Parking
King Canyon Trailhead is a gravel pull-off on the east side of Kinney Road near the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It is not well signed; the northbound turn is tight for long vehicles, so approaching from the south is easier.
Overview
About Gould Mine Trail
Why go
- The copper workings give this short climb a memorable destination
Heads up
- Loose gravel, soft sand, and a major wash crossing need careful footing
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Saguaro map
Full mapElevation2,867–3,219 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Saguaro alerts
- ClosureTucson Mountain District road closuresMentions Tucson Mountain District, referenced in this guideSeveral Tucson Mountain District roads are closed; follow posted closures and use McCain Loop to bypass the Kinney Road closure.Official details
- CautionVehicle break-ins reported at trailheadsMentions this trailVehicle break-ins have occurred at King Canyon Trailhead and other park trailheads; secure your vehicle and valuables.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Saguaro Tour Guide
Your drive to Gould Mine Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Saguaro National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Saguaro audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
King Canyon: Wasson Peak or Gould Mine0:00 / 0:26
“You're coming up on King Canyon Trailhead, where the climb to Wasson Peak starts.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Saguaro Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
- Red Hills Visitor Center
- Ez-Kim-In-Zin and Sendero Esperanza
- Hugh Norris: A Long Ridge Hike
- 43 audio storiesacross Saguaro’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Mule Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 74 trails, 40 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Gould Mine Trail
The short mine walkGould Mine Trail is a 2.
Gould Mine Trail is a 2.2-mile out-and-back from King Canyon Trailhead to the old copper workings in Saguaro National Park's Tucson Mountain District. The mapped climb is about 1.1 miles each way along a former road. Allow 1 to 1½ hours to walk it and explore the site; choose the separate 2.5-mile King Canyon/Gould Mine Loop if you want a circuit. Dogs are not permitted on this trail. Start early in warm months and carry water.
A rough desert climbFrom King Canyon Trailhead, follow the old roadbed, cross one major wash, then continue…
From King Canyon Trailhead, follow the old roadbed, cross one major wash, then continue steadily uphill through cactus scrub. Most of the tread is firm desert ground, but there are sections of loose, golf-ball-sized gravel and soft sand. There are no steps; the typical grade is about 5.5%, with short sections reaching 14.4%. Follow the trail carefully through the wash.
At the mineThe trail reaches colorful tailings, the foundation of a small stone cabin, an old powder…
The trail reaches colorful tailings, the foundation of a small stone cabin, an old powder house, and scattered wood and ironwork. The main shaft is fenced and covered by an iron grille; stay outside the barrier and away from other openings. For a photo, frame the mine structures with the tailings and surrounding desert rather than approaching the shaft.
A short-lived copper ventureS. H.
S. H. Gould opened the mine in 1906 in search of a rich copper seam, but poor production ended the first operation within a few years. A later attempt to reopen it as a pit mine in the 1950s also failed, and mining ceased in 1954.
Cactus and accessThe route passes saguaros, prickly pear and several kinds of cholla; ocotillo and hedgehog…
The route passes saguaros, prickly pear and several kinds of cholla; ocotillo and hedgehog cactus grow along the trail as well. King Canyon Trailhead is on Tucson Mountain Park land just outside Saguaro National Park, and the hike follows the Gould Mine route from there into the park.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Saguaro
19 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
56 sightingsMountain LionMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
266 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
113 sightingsCollared PeccaryMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
53 sightingsBobcatMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
127 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Saguaro. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
