Tucson Mountains: King Canyon Loop

PLEASE do not sign up unless you are sure you will be attending.

Length: 5.5 miles round trip
El gain 1000'
Start: 2880' Saddle: 3840'
*Rating: C - Intermediate
Restrictions: No dogs, firearms or tobacco
Duration: 3-5 hours
START TIME - 7:00

Note: Links are in BOLD

Trailhead: From Tucson, follow Speedway over Gates Pass to its junction with Kinney Road. Turn right, follow Kinney until you reach the Sonora Desert Museum. Parking and trailhead are 0.1 miles from the museum entrance and across (North) the road. *** Look for pullout marker # K24.*** If this parking lot is full, you can park in the Desert Museum parking lot across the road and meet us at the trailhead. (Lat:32.2732 Lon:-111.14802 (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=32.24725,+-111.16705&hl=en&sll=32.24649,-111.164871&sspn=0.005862,0.011244&t=m&z=16))

The Hike:
King Canyon is in the West (Tucson Mountain) District of Saguaro National Park (http://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/things2do.htm).

In 1917 the Copper King Mine was developed in the canyon and the trail up the canyon now bears it's name.
This is an open canyon many great views on the way up and down.

We will begin our leisurely hike with a ramble up the wash for 1 mile, skirting or climbing small ledges. One the way up the wash we will stop and look at the ancient Hohokam petroglyphs and morteros.

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At mile one we will detour up a slight rise past the old and now closed stone restrooms,walk through the Cholla Gate and check out Mam-A-Gah; the old Civilian Conservation Corp picnic area which has a ramada made from local stone and Saguaro skeletons. It was built in the 1930s and displays classic CCC workmanship.
From the picnic area it is a steady uphill hike up to the saddle where it intersects with the Sweetwater trail.
At the saddle we will rest and snack, take in the views and then return via an old road bed which skirts the opposite side of the canyon. The road ends in the wash near the Mam-A-Gah picnic area. After walking the wash for a short distance we will then pick up the old road again which ends at the Trail Head parking area.

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TRAIL MAP:
CLICK HERE for a map of the West (Tucson Mountain) District of Saguaro NP with King Canyon Loop Trail highlighted (http://files.meetup.com/372195/King%20Canyon%20Loop.pdf)

Be sure to bring adequate water and snacks.
As always - HIKE at YOUR OWN RISK

If you are new to the group please click on the links below:

About the Tucson Hiking Meetup Group (https://www.meetup.com/tucsonhiking/about/)

Meetup Etiquette (https://www.meetup.com/tucsonhiking/messages/boards/thread/44580472)

Hike Rating Scale (http://files.meetup.com/372195/Hike%20Rating%20Scale.pdf)

If you need to contact me my cell# is 304.290.8066 (NO TEXTING PLEASE)

Or you can send me an email (http://epicroadtrips.us/contact/index.php).