Tucson Mts. => King Canyon Loop - Lunch at the Saddle

HIKERS=> Meet at WalGreens at 10:00 for carpooling. The lot at the TH is small!
I will meet you at the TH for a 10:30 hike departure.

Length 5.5 miles
Elevation gain 1000'
Start: 2880' Saddle: 3840'
Rating: C - Intermediate
No dogs please

This hike is in the Tucson Mt. District of Saguaro National Park.
There is a general day hike map here. (http://files.meetup.com/372195/Saguaro-National-Park-Trails-West.pdf)
A descriptive map is here (http://files.meetup.com/372195/Trails%20in%20the%20Tucson%20Mountain%20District.pdf).

A TH location map is here (http://maps.google.com/maps/myplaces?hl=en&ll=32.245365,-111.160741&spn=0.019092,0.038581&ctz=420&t=m&z=15).

Description:
King Canyon is an open canyon with many great views on the way up and down.
We will begin our hike with a ramble up the wash for 1 mile, skirting or climbing small waterfalls. There are some nice Petroglyphs (http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/8/d/4/600_92830452.jpeg) on the rocks above the wash.

At mile one we will check out Mam-A-Gah, the old Civilian Conservation Corp picnic area with ramada and now closed stone restrooms . It was built in the 1930s.
From the picnic area it is a steady, relatively easy 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 and ends in the wash below the picnic area. From there we will walk the 1 mile back to the parking area.

No rest rooms or water. Please come prepared.

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. If this parking lot is full, you can part in the Desert Museum parking lot and meet us at the trailhead.(Lat:32.2732 Lon:-111.14802)

Carpool: There is very little parking at the trailhead, and carpooling is encouraged. The Walgreen's on the northwest corner of Grant/Oracle is a convenient meeting spot.

If you drive to the trailhead, plan on being there at 10:15 AM.

Please Bring: 2+ liters of water, food for lunch, sun protection

Current Forecast: Mostly sunny. Highs 70 to 75. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

If the hike is full, please sign up for the waiting list and hike at your own risk.

If you need to contact me my cell# is 304.290.8066

WV-Mike