Saguaro National Park
When I first moved to Arizona, I didn’t really know what to expect. When you envision a desert landscape, before you’ve ever actually seen one, there’s bound to be some elements you miss. The colors, for example, are never expected to be quite as vivid as they actually are. What’s more, you never think the landscape is going to be as vast, or maybe the cacti not quite as sharp.
There’s so much beauty to be found in the Sonoran Desert, and Saguaro National Park is the place to see it.
Coming in from Phoenix for the day, we thought a good way to get an overview of the park was to head directly to the Bajada Loop Drive. The drive offers scenic views of the park at all angles and is a good opportunity to take a few pictures before going deeper into the park. We went in spring, hoping for a little bit of cooler weather and a chance to see some desert blooms.
King Canyon Trail to Gould Mine Loop
Knowing Saguaro can become a little busy when the weather is nice, we were looking for a hike that would allow us to see a few different perspectives, while also allowing ourselves some peace and quiet. We decided to try out King Canyon Trail, which would also take us across the Sendero Esperanza Trail, before allowing us to exit through the Gold Mine Trail, creating a loop of about 2.5 miles.
Gould Canyon Trail
King Canyon Trail
Sendero Esperanza Trail
King Canyon Trail
The King Canyon trail is fairly moderate, however it is mostly at an incline and can be rocky in spots.
*Note: Stay right immediately
after the trailhead.
The left route will bring you to
King Canyon’s Wash.
As hikers continue to ascend higher up the mountain, the surroundings seem to become more surreal.
As hikers continue to ascend higher up the mountain, the surroundings seem to become more surreal.
You’ve never seen Saguaro groves quite like this.
Sendero Esperanza Trail
After the one mile hike uphill, you will have reached the junction for Sendero Esperanza Trail. At this point, you will also see the marker for the Mam-a-Gah picnic area, a good spot to stop to rest if need be.
From here, it is a short hike to the next junction, which gives you the option to continue on the Sendero Esperanza Trail, or to exit on the Gould Mine Trail.
Gould Mine Trail
Although we have reached the last section of our hike, there is still so much lest to see. The Gould Mine Trail consists of the final mile of the hike, and has a few surprises in store for hikers.
Remnants of an old copper mine, a stone cabin, and tailings piles are a few of the things that are seen on this hike along the wash.
After following the downhill hike to its end, parking lot access is found via a path through the wash, or by continuing to the Gould Mine trailhead on the road.
The beauty of Saguaro National Park is one that needs to be seen to be fully understood and appreciated.
The desert always amazes me because it looks so desolate, but when you immerse yourself in it, you realize life is all around you.
*Please be conscious in regards to park alerts. For more information regarding news and fees, visit the National Park Service website.*