Trails head to old mines in Saguaro NP

Gould Mine Trail

Saguaro National Park is loaded with relics and reminders of its mining past. A few of the better trails for seeing those old sights are:

Cactus Forest Trail
The 5.5-mile route located in the East Rincon Mountain district, with an elevation change of 250 feet, crosses through a flat desert cactus landscape and has turns that lead to several different trails including Cholla, Mica View, and Mesquite. This path gradually ascends and eventually reaches the north side of the Cactus Forest Drive after two miles. The route continues for 2.5 miles over slightly more uneven ground until reaching the south side of Freeman Road, which then descends for one mile back down into a dry wash below. The trail passes remains of two lime kilns used in the late 1800s; limestone, which occurs in the park in several places, was mined here to make mortar.

Gould Mine Trail
Day hikers can head to a relic of the early 1900s Arizona Copper Rush on the Gould Mine Trail. The 1.8-mile round trip hike sits in the park’s western Tucson Mountain district. It sports an elevation gain of just 300 feet. The trailhead is off of North Kinney Road just past the Red Rock Visitor Center. The colorful tailing pile – that is the rock the miners tossed away while mining – stand out just for their size. You can walk atop the pile, but stay away from the edges as they can give. A small stone cabin beside the trail also is interesting. This was an old powder house where dynamite was stored.

Ruiz Trail
The Ruiz Trail in Rincon Mountain (East) district offers an enjoyable and scenic 4.4-mile round trip hike with an elevation gain of 182 feet. Starting at the north end of Camino Loma Alta and accessible from either the Hope Camp Trail or North Coyote Wash Trail, hikers will ascend a ridge and be treated to breathtaking views of the surrounding desert landscape. Along the path, look out for saguaro cacti and other flora typical of the area that lend further interest to this trail. One lime kiln from the area’s mining days also can be seen along the trail.

Vertical Cliffs Short Loop
The Old Yuma Mine and stunning views await on this trail in the Tucson Mountain (West) district. With a distance of 2.6 miles, the loop offers a moderate challenge and beautiful desert scenery along the way. Access the trail by taking Belmont Road off of Silverbell Road.