Agua Caliente Loop Route Guide

Route Description for Agua Caliente Loop

The Agua Caliente Loop is a 9.7 km hike located south of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness and north of Saguaro National Park East. This route offers excellent Sonoran Desert scenery with a great canyon overlook. Our route guide follows this loop clockwise, which is the way the trail is “supposed” to go. Keep in mind that you can do this loop counter-clockwise for an easier trip. It’s definitely more strenuous clockwise, so don’t be afraid to go the other way if you’re not keen on a more difficult hike.

Although this route is dog-friendly, users report injuries to their dog’s paws due to the sharp, rocky terrain on the trail. Please consider boots for your dogs or consider leaving them at home. Good boots are also recommended for yourself.

From the trailhead, hike east on E Horseshoe Road to La Milagrosa Trail. You’ll cross three washes early on, which may have water in them depending on the time of year and recent weather. Where the trail forks, make your decision on which way to go. Clockwise, you’ll stay to the left on La Milagrosa and ascend the wall of the canyon to a pretty overlook into the canyon below. Cross another wash and keep tracing the canyon wall. At the top of the loop, you’ll turn southwest, crossing another wash and then hiking back towards the trailhead with a view of the city.