We drove down to the King Canyon Trailhead at Saguaro National Park (West) to do an 8 mile loop hike to Wasson Peak with 1,800 ft of gain. Our route: King Canyon Wash Trail to the Sendero Esperanza Trail to the Hugh Norris Trail to the spur trail to Wasson Peak and back down to the trailhead on the King Canyon Trail.
Starting up the King Canyon Wash, a 0.9 mile trail.
The wash was mostly in the shade, which kept us nice and cool this morning. Wasson Peak is behind the peak in the photo.
Shortly after joining the Sendero Esperanza Trail, we spotted what looks like an abandoned cabin near the picnic site.
We hiked 1.4 miles along the Sendero Esperanza Trail heading northwest. Lots of cacti and views along the route.
We saw several ocotillos beginning to bud.
buds on an ocotillo
Further up this trail, we found the remains of another abandoned cabin.
nest in a teddy bear cholla cactus
Looking back towards the southeast, lovely mountains in the distance
The teddy bear cholla had bright new growth on the ends
Buckhorn cactus in front of the Ridgeline along the Hugh Norris Trail
We headed east along the Hugh Norris Trail for about 2 miles, view to the north
The gain up the Hugh Norris Trail was fairly gentle. I loved the views here to the southeast
So many saguaros!!!
The trail goes up and through the saddle on top of this peak
Looking back at Amole Peak as we hike up to the saddle
After coming a very short distance down from the saddle, there is a 0.3 mile spur trail out to Wasson Peak and back. Wasson Peak at 4,687 ft is the highest peak in the Tucson Mountains.
View to the north from Wasson Peak
View to the east from Wasson Peak
Several switchbacks go down on the King Canyon Trail from Wasson Peak, the views to the southeast are gorgeous!
Fruit on top of a barrel cactus
The King Canyon Trail was 3.2 miles down to the trailhead. Lots of winding trail among the hills, with distant views and
lots of saguaros
Looking back towards the peak in front of Wasson Peak, much further down the trail
Looking across King Canyon Wash to the cabin ruins near the picnic area where we were this morning .
Between the hills, we had lovely views of the distant mountains to the southwest
We saw several mule dear up on the hillside as we were near the trailhead.
We drove down to the King Canyon Trailhead at Saguaro National Park (West) to do an 8 mile loop hike to Wasson Peak with 1,800 ft of gain. Our route: King Canyon Wash Trail to the Sendero Esperanza Trail to the Hugh Norris Trail to the spur trail to Wasson Peak and back down to the trailhead on the King Canyon Trail.
Starting up the King Canyon Wash, a 0.9 mile trail.
The wash was mostly in the shade, which kept us nice and cool this morning. Wasson Peak is behind the peak in the photo.
Shortly after joining the Sendero Esperanza Trail, we spotted what looks like an abandoned cabin near the picnic site.
We hiked 1.4 miles along the Sendero Esperanza Trail heading northwest. Lots of cacti and views along the route.
We saw several ocotillos beginning to bud.
buds on an ocotillo
Further up this trail, we found the remains of another abandoned cabin.
nest in a teddy bear cholla cactus
Looking back towards the southeast, lovely mountains in the distance
The teddy bear cholla had bright new growth on the ends
Buckhorn cactus in front of the Ridgeline along the Hugh Norris Trail
We headed east along the Hugh Norris Trail for about 2 miles, view to the north 
The gain up the Hugh Norris Trail was fairly gentle. I loved the views here to the southeast
So many saguaros!!!
The trail goes up and through the saddle on top of this peak
Looking back at Amole Peak as we hike up to the saddle
After coming a very short distance down from the saddle, there is a 0.3 mile spur trail out to Wasson Peak and back. Wasson Peak at 4,687 ft is the highest peak in the Tucson Mountains.
View to the north from Wasson Peak
View to the east from Wasson Peak
Several switchbacks go down on the King Canyon Trail from Wasson Peak, the views to the southeast are gorgeous!
Fruit on top of a barrel cactus
The King Canyon Trail was 3.2 miles down to the trailhead. Lots of winding trail among the hills, with distant views and
lots of saguaros
Looking back towards the peak in front of Wasson Peak, much further down the trail
Looking across King Canyon Wash to the cabin ruins near the picnic area where we were this morning .
Between the hills, we had lovely views of the distant mountains to the southwest
We saw several mule dear up on the hillside as we were near the trailhead.
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