December 11, 2019 King Canyon Trailhead. Gould Mine- Sendero Esparansa - King Canyon - Figure 8 on the track

Started at the Gould Mine Trailhead sign. Time 9:47 

Linda and Nancy went on this hike on a beautiful day in the desert. We start on the Gould Mine Trail that goes down to a wash and up out of the wash to go along Kinney Road. Then it starts to climb gradually toward Gould Mine. We meet up with Sendero Esperansa and where we turn right toward the mine. The trail takes us past the dynamite storage facility and the old mine which has a large grate over the top. From there we backtrack along Sendero Esperanza until we see the "Mam-A-Gah Picknick Area" and go up the knoll to the structure that provides shade and tables. We are not ready for lunch at this point as it is only about 10:40. We start up a trail from the left corner of the area and walk until we see a stone house, then proceed down into the King Canyon Wash. On this hike, we go down a short trek down the wash to see the petroglyphs. We return to the top of the wash and continue to hike up the wash. The hike is a figure 8 so we see where we veer to the right into a wash. There is a sign that indicates the trail is straight up the wash, but that is for our way back. The trail we took was taken off the maps about 20 years ago, it used to be a road (according to a passerby on the trail). We hiked up this trail until we came across a trail leading out of the wash on the right. This trail had a nice incline and lead us along a ridge. We stay on this trail and have lunch on a corner near a large number of rocks at noon. We continue on this trail until it meets with Wasson Peak trail, Sweetwater Traill and King Canyon Trail, the time is 12:40. This is sometimes called the Sweetwater Saddle. From here the King Canyon Traill takes us down a scenic trail. We need to stop several times in order to see the view because there is loose gravel and we have to watch our feet when travelling this path. We hiked back to the wash and go toward King Canyon trailhead where we take the King Canyon Trail. The hike was 6.8 miles. 

Start of Gould Mine Trail

Can see the dynamite structure

Gould Mine

                                         

Dynamite Structure 

                                 

Lo

Looking down Sendero Esperanza Trail

                                                       

Stone House near the Picnic Area

Man-made Dam on the King Canyon Wash

Petroglyphs near the start of the King Canyon Wash 

                                                             

                       

                                                                     

Start of Old King Canyon Trail

                                   

View from Old King Canyon Trail

The Old King Canyon Trail

View of the Old King Canyon Trail from King Canyon Trail 

At the junction of the King Canyon Trail and the King Canyon Wash. Both go to the Trailhead.

Looking Down onto the King Canyon Wash

The King Canyon Trailhead sign

Back to the Parking Lot - Time 1:40 -
About 4 hours and 6.8 Miles

                                                         

Hike Description - 

Medium Hike from the King Canyon Trailhead: Gould Mine - Sendero Esperanza - King Canyon to Sweetwater Saddle.

Long Hike: From the King Canyon Trailhead to Wassen Peak 

Since this is a National Park each car should have an American Golden Passport Card. 

All Trails Map of the area. 

Directions, distance and time to the trailhead:

From Florence Blvd, take I-10 south to exit 236. Turn right and then a quick right onto Marana Road. Drive one mile and turn left onto North Sanders Road, drive four miles. At the stop sign turn left onto Avra Valley Road. Drive one mile and turn right onto Sandero Road. Proceed 9 miles and turn left at the entrance to the park, onto Kinney Road. Drive 2.4 miles to the Red Hills Visitor Center for a pit stop. Coming out of the Visitor Center turn left onto Kinney road then turn left at the dead-end (W.Mile Road Sign). Drive along Kinney road for about 2 miles, there is a sharp left into the Trailhead parking lot, no road sign not paved. The Desert Museum sign is in view, but you do not want to go that far. 

Google Maps to King Canyon Trailhead  

Google Maps - Red Hills visitor center to King Canyon Trailhead