Saguaro National Park hiking guide
King Canyon / Gould Mine Loop
A 2.5-mile loop with 550 ft of climbing in Tucson Mountain District, rated moderate.
Key facts
- Length
- 2.5 mi (4.0 km)
- Elevation gain
- 550 ft (169 m)
- Route type
- Loop
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Area
- Tucson Mountain District
- Highest point
- 3,239 ft
- Lowest point
- 2,885 ft
About King Canyon / Gould Mine Loop
The loop winds through the Tucson Mountains, offering views of the Sonoran Desert's diverse flora, including saguaros, cholla cacti, and ocotillo. It features historic mining relics, including the Gould Mine's colorful tailings piles and stone cabin. Along the way, visitors can explore petroglyphs in King Canyon, which date back to the Hohokam period, and pass by the Mam-A-Gah Picnic Area, a site still used by the Tohono O'odham for ceremonies. The trail also provides scenic vistas across Avra Valley to distant mountains.
Route map
This route was checked by Parka editors.
