Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East)

Shorter Trails

Cactus Garden Trail -- A level nature walk just outside the visitor center, this wheelchair-accessible trail is a good introduction to the park and the Sonoran Desert environment. Interpretive signs identify a variety of desert plants. .15 mile RT. Easy. Access: Red Hills Visitor Center.

Desert Discovery Nature Trail -- This mostly level wheelchair-accessible trail has signs describing the plants, animals, and ecology of the Sonoran Desert. It also affords panoramic views of the Tucson Mountains. .5 mile RT. Easy. Access: Kinney Rd., 1 mile northwest of the Red Hills Visitor Center.

Signal Hill Petroglyphs Trail -- This trail zigzags up the side of a hill to an area containing examples of American Indian rock art, believed to have been left by the Hohokam people between 500 and 1,300 years ago. .5 mile RT. Easy. Access: North of Signal Hill picnic area, off Golden Gate Rd., 5 miles northwest of the Red Hills Visitor Center.

Valley View Overlook Trail -- Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, this trail passes through cactus forests and two washes before climbing to a ridge for splendid views of the surrounding desert and mountains. .75 miles RT. Easy. Access: Bajada Loop Dr., 3 1/2 miles north of the Red Hills Visitor Center.

Longer Trails

Hugh Norris Trail -- The longest and most difficult in the park's Tucson Mountain District, this trail begins with a series of switchbacks that lead to a ridge overlooking a huge forest of saguaro cactus. From there it offers panoramic views and passes old mines and intriguing rock formations. The trail climbs another series of switchbacks before finally making its way to the top of Wasson Peak, at 4,687 feet, from which you generally have spectacular views of Tucson and the surrounding mountains. The trail has a total elevation gain of 2,087 feet. 9.8 miles RT. Strenuous. Access: Bajada Loop Dr., 2 1/2 miles north of the Red Hills Visitor Center.

King Canyon Trail -- This trail combines with the last .3 mile of the Hugh Norris Trail to take you from 2,800 feet in elevation to the top of 4,687-foot Wasson Peak, the highest point in the Tucson Mountains. Along the trail are petroglyphs believed to have been created by the Hohokam people, some open mine shafts that you'll want to avoid, and panoramic views once you get to the higher elevations. The trail is rocky in spots, so good hiking boots are recommended. 7 miles RT. Moderate to strenuous. Access: On Kinney Rd., directly across from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, about 2 miles southwest of the Red Hills Visitor Center.

Sendero Esperanza Trail -- The trail leaves an old mining road and climbs through several steep switchbacks to a ridge, with spectacular views in all directions. It finally drops to the Mam-A-Gah Picnic Area and a junction with the King Canyon Trail. Along the way, it passes the remains of the Gould Mine, which was enthusiastically but unproductively worked in the early 1900s. 6.4 miles RT. Moderate. Access: Golden Gate Rd., about 6 miles northeast of the Red Hills Visitor Center.