Freight Wagon Loop

Freight Wagon Loop is a 3.5-mile circuit from the northern Wildhorse Trailhead in Saguaro’s Rincon Mountain District. The route estimate is about two hours with roughly 100 feet of climbing. It suits a half-day walk if you want a longer, low-relief desert circuit and the remains of the area’s ranching history; it is not a summit hike. The historic Freight Wagon connector aligns with the Garwood corridor shown in current mapping, so the turn names can differ from the older route description.

From Wildhorse, head south to the Freight Wagon/Garwood connector, then turn onto Carrillo. Continue through Deer Valley to Squeeze Pen, Kennedy and Shantz, which returns to the start. Several short junctions make a route map useful: the older names Wentworth and Freight Wagon are not used consistently on current maps. The route lines connect directly at each junction; keep to the full chain rather than taking a longer spur or the separate Garwood Dam hike. Carry water for this desert walk.

At the old Wentworth crossing, the historic route passes remains of a small airstrip used by the Garwood family until the late 1950s. The Squeeze Pen name recalls the corrals cowboys used to gather cattle for branding. Kennedy follows a county road built in the 1960s for a proposed housing development. Shantz honors Homer Shantz, a University of Arizona president who helped establish Saguaro National Park. The old trail names preserve a working-ranch landscape that is easy to miss in a short visit.

Start at the northern Wildhorse Trailhead on East Speedway Boulevard, where Shantz meets Wildhorse. An older district map labels the parking there for horse users; current park information confirms the hiking access but does not clarify hiker parking at that lot, so check before driving out. No food, water or restroom facilities at this trailhead were confirmed. Pets are not allowed on this route.