HikeArizona.COM

OK, this topic came up on a recent hike and I thought was interesting. After looking around some, I have the scoop on it. If you find any saguaros larger than these (or just large enough to mention for others to see), comment on this thread.

Where is the largest saguaro in the world, currently?

Historical winners:
• "Old Grandaddy" in Saguaro National Park East, only 40' tall but with 52 arms...it was about 300 years old when it fell in the 1990s.
• "The Grand One" in Tonto NF in the area burned by the Cave Creek Complex fire near Horseshoe Lake...it was ID'd as the world's largest in 2003 at 46' (8' around) and was estimated at 180-200 years old, but since then has bit the dust (summer 2007).

Current largest:
#1 • The Mammoth saguaro appears as the biggest in the 2012 edition of the National Register of Big Trees, but I'm not sure exactly where it is near Mammoth. It's only 32' tall but with a girth of 9'. Anyone know exactly where it is? Is it on public land?

#2 • The Supes Saguaro is the 2nd largest and also is the #1 tallest known currently. It is 54' tall and has a girth of just under 7'. Not sure where it is either, but a picture of it is in the link above for it. Anyone have coordinates?

Another Supes contender: There is another one in the Supes that's reportedly 40' tall and has 42 arms and a girth of 16'. If that's the case, then it should qualify in the National Register as the largest, I would think? It's near W111º 20.140" N 33º 26.060". It's located just off the Bluff Springs Mountain Trail shortly after leaving the canyon going north toward LaBarge Canyon on the left-hand side of the trail if you are walking NE.

there are some very tall ones on the Metate Trail at Spur Cross. I'm guessing a couple are pushing 50 ft. or so.

I can't help but think that there are some huge saguaros growing in the leach field of someones septic tank somewhere in Arizona that would top any of the above listed!

@beterarcher
I agree there are some huge ones there.

I think I've seen the Mammoth Saguaro. If it's where I think it is, it's easily accessible. I don't know if it's BLM or State trust land, but I'll find out next time I'm out that way.

There is a humorous irony to this thread.

This one was one of the tallest I had seen around AZ...and, it was standing proud, my guess was over 50 feet, on South Mountain back in 2001...

I photographed this giant a couple of times in the past. It used to reside alongside the "Lost Goldmine Trail" close to the Carney Spring Trail. Last year when I hiked the trail, I was devastated to find that it had fallen. I don't know it's dimensions, but I had heard that someone had counted 44 arms. R.I.P. old friend.

http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=226759 (In its hayday)
http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=246080 (After the fall)

gravity is an evil mistress

This one we encountered on the Whetrock Canyon Loop is getting up there in height:
http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=297072

azdesertfather wrote:
Another Supes contender: There is another one in the Supes that's reportedly 40' tall and has 42 arms and a girth of 16'. If that's the case, then it should qualify in the National Register as the largest, I would think? It's near W111º 20.140" N 33º 26.060". It's located just off the Bluff Springs Mountain Trail shortly after leaving the canyon going north toward LaBarge Canyon on the left-hand side of the trail if you are walking NE.

Dave, your co-ordinates are accurate, however that is the Dutchman Trail (the Bluff Spring Trail ends where it meets the Dutchman).
Here is a photo I took of it two years ago: http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=176887 It's impressive, for sure. It is one of the biggest saguaros we have in the Supes. The men standing next to it in the photo are 6' tall, so I would guess the height of it to be around 25'. I never counted the arms, but I doubt there are 42.

Mark, the one in your photo appears to be taller than that one, but even allowing for your perspective in taking the shot (from above), I'd guess it to be closer to 30'.

Interestingly enough, I just found this postcard as I was sorting through my mom's things. It doesn't necessarily have to do with the tallest and biggest but how about the oldest color photo of a saguaro:
igallery/image_page.php?id=4852
and here is the backside of the card where I added a little of the history of the company that published the card
igallery/image_page.php?id=4853
I thot it was also interesting that the word "photochrom" was used to describe it.

Oddly enough...there's a super-massive one on Roger between 1st and Stone in someone's front yard...

Probably tapped into the water line going to the house from the street. ;)

I have an old school photo of my Grandfather standing beside one of the tallest saguaros, or so i think...it was the 56 foot tall one out in Wickenburg, that is the tallest right? about 20 years before it fell...I'll have to find it for you guys, it's pretty awesome,
Grandpa sent me this link ages ago about when it fell.
http://www.wickenburg-az.com/2007/12/ob ... t-saguaro/

I wouldn't be surprised to find out that there's a colossal saguaro near Mammoth... If you drive the River Road on the opposite side of the San Pedro from highway 77, you 'll see LOTS of huge saguaros - not just a single biggie, but big stands of large saguaros. It'd be interesting to know if that's where this behemoth resides.

Spam alert!

azbackpackr wrote:Spam alert!

Really where?
Now you made me hungry..

Alston Neal wrote:

azbackpackr wrote:Spam alert!

Really where?
Now you made me hungry..

So, move to Hawaii. Or Chinle...

The "HAZ - Moderators" zapped the spammer already!