Description:​

Saguaro National Park is divided into two districts divided by a cross-Tucson drive of 30 miles. The Sendero Esperanza Trail is located in Saguaro West, sometimes referred to as the Tucson Mountain District (TMD). The trail name sendero esperanza is translated from Spanish to English as path of hope. This scenic trail, of the dozens in the Park, is one of the few that offers a short, flat, packed-earth hike with both city views and mountain vistas.

The route to the trailhead is a scenic drive through Saguaro National Park. Enter the park at the Saguaro West Park Entrance on Kinney Road and stop at the main Visitor Center to pay the entrance fee and to get oriented. The paved Kinney Road leads from the Visitor Center to the 4-mile dirt road - Golden Gate Road - that ends at the trailhead. At the trailhead, you will find good parking and an accessible gender-neutral restroom.

The Sendero Esperanza Trail is a three-mile, one-way route that crosses a network of other trails heading even further in all directions. Only the first mile of the Sendero Esperanza Trail is rated easy to moderate, and only the first half-mile is probably accessible by people with wheelchairs. Nonetheless, even a short hike offers a stunning stroll through the saguaro forest. The hike can begin or end with a picnic lunch on tables at the trailhead.

Don’t expect any shade, drinking fountains, or benches on this wilderness hike. Horses are allowed on the trail, but dogs are not. Follow the standard advice for hiking safely in the desert; that is, hike early, carry water, dress for weather, and watch for wildlife.  The trail may be muddy after a rain.

After the hike, it is a pleasant drive back to the Visitor Center for a cold drink and a snack. Along that drive, one may stop at the Desert Discovery Nature Trail, which is a paved 0.4-mile loop with a series of interpretive signs describing the unique desert flora, fauna, weather, and geology. The Nature Trail is wheelchair accessible and open to leashed dogs. Another popular stop is the Signal Hill Petroglyph Site; however, the trail to view the petroglyphs is steep, rocky, and narrow, with multiple rock staircases.

A hike on the Sendero Esperanza Trail offers a panoramic view of the Sonoran Desert that will change dramatically with the light, the seasons, and the weather. So, visit often and always bring your camera.