Gould Mine

Gould Mine is a small historic copper-mine site in Saguaro's Tucson Mountain District, reached on foot from King Canyon Trailhead. This is a history detour, not a roadside stop: Gould Mine Trail follows a decommissioned road for 1.1 miles and crosses a major wash. For a loop, combine it with King Canyon and Sendero Esperanza trails for about 2.5 miles; counterclockwise is the less strenuous direction. The trailhead sits just outside the national park boundary in Tucson Mountain Park. Expect loose gravel and patches of soft sand. The mine shaft is a short uphill spur near the Sendero Esperanza junction. There are no paved sections, and the route is not stroller-friendly; pets aren't allowed.

Look for colorful mine tailings, a cabin foundation, scattered pieces of wood and ironwork, and a powder house that stored dynamite. The shaft is blocked by an iron grid for visitor and wildlife safety, so keep out of the mine workings. The remains are spread across a small site rather than gathered in one preserved building.

S.H. Gould organized the copper company in 1906, and the mine shaft reportedly reached 375 feet by 1908. About 45,000 pounds of copper were reportedly taken from the mine. In 1957, a proposal for a much larger open-pit operation over 7,600 acres met public opposition and did not proceed. The area became part of Saguaro National Monument in 1963, and the mining rights expired in 1975.