Tucson Mountains: ***Beginners ONLY*** King Canyon/Gould Mine Trail Loop

***NOTE: This hike is for Beginners ONLY !
If you are new to hiking or new to the Tucson/Sonoran Desert area or have limited ability this is a hike for you.

I never get out hiking this time of day so this will be new for me.

• Length: 3.0 miles total
• El gain 500'
*Rating: D - Beginner
(See "What we're about" at https://www.meetup.com/Hiking-Tucson/)
**RESTRICTIONS: No guests, dogs, firearms or tobacco
• Cell phones SILENT during hike

This hike starts out in the King Canyon wash where we will stop and look at the interesting rock formations, vegetation, bedrock morteros and petroglyphs.
This 1 mile section is sandy with some gravel.
It requires a few short climbs up low ledges which are in the stream bed. (see above photo)

After our mile long meander up the wash we will take a short spur trail up to the Mam-A-Gah picnic area where we will stop for a bit and take in the views to the west and the surrounding saguaro studded hill side.
We will then continue on Sendero Esperanza trail (Hope Trail) to the Gould Mine trail where we will take a look at the mine site which includes the barricaded 375' (+-) deep shaft entrance and the stone powder house where explosives were stored.
There is an interesting NPS article about mining in the Tucson mountain here: http://npshistory.com/brochures/sagu/tucson-mining.pdf

After we deaprt the mine site we will then make our way back down to the parking area via the Gould Mine Trail.

Trail Head location:
• 32.24691, -111.16699
• https://tinyurl.com/y5jbk8mx

RSVP etiquette:
• Sign up only if you really intend to come
• If you need to cancel, do so BEFORE the deadline so someone can get your spot
• If you change your mind take yourself off the Going or Wait list
• Please don't be a no-show

Be sure to bring adequate water, food, trekking poles, etc.
As always - Hike at Your Own Risk

If you have questions message me via MeetUP or call/txt me at 304.290.8066
WV-Mike
https://www.meetup.com/members/13110160/

Have you read the important information here? https://www.meetup.com/Hiking-Tucson/messages/boards/thread/52507980