Your complete guide to hiking the King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop in Saguaro National Park
The King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop 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.
What is the King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop?
The King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop is a 2.5-mile loop with an elevation gain around 380 feet. There are plenty of opportunities to modify this scenic trail, which makes it perfect for first-time and seasoned hikers alike. The trail is marked with signage at each junction, which includes the distance to the next junction and options to extend your hike if you want a little extra challenge or a few bonus views.
In this guide, we start from the King Canyon trailhead and do the loop clockwise, opting to take the King Canyon Wash down to the Gould Mine Trail. The King Canyon Wash has some rocky sections and stair stepping.
Pro tip! Taking the route counterclockwise is significantly less strenuous.
Frequently Asked Questions about the King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop
Where is it?
This hike begins in Saguaro National Park's Tucson Mountain (West) District at the King Canyon Trailhead. The trailhead is located in Tucson Mountain Park, just outside of the national park boundary, but the loop is within the national park.
What can you see?
You can see a saguaro cactus forest, an old mine shaft, a powder house, and petroglyphs on this hike. You may also see some wildlife.
Can I bring pets on this trail?
Pets are not allowed on this trail.
Is this trail kid-friendly?
This hike is kid-friendly (though you may want to modify it a bit depending on the kid). The Gould Mine is also blocked off, and poses no fall risk. Be sure to keep a safe distance from wildlife to stay on trail to avoid any cacti. This hike is not stroller-friendly and there are no paved portions.
When should I go?
This hike is best completed early in the morning during the warmer months or during the day in the cooler winter months. Temperatures can rise quickly in the Sonoran Desert, so starting early is always a good option.
What should I bring on this hike?
Bring at least two liters of water per person. You will also want sunscreen, sunglasses, clothing that is appropriate for hiking in the sun (like a wide-brimmed hat or a sun hoodie), snacks, sturdy shoes for hiking, and a backpack to carry it all in. You can bring a small comb and use it to remove cactus spines if they get in your shoes.
How do I get to the King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop?
The King Canyon Trailhead is a 15-minute drive from Saguaro National Park's Red Hills Visitor Center. Be sure to call the visitor center ahead of time or stop by before your hike to get information on the trail and the weather, learn more about the park, and stop at the Western National Parks store for hiking essentials. Note that the visitor center may be closed if you start this hike early in the morning, so you can call the day before your hike.
Is there a fee?
Yes, Saguaro National Park charges an entrance fee ($25 as of 2026 for a private vehicle). This fee is good for a seven-day pass that allows you to explore both districts of Saguaro National Park. The fees support the park. There is a kiosk at the trailhead where you can pay (credit card only), or you can pay the fee at the visitor center. Display the tag you receive after paying on your car's dash. Alternatively, if you have a National Parks Pass, this will cover your entry fee.
Is this hike good for beginners?
This is a great hike for beginners, with many opportunities to modify it or take on chunks of it at a time. In total, this hike is a 2.5-mile loop with 380 feet of elevation gain.
Get prepared
Before you take this hike, be sure to orient yourself with the park map at the trailhead, and to have a way of navigating on the trail, either with a paper map or an app like AllTrails. Pack your backpack with all the essentials for warm-weather, desert hiking (see list above).
This hike may only take a few hours, but if you stop for pictures (which you should!) and breaks, it might take a little longer. Plan for longer than you think you need and bring more than enough water and snacks. Just be sure to pack out your trash.
Start your hike on the King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop
The King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop 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. When you begin the hike, be sure to brush off your boots using the brush tool at the trailhead. This removes seeds from your shoes and prevents invasive plant seeds from being brought into the park.
As you walk along the Gould Mine Trail, you can enjoy great views of the Sonoran Desert. Be sure to spend plenty of time on this section of the hike, so you can experience the beauty of the saguaros.
Learn about the Sonoran Desert as you hike
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 of all of them, receiving 4–12 inches of rainfall per year on average. It is the most biologically diverse desert in North America and one of the most diverse in the world.
Saguaros are one of the signature species of the Sonoran Desert. These cacti can grow to more than 30 feet tall and live to be up to 200 years old. 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.
See saguaro cactus as you hike
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. Throughout the park, there are estimated to be over 50 crested saguaros. These unique cacti have at least one special, fanlike arm. Scientists are not yet sure what causes this mutation, but it is certainly an interesting sight to see. The National Park Service has a guide about where to see crested saguaros in the park.
Scientists associated with Saguaro National Park have been studying these fascinating plants for many years, including conducting extensive census and studies on these cacti since 1939.
The biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert
As you walk along the King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop, 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.
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 wildlife as you hike, along with many species of cacti. Be sure to keep a safe distance from wildlife and take only pictures. You may spot a rattlesnake, a desert tortoise, or even a rare Gila monster. Coyote and javelina are also common throughout the park.
See the Gould Mine mine shaft on the King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop
As you crest the hill on the Gould Mine Loop and meet up with the Sendero Esperanza Trail, make a left up the hill to see a mineshaft from the Gould Mine. You will also pass by an old powder house, which served as a storage facility for dynamite. The mine shaft has been blocked by an iron grid for the safety of hikers and wildlife.
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.
Continue toward the King Canyon Trail or King Canyon Wash
Once you’ve taken a look at the mine, you can head back downhill, along the Sendero Esperanza Trail, toward 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 toward the trailhead as you descend. Or, you can venture along the King Canyon Wash, which takes you through a dry riverbed.
See petroglyphs on the King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop
As you go downhill on the King Canyon Wash, keep your eye out for petroglyphs. 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.
Back at the trailhead
You'll soon find yourself back at the trailhead. Now's the perfect opportunity to gulp some water and head to the visitor center, if you haven't already been. Get your national park passport stamped, grab a Junior Ranger book, or turn in your Junior Ranger book and get sworn in officially as a Junior Ranger at Saguaro National Park!
Cool off in the visitor center and experience the exhibits and the park film. Chat with the rangers and Western National Parks staff. If you have kids with you, they'll love to teach the staff about what they learned on their hike. If you're an adults-only group, the patio of the Red Hills Visitor Center is picture perfect and often features ranger-led programs and cultural demonstrations.
How to make the King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop a little easier
Hike the trail with a gentler descent
Take the King Canyon Trail down instead of the King Canyon Wash. The King Canyon Trail is an old road and is a smoother hike.
Reverse the direction
Take King Canyon Trail or the King Canyon Wash up to the Sendero Esperanza Junction, before making the left on Sendero Esperanza Junction until you reach the Gould Mine Trail. Then take the Gould Mine Trail down to the trailhead. If you take the King Canyon Trail up, it is a smoother ascent than the Gould Mine Trail.
Shorten the route
Take the King Canyon Trail or the King Canyon Wash up to the Mam-a-Gah picnic area, and then double back the way you came.
Not sure which route would work best for your ability level? Contact Saguaro National Park staff to learn more about this hike or others in the park.
What makes the saguaro a keystone species of the Sonoran Desert?
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. They are also massive reservoirs for water—it is estimated that some of the largest species may weigh up to 80 pounds for every foot of trunk—meaning that a 30-foot-tall specimen with no additional arms would weigh 2,400 pounds. But saguaros don’t start out as giants.
As they grow, they 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. They protect the saguaro from frost and intense summer heat as the plant matures.
Official WNP outdoor exploration partner
AllTrails
WNP is proud to partner with AllTrails, the app for exploring the outdoors. The AllTrails app helps people discover and navigate trails in their neighborhoods, national park sites, and other public lands around the world.
A sacred species
Saguaros are also sacred to O’odham, one of the many peoples who have lived in the region for thousands of years. Thirteen Tribal Nations—including the O’odham, Pascua Yaqui, Zuni, and many others—continue to maintain active cultural ties to the lands protected in Saguaro National Park.
Saguaros 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. This important event continues in Saguaro National Park today. The harvest makes use of traditional tools, including the kuïpad, a long pole that is used to knock the fruit off the top of the cactus. Traditionally, this cross shaped tool is made of saguaro ribs, creosote branches, and wire, but sometimes modern tools are used instead. The harvest itself involves many ceremonies and marks the beginning of the O’odham New Year. The fruit is used to make syrup, jam, and wine.
Experience more of Saguaro National Park
If you enjoyed this hike and want to see more of the Sonoran Desert, Saguaro National Park has miles of hiking trails to enjoy. Take the challenging hike up the King Canyon Trail to Wasson Peak to take in views of Tucson. Enjoy interpretive trails, such as the Desert Discovery Trail, near the Red Hills Visitor Center. If you want to see additional petroglyphs, you can take the short hike to Signal Hill.
You can also see a different side of the Sonoran Desert when you venture over to Saguaro National Park’s East District, on the other side of Tucson. In addition to many hiking opportunities, you can also backpack passages of the Arizona National Scenic Trail through the Rincon Mountains.
