Parking
Start at Valley View Trailhead on Bajada Loop Scenic Drive. Arrange a pickup for the point-to-point finish; there is no dedicated parking at the far road junction. Signal Hill Picnic Area is another 0.5 mile along Signal Hill Road.
Overview
About Wild Dog Trail
Why go
- A gentle desert walk with open views toward Apache Peak
- The Valley View ridge adds a worthwhile overlook
Heads up
- The one-way finish needs a ride or a 3.6-mile retrace
- Most of the route has little shade
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Saguaro map
Full mapElevation2,507–2,687 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Saguaro alerts
- ClosureTucson Mountain District road closuresSeveral 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 trailheadsVehicle 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 Wild Dog 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
Valley View Overlook0:00 / 0:25
“You're nearing the Valley View Overlook trailhead, a good choice for a short cactus walk with a wide view at the end.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Saguaro Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Hugh Norris: A Long Ridge Hike
- Sus Picnic Area
- How Javelinas Recognize Family
- Two Shifts at a Saguaro Flower
- 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 Wild Dog Trail
What the 1.8 miles includeWild Dog Trail is a point-to-point walk from Valley View Trailhead to the Golden Gate Road…
Wild Dog Trail is a point-to-point walk from Valley View Trailhead to the Golden Gate Road junction at the Signal Hill turnoff. The published 1.8-mile route appears to count the full Valley View Overlook walk as an out-and-back before continuing on Wild Dog, so expect to return to the trailhead before taking the Wild Dog junction. The named Wild Dog section itself is about a mile. Walking the Signal Hill Road to the picnic area adds another 0.5 mile.
The Wild Dog pathThe dirt trail rises gently for about its first half-mile, then reaches a high point and dips…
The dirt trail rises gently for about its first half-mile, then reaches a high point and dips across open Sonoran Desert ground. There is little to no shade; look east toward Apache Peak as you climb.
Stop at the ridgeThe Valley View walk crosses a couple of washes before climbing to a ridge with benches.
The Valley View walk crosses a couple of washes before climbing to a ridge with benches. From there you can look across Avra Valley toward Signal Hill and Picacho Peak, and interpretive signs point out common desert plants. The Valley View trail was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, so this viewpoint has been part of the park's visitor route for a long time.
Make the one-way trip workAllow about 1 to 1.5 hours.
Allow about 1 to 1.5 hours. Start at Valley View Trailhead and arrange a pickup at the Signal Hill turnoff; there is no dedicated parking at the far junction. Otherwise, retrace the route for about 3.6 miles total. Avoid the wash crossings during storms, and leave dogs at home for this route; service animals are exempt.
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.
