Hike the King Canyon, Gould Mine Loop Trail in Saguaro National Park
The King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop Trail in Saguaro National Park’s West District provides a glimpse into the unique history, heritage, and ecology of the Sonoran Desert. Use this trail guide to prepare for your trip and learn more about what you’ll experience once you start your journey.
Trail fast facts: King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop Trail
- Where: Saguaro National Park’s Tucson Mountain (West) District
- How long: 2.5-mile loop
- What to bring: Water, moisture wicking clothing, sunscreen, snacks, and sun protection
- When to go: Early in the morning or in the cooler winter months to avoid the sun
- Pro tip : Take a comb along with you in case you need to remove cactus spines!
Getting started
Saguaro National Park protects portions of the Sonoran Desert outside of Tucson, Arizona. It is one of the four major deserts of North America and is considered the most tropical desert in North America, receiving 4-to-12 inches of rainfall per year on average. It is also the most biologically diverse desert in the world.
The King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop Trail has lovely views of the surrounding desert and takes hikers through a saguaro cactus forest. To get started, take the Gould Mine Trail, which starts along the wash before climbing upwards.
Tip: This guide takes you counterclockwise along the trail! It's a loop, so you can go either way.
Walking among giants
Saguaros are one of the signature species of the Sonoran Desert. They are considered a symbol of the American Southwest, but they are found almost exclusively southern Arizona and into northern Mexico. A mere 30 saguaros are found in California. These cacti can grow to more than 30 feet tall and live to be up to 200 years old.
There are many impressive saguaros with several arms along the trail. On average, saguaros don’t start growing arms until they are over 75 years old—so this cactus forest is an old one.
The biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert
As you walk along the King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop Trail, you'll notice more than saguaros. In fact, while saguaros are often the tallest cacti around, they are just one of the 28 species of cactus known to live in Saguaro National Park that you might observe while hiking.
The Sonoran Desert is the most biologically diverse desert in North America and one of the most diverse in the world. At least 60 species of mammals, 96 species of reptiles, and over 2,000 plant species make their home in the desert. More than 350 bird species live in or migrate through this region. You may see some of the wildlife as you hike, along with many species of cacti.
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AllTrails
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More about saguaros
Saguaros are a keystone species, meaning that they play a major role in maintaining the biodiversity and health of the entire ecosystem. They provide food, shelter, and protection for hundreds of desert species. The cacti drop their fruit in the driest part of the summer, providing nourishment to many animals. But they also rely on other plants during their lifecycle. Saguaros take many years to mature and grow very slowly, taking between 20 and 50 years to reach a height of three feet. Nurse trees or nurse plants such as the mesquite, ironwood, and palo verde shelter the saguaros as they grow.
Saguaros are also sacred to the O’odham, who have lived in the region for thousands of years. These desert giants have always held an important place in O’odham culture. Saguaros are regarded as living relatives with important ancestral knowledge. For generations, the O’odham have harvested their fruit in a special harvest that takes place after the cactus blooms and before the summer monsoon rains arrive. The harvest, which makes use of traditional tools and involves many ceremonies, marks the beginning of the O’odham New Year.
The Gould Mine
As you crest the hill, take a quick detour to the left along the Sendero Esperanza Trail to see the remains of the Gould Mine. The Gould Mine was established here in 1906 by S.H. Gould, who claimed that the mine contained a “mother lode” of copper. However, the mine closed a few years later after failing to produce much during the time. In the 1950s, unsuccessful attempts were made to reopen the mine as a pit mine, but operations finally ceased in 1954.
You can still see the 350-foot-deep mine shaft along this trail, although it has been blocked by an iron grid for the safety of hikers and wildlife.
Choose your path
Once you’ve taken a look at the mine, you can head back downhill, along the Sendero Esperanza Trail, towards the Mam-a-Gah picnic area. Here, you have the choice of two routes. You can continue until you hit the King Canyon Trail, which is an old road that will take you back towards the trailhead as you descend. Or, you can venture along the King Canyon Wash, which takes you through a riverbed.
Petroglyphs
You can also find petroglyphs along the desert wash. These petroglyphs were created several hundred years ago by the ancestral Sonoran Desert peoples. It’s difficult to date their exact age, but people have been living in this region for thousands of years. Only take pictures of these petroglyphs and don’t touch them—the oils from your hands can damage these ancient images.
More to explore
You can combine this short loop with other trails in Saguaro National Park’s West District or explore more trails in the Rincon Mountain (East) District to see another side of the Sonoran Desert. The King Canyon Trail will also take you to Wasson Peak, a steeper hike with plenty of views of Tucson.
