Wasson Peak via King Canyon and Gould Mine Loop

King Canyon/Gould High Loop is a roughly 7.8-mile circuit from King Canyon Trailhead to Wasson Peak and back by different trails. Climb King Canyon, take the short summit spur, head west on Hugh Norris, descend by Sendero Esperanza, and finish on Gould Mine. Allow about four to six hours, with around 1,800 feet of climbing; five hours is a reasonable plan at a steady pace. It is a hard half-day hike. This is the summit circuit, not the separate 2.4-mile King Canyon/Gould Mine wash loop, which skips Wasson Peak and the high ridge. The distance includes the summit spur and return to the same trailhead.

The climb starts on an old roadbed, passes a gate and a few natural rock steps, then narrows into a rougher uphill trail. Saguaros and other desert plants cover the slope, but shade is scarce. The tread grows steeper and rockier higher up, with switchbacks and loose gravel that demand attention, especially on the way down. A roughly 0.3-mile marked spur reaches Wasson Peak; the precise spur is not represented in the digital trail geometry, so follow the signed tread at the junction rather than relying on the drawn line for that short stretch.

At 4,687 feet, Wasson Peak is the highest point in the Tucson Mountain District. The open summit rewards the climb with broad views across Tucson, Avra Valley and the surrounding ranges. It is exposed, with little shade, so stop for the view but keep enough energy and water for the long descent still ahead.

From the summit, continue west on Hugh Norris. This stretch climbs and drops over rocky ridgeline, using stone steps and exposed switchbacks; views open toward Avra Valley and the mountain ranges beyond. At the junction, Sendero Esperanza descends toward Gould Mine. Its route alternates easier traverses with steeper, stony pitches. Junction names can be confusing, especially near Sendero Esperanza and the lower wash, so keep a map or GPS track handy and check signs before turning.

Gould Mine returns you through low desert hills and across a rocky wash. The old copper workings operated from 1906 to 1954; colored tailings, a cabin foundation and scattered pieces of wood and iron remain along the slope. Keep to the trail and outside barred mine openings. On the King Canyon approach, look for ancient lake-bed arkose: these deposits formed more than 100 million years ago, long before today's cactus forest.

Start at the paved King Canyon Trailhead lot on Kinney Road, across from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The lot is in Pima County's Tucson Mountain Park, outside Saguaro National Park, and has 32 vehicle spaces plus two horse-rig spaces. This loop enters the national park, where hikers on foot age 16 and older need an entrance pass. Dogs are not allowed on the route. No water refill or food stop was confirmed along the loop; carry all the water you need for a long, exposed desert hike.