguaro National Park

In the aftermath of an evening summer storm, lightning arcs through the night skies over the Saguaro National Park West in 2012.
Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park trails supervisor Nick Huck, left, and chief of maintenance Jeremy Curtis split up a box of paper towels, distributing the weight evenly among the panniers while preparing for a pack mule resupply of Manning Camp on April 14, 2016. Seven mules were in the supply train and each mule can carry between 100 and 120 pounds.
Saguaro National Park

A Harris' antelope squirrel, a year-round resident of the Sonoran Desert, comes out of from under a bush for a look-see near the Golden Gate Road at the 蜜柚直播 Mountain District of the Saguaro National Park in 2010.
Saguaro National Park

A jack rabbit munches on some greens near the Broadway Trial Head at Saguaro National Park Rincon Mountain District in 2015.
Saguaro National Park

Hikers in Saguaro National Park, like these on the King Canyon Trail in the park's unit west of 蜜柚直播, can pay park entrance fees at trailheads using a smartphone.
Saguaro National Park

Loop of connected trails at Saguaro National Park East, made up Shantz, Pink Hill, Loma Verde, Cholla and Cactus Forest trails in 2012.
Saguaro National Park

From atop an outcropping under the Rincon Mountains, Next Generation Ranger Ryan Summers points out the ancient fault line that shifted and formed the 蜜柚直播 valley to a group of visitors during a geology tour of Saguaro National Park East on April 26, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

Saguaros stand on a ridge line as massive storm clouds drift in the distance along the Hohokam Road at the 蜜柚直播 Mountain District of the Saguaro National Park in 2010.
Saguaro National Park

Chief of maintenance Jeremy Curtis gets the strap as tight as possible with the help of trail supervisor Nick Huck while preparing a 70+pound propane tank for a pack mule resupply of Manning Camp in the Saguaro National Park, Rincon District on April 14, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park 鈹 Sunset can be a colorful time along a network of trails near the eastern end of Broadway.
Saguaro National Park

Ranger Donna Gill points out cactus flowers and birds during the Twilight Glow to Moon Shadows hike on the Sendero Esperanza Trail at Saguaro National Park West in April, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

Hedgehog cacti are in brilliant fuchsia bloom at many sites around 蜜柚直播 from Sabino Canyon to 蜜柚直播 Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park in 2015.
Saguaro National Park

Russell Jones takes a picture at the Saguaro National Park West Red Hills Visitor Center in 2009.
Saguaro National Park

Poppies were blooming profusely at Saguaro National Park West on February 23, 2015
Saguaro National Park

Mike Ward of Saguaro National Park, left, and volunteer LaDeana Jeane observe a Saguaro cactus while conducting a census at the east section of Saguaro National Park in 2009.
Saguaro National Park

Gavin Youngstrum drives a roller along the bed of the new Mica Springs Trail, work which will make it ADA compliant in Saguaro National Park East on April 22, 2016, 蜜柚直播, Ariz. Power tools and motorized equipment is used very rarely in the park. The trail is not in a wilderness area so the prohibition on the use of power tools and machinery doesn't apply.
Saguaro National Park

A blue 蜜柚直播 lupine mixed in with a handful of yellow bladderpod along the Ringtail Trail in Saguaro National Park 蜜柚直播 Mountain District in 2013.
Saguaro National Park

Park Ranger Ann Gonzalez watches the campers in her group as they go over a map during Junior Ranger Wilderness Day Camp at the Saguaro National Park in 2009.
Saguaro National Park

Petroglyphs are among the many wonders at Saguaro National Park West.
Saguaro National Park

Runners top the first climb as the sun rises at 6:30am, during the annual 8K Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run at Saguaro National Park East in 2007.
Saguaro National Park

A saguaro under the stars, including a smudge of the Milky Way, at the Broadway Trail Head at Saguaro National Park Rincon Mountain District in 2015.
Saguaro National Park

Sunset reflected in a mud puddle left over from heavy rains a few days earlier at the Broadway Trail Head of the Saguaro National Park Rincon Mountain District in 2015.
Saguaro National Park

The moon hangs high over Wasson Peak as Ranger Donna Gill leads hikers during the Twilight Glow to Moon Shadows hike on the Sendero Esperanza Trail at Saguaro National Park West in April, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

Volunteers help yank out the nonnative, invasive buffelgrass at Saguaro National Park East.
Saguaro National Park

Using a laser, amateur astronomer Joe Statkevicus points out a few interesting objects in the night sky to Landon George and Vickie Miller at a Saguaro National Park East Star Party in 2010.
Saguaro National Park

A bee works through a patch of baldderpod in the Saguaro National Park 蜜柚直播 Mountain District along the Ringtail Trail in 2013.
Saguaro National Park

Trail worker Brad Duffe redistributes material as he and his trail crew lay down a bed for a new surface, part of remodeling the Mica Springs Trail to make it ADA compliant in Saguaro National Park East on April 22, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

Riders maneuver their mounts down a hillside just north of the Douglas Spring Trail in the Saguaro National Park Rincon Mountain District, Friday Nov. 27, 2015.
Saguaro National Park

Tim and Connie Phillips, from Salt Lake City, look for photo angles during the Twilight Glow to Moon Shadows hike on the Sendero Esperanza Trail at Saguaro National Park West in April, 2016. The retired couple sold their home and are "following the weather" across the country in their RV.
Saguaro National Park

A few items, photos and brief entries in tiny notebooks from an unofficial shrine at Mica Mountain in Saguaro National Park on June 2, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

The sun sets over the Saguaro National Park Rincon Mountain District on Oct. 8, 2015.
Saguaro National Park

Scarlett Gates and the rest of the tour group watch the last few minutes of daylight from a rock outcropping along the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail during their guided sunset hike in Saguaro National Park East on April 16, 2016.
Saguaro National Park

Gold poppies stand out against a backdrop of cacti and blue desert sky at Saguaro National Park west of 蜜柚直播 on March 11, 2019.聽
Saguaro National Park

Rainbows pop up over Saguaro National Park East, as the first major monsoon storm of the season begins to roll into the valley, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., July 11, 2020.
Saguaro National Park

A half rainbow arcs over Saguaro National Park East as a highly localized cell of monsoon rain sweeps through a small band of the eastern valley, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., July 28, 2020.
Saguaro National Park

A light coating of snow remains on the Rincon Mountains seen nearby the Broadway Trailhead in Saguaro National Park in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on January 27, 2021.
Saguaro National Park

A cactus in the Saguaro National Park East stands in front f the snow in the higher reaches of the Santa Catalinas, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 13, 2021.
Saguaro National Park

A lighting strikes hits in the Saguaro National Park, east of 蜜柚直播, Ariz., July 29, 2021, one of several storm cells that skirted the city.