Wasson Peak
Updated: Nov 15, 2022
Hike Stats:
Distance: 7.7 miles RT on the Sendero Esperanza and Hugh Norris trails
Elevation Gain: 1643 ft
Date Hiked: March 2021
Location: Saguaro National Park, Tucson Mountain District (west)
Deserts are freaking awesome. Yes, I said deserts, not desserts. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a mountains girl through and through, but there’s something about the desert that I absolutely adore. Despite the threat of being stabbed by jumping chollas or bitten by rattlesnakes, I love wandering around the various types of cacti, watching the vibrant sunsets, and snuggling up in my sleeping bag on a cool night after a day basking in the sun. I had been itching for years to go to Arizona to see the iconic saguaro cacti. You know the ones, the massively tall green cacti with the arms that look like they’re waving. Almost friendly looking until you see the long needles ready to impale whoever is careless enough to get too close.
I’m a big fan of the mini-vacation, so I took off on a three day jaunt throughout Arizona to check out some neat cacti at both the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and at Saguaro National Park. My second day in Saguaro, I got up early and headed to the west district of the park (aka the Tucson Mountain District) for some hiking. To get to the Sendero Esperanza Trailhead, I took the unpaved Bajada Loop Drive, a scenic but very bumpy jaunt through a sea of Saguaro cacti. The trip was pretty rough in my little rental car, but doable.
The Sendero Esperanza Trail was a generally easy stroll on sandy ground, passing by various species of cacti - chollas, saguaros, and prickly pear - with some nice views down into the surrounding valley. It was an overcast day, but the temperature was perfect and the light breeze was refreshing.
After about 1.5 miles, I was subjected to a series of switchbacks up to the ridge that connects to the Hugh Norris Trail. The switchbacks honestly weren’t too bad; despite the relentless uphill grade, the trail was smooth and didn’t feature too many rocks to climb or scramble up. My fellow short people can attest that too many trails have rock “steps” that are too high for us to comfortably step up onto, which can really be quite exhausting.
The ridge line was a great spot to catch my breath and to enjoy the views on both sides of the valley. But my respite was short-lived as I saw a big group of hikers ascending from a different trail and I didn’t fancy getting stuck behind them, or worse, have them breathing down my neck. So I turned left onto the Hugh Norris Trail and began climbing once again. The trail hugs the sides and the spine of the ridge, allowing for panoramic views on all sides. This is my favorite kind of trail for sure.
Just after a mile or so on the ridge line, more mountains and ridges began to appear in the distance, a breathtaking contrast against the green saguaros that dotted the hillside along the trail.
After tackling the last set of switchbacks, I summited the peak and enjoyed a wonderful view of the Sonoran desert and its surrounding mountains while snacking on a PB&J sandwich. The sky was as cloudy as it was at the beginning of my hike, but it didn’t mar the views at all. Besides, it was nice to enjoy the trek without the full force of the sun beating down as I was still nursing a bit of a sunburn from the previous day’s outing. Noob mistake.
The large group that I had passed earlier joined me at the top, but despite my earlier concerns, I enjoyed their company, learning that many of them were “snowbirds” as they put it, part of a larger RV community that spends the winters down in the Southwest. Not a bad way to live, I thought.
The hike back down was just as beautiful as the hike up. I took way too many photos of the meandering trail against the beautiful backdrop — my favorite type of photo. I even snagged a few pics of myself walking down the trail by setting up a travel-sized tripod for my phone. I may have looked a bit self-absorbed, but hey, when you travel alone, it’s nice to get at least a few pictures with yourself in them. I’ve learned over the years that photos taken by strangers are...variable in quality. After one too many pictures with someone’s finger in the way, I’ve taken matters into my own hands!
This hike is truly a hidden gem in Saguaro National Park. I had known there were mountains and bigger hikes in the park aside from the popular shorter trails, but it still felt unexpected in a way. Perhaps it was the combination of the towering saguaros with the nearby ridges and distant snow-capped mountains that showcased the incredible contrasts that the state of Arizona offers. While Wasson Peak is fairly well-known among hikers who visit the park, the trail never felt crowded and I spent most of the time by myself. There are a few other routes up the mountain like the King Canyon Trail, which I’m looking forward to exploring on my next visit as this mountain is definitely worth revisiting!
Have you been to Saguaro National Park? Which trails did you enjoy?
More photos below!
Comments