Saguaro National Park - Tucson Mountain District

The bottom photo here is from Signal Hill, the top from Sendero Esperanza. For the complete photo album, click here.

I started out at Signal Hill to take morning light photos at nine. After a few shots I got back in the car and drove to the Sendero Esperanza Trailhead where I started by ten. I wanted more variety in my hike than last time, when I only did Hugh Norris, which is strictly on the ridge. I did see a number of quail and gorgeous long-eared jackrabbits on the Sendero Esperanza. I climbed that trail up to Hugh Norris, where I took it to Wasson Peak. I then got on the King Canyon Trail, which was way too rocky on certain points, but interesting because it crosses over a large wash and leads to Mam-A-Gah pic-nic area (which really seems to be in the middle of nowhere.) There is a bathroom there, too. Then I got on the Gould Mine Trail which shows interesting vestiges of the old mining operations. I got back on Sendero Esperanza and completed the loop by taking it all the way back to the trailhead where I had begun. I got back to the car around three. It was definately and all day loop. In general, I would say it was interesting and indeed held variety in landscape, scenery, etc. However, the Hugh Norris Trail is still an unbeatable experience and the best Saguaro National Park West has to offer.