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| Wasson Peak is the highest peak in Saguaro National Park's western Tucson Mountains district. |
Park's western Tucson Mountain section via
the King Canyon Trail.
The 7-mile round trip King Canyon Trail
climbs to Wasson Peak, where you can enjoy great views of the park and Tucson. It's not the highest peak in the park; that honor goes to Mica Mountain in the eastern Rincon Mountain district. Getting to Mica Mountain, however, is more than a day hike for all but the hardiest of trail runners.
Multiple routes lead to Wasson Peak, but the King Canyon Trail is the most direct. You'll gain about 1833 feet of elevation. As the summer heat is intense, only do this trail October through April.
To reach the trailhead, from Interstate 10 in Tucson, exit onto West Ina Road and head west. At North Wade Road, turn left/south. When the road veers west, it naturally becomes West Picture Rocks Road and enters the park. Next, go left/south onto North Sandario Road then left/east onto North Kinney Road. Drive past Red Rock Visitor Center to the trailhead. The parking lot has space for about 15 vehicles so fills up quickly during the cooler months and on weekends.
Old mining trail
The hike starts an old mining road past ocotillo, prickly pear cactus and saguaro. Wasson Peak towers ahead.
In a mile, King Canyon Wash Trail and then the Sendero-Esperanza Trail join your trail. This is a good spot to rest, as the Mam-A-Gah picnic area is on the left.
Continuing northeast on the King Canyon Trail, you'll next pass a stone building constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. It served as a restroom back then, but the waste pit has been sealed off.
The trail climbs as curling around the foothills. Barrel cactus, cholla, palo verde, and mature saguaros abound. If hiking in spring, so do wildflowers following a rain.
Plenty of harmless lizards abound on the trail, some of so well camouflaged that they almost blend into the stone. You'll probably also spot mule deer.
In the saddle
At 2.5 miles, the trail reaches the crest of a saddle. There, you can enjoy expansive views to both the east and west with Tucson spreading out below you in the former.
At the Sweetwater Trail junction, stay on the King Canyon, heading left/northwest up steep and tight switchbacks. You'll gain some 600 feet along the way.
Sites to see in this stretch include two mineshafts, both of which are sealed off, and small holes to caves that are bat sanctuaries. Usually you can see the bats at dusk as they leave the caves to hunt insects.
At 3.2 miles, take the spur to the summit. Be aware that the top can be windy.
Summit
You reach the summit at 3.5 miles, near the junction with the Hugh Norris and Wasson Peak trails.
Wasson Peak tops out at 4639 feet. From it, you can see Tucson to the east with the Santa Catalina and Rincon mountains beyond. Mt. Wrightson in the Santa Rita mountains and Kitt Peak are to the south. Amole Peak, the nearest tall summit, at 4387 feet, is to the west.
Once you've taken in the sights, retrace your steps back to your vehicle.
None of the trail is unshaded, so be sure to don sunscreen, sunglasses and sunhat, as well as bring plenty of water.
Multiple routes lead to Wasson Peak, but the King Canyon Trail is the most direct. You'll gain about 1833 feet of elevation. As the summer heat is intense, only do this trail October through April.
To reach the trailhead, from Interstate 10 in Tucson, exit onto West Ina Road and head west. At North Wade Road, turn left/south. When the road veers west, it naturally becomes West Picture Rocks Road and enters the park. Next, go left/south onto North Sandario Road then left/east onto North Kinney Road. Drive past Red Rock Visitor Center to the trailhead. The parking lot has space for about 15 vehicles so fills up quickly during the cooler months and on weekends.
Old mining trail
The hike starts an old mining road past ocotillo, prickly pear cactus and saguaro. Wasson Peak towers ahead.
In a mile, King Canyon Wash Trail and then the Sendero-Esperanza Trail join your trail. This is a good spot to rest, as the Mam-A-Gah picnic area is on the left.
Continuing northeast on the King Canyon Trail, you'll next pass a stone building constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. It served as a restroom back then, but the waste pit has been sealed off.
The trail climbs as curling around the foothills. Barrel cactus, cholla, palo verde, and mature saguaros abound. If hiking in spring, so do wildflowers following a rain.
Plenty of harmless lizards abound on the trail, some of so well camouflaged that they almost blend into the stone. You'll probably also spot mule deer.
In the saddle
At 2.5 miles, the trail reaches the crest of a saddle. There, you can enjoy expansive views to both the east and west with Tucson spreading out below you in the former.
At the Sweetwater Trail junction, stay on the King Canyon, heading left/northwest up steep and tight switchbacks. You'll gain some 600 feet along the way.
Sites to see in this stretch include two mineshafts, both of which are sealed off, and small holes to caves that are bat sanctuaries. Usually you can see the bats at dusk as they leave the caves to hunt insects.
At 3.2 miles, take the spur to the summit. Be aware that the top can be windy.
Summit
You reach the summit at 3.5 miles, near the junction with the Hugh Norris and Wasson Peak trails.
Wasson Peak tops out at 4639 feet. From it, you can see Tucson to the east with the Santa Catalina and Rincon mountains beyond. Mt. Wrightson in the Santa Rita mountains and Kitt Peak are to the south. Amole Peak, the nearest tall summit, at 4387 feet, is to the west.
Once you've taken in the sights, retrace your steps back to your vehicle.
None of the trail is unshaded, so be sure to don sunscreen, sunglasses and sunhat, as well as bring plenty of water.
TOPO MAP
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| Click for larger version. |
