Tucson area parks groups take home top Park Service wilderness stewardship awards

Every year, the National Park Service hands out the Excellence in Wilderness Stewardship Awards in three different categories. This year, Tucson is bringing home two out of the three awards.

Saguaro National Park and its philanthropic partner organization, Friends of Saguaro National Park, received the Team Award and External Partner Award, respectively.

“Not to brag, but we are really proud,” said Elizabeth Hudick, interpretation, education, and outreach manager at Saguaro National Park. “I just admire the things that they do out here.”

The trails program at Saguaro was recognized for maintaining 180 miles of trails, 78% of which traverse designated wilderness. All this was accomplished using traditional techniques and the assistance of mule teams for heavy lifting. Dry-stone masonry and crosscut saws were used to construct and repair trail structures using local materials; over 100 downed trees were cleared to maintain hiking trails.

“Most of the park is wilderness, which means you can’t use any mechanized equipment. That does create a bit of a challenge for our trail crew to maintain trails and cabins and campgrounds, but they have incredible skills in those historic trades of dry stone masonry and using those old techniques that have been around for generations,” said Hudick.

The supplies that needed to be transported up and down the mountains were given to a string of mules, which can carry up to 200 pounds each. NPS officials said the mules would support logistics for tools and supplies in remote wilderness locations.

The trails program also worked with the nonprofit Friends of Saguaro National Park to install signs along the park’s 14-mile Arizona Trail section. Part of the work supported by FOSNP funding included wildlife and plant surveys, trail work, and youth internship programs.

“They have been so incredibly supportive of us throughout the years, and they provided a lot of the funding for these programs,” said Hudick. “Without the support of our friends, we just would not be able to do what we do.”

The NPS’s annual awards are a way of “recognition of outstanding contributions to wilderness stewardship by an individual, team, and external partner, including those involving interpretation and education; management of natural, cultural, and social resources; planning; protection; and maintenance operations. Award recipients are nominated by fellow NPS staff and selected by an interdisciplinary panel.

In the high-elevation Rincon Mountains, the nonprofit group also conducted surveys that provided data on species, including the threatened Mexican spotted owl, quaking aspen, and American black bear. NPS officials said that the funding and collaboration provided by the friends of the park organization supported holistic wilderness stewardship for the park throughout 2024 and helped ensure the Saguaro Wilderness will be protected for future generations.