Ho! Ho! Ho! Hike: King Canyon Loop

Length: 5.5 miles round trip
Elevation gain 1000'
Start: 2880' Saddle: 3840'
Rating: C - Intermediate
No dogs allowed in King Canyon

MAP:
West (Tucson Mountain) District of Saguaro NP with King Canyon (http://files.meetup.com/372195/King%20Canyon%20Loop.pdf)

Loop Trail highlighted (http://files.meetup.com/372195/King%20Canyon%20Loop.pdf)

Carpooling:
There is very little parking at the trail head, and carpooling is encouraged. The Walgreen's on the northwest corner of Grant/Oracle is a convenient meeting spot to carpool from. I will be at Walgreen's by 10:00. We leave the Walgreen's at 10:15.
If you drive to the trail head (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=king+canyon+trailhead&hl=en&ll=32.249793,-111.167092&spn=0.009056,0.01929&fb=1&gl=us&hq=king+canyon+trailhead&hnear=0x86d665410b2ced2b:0x73c32d384d16c715,Tucson,+AZ&cid=0,0,15229214233219659549&t=m&z=16), plan on being there at 11:00 AM.

Description:
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.
The canyon is open with 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 waterfalls. One the way up the wash we will stop and look a the ancient Hohokam petroglyphs and metates.

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 had 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 relatively easy, 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 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 park in the Desert Museum parking lot and meet us at the trailhead.(Lat:32.2732 Lon:-111.14802)

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

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

If you are new to the group or a beginner hiker please read these: Tucson Hiking Meetup Group (https://www.meetup.com/tucsonhiking/about/)
Tips for Beginning Hikers - Sierra Club (http://arizona.sierraclub.org/trail_guide/index.htm)

If you need to contact me my cell# is 304.290.8066

WV-Mike