![]() The Cycling House offers full-service cycling tour packages and regularly does a similar route with guests straight from their Tucson lodge. If you have any hesitations, consider an alternative. But please be aware that the Sonoran desert can certainly be an unforgiving place, and this route does dip into some fairly rugged wilderness area. Routing should be manageable by downloading or printing off the guidance here, with assistance from good cell coverage throughout. Cutting through the middle of the iconic Saguaro National Park East road loop, this trail winds on down to Broadway Boulevard, from which point surface streets take you back into town to finish the day. The trail is narrow, but both sections of singletrack here are suitable for gravel bikes for intermediate riders. After 7 more miles of road riding here, the route enters Saguaro National Park once more for another bit of singletrack, Cactus Forest Trail (the second of only two pieces of off-road trail accessible by bike in the park). From here, the route follows one of the more distinctive Tucson roadways back along the eastern edge of town. After exiting the gate at the Loma Alta trailhead, follow this road back up to its intersection with Old Spanish Trail. I'd imagine the most skilled individuals could make it up this cliff face on 38c tires, but it would probably take some serious "sessioning". Bobcats, various bird species, desert tortoise, and even javelina call this land home.Īt least one section of this ride is almost certainly unrideable via gravel bike. Along with the notable saguaros, this area is also home to an abundance of desert wildlife. Around this point, you may begin to notice a handful of different spur trails leading up to the Rincons, but these are all clearly marked as off-limits to bicycle traffic. Cowboys from Rocking X and X-9 ranches used this water stop to lure cattle down from the Rincon Mountains. This cattle station is the trail's namesake, Hope Camp. Be sure to stop for a photo when you arrive at the first of the two old windmills along this route. Take note of the changing scenery as you work your way north on this trail, the mesquite and prickly pear landscape giving way to a forest of ancient saguaros that are older than your parents. Please register here or bring your pass along with you for this route, as this small portion of trail isn't our only foray into the National Park. You probably won't notice it as you begin your journey through the south end of this valley, but the Loma Alta trailhead at this section's north end, there is a box to register as this route passes through the Saguaro National Park. Hiker traffic is most common along this route, but don't be surprised by other cyclists or equestrian traffic on this 7 mile segment through the Rincon Valley. Just past the left turn of Pistol Hill Rd., you'll ride over a cattle guard and enter the heart of this route, the Hope Camp section of the 800 mile Arizona National Scenic Trail. ![]() ![]() ![]() It's easy to miss on this downhill section of manicured dirt road. Just be aware of the singletrack entrance here. leads us to the entrance for the Hope Camp section of AZ Trail. From here, riders will continue through the small town of Vail and begin the climb up Pistol Hill Rd.Īfter a quick dogleg off the main route to view the scenery from atop the Colossal Cave parking lot, the route finally gets a bit dirty. This segment weaves through a rural, unpaved neighborhood before intersecting Mary Ann Cleveland Way. for less than a mile prior to the first bit of gravel riders will encounter for the day. After this point, the route continues along Old Vail Rd. A good alternative for those looking to camp out for the night is to start and finish this loop at its Southeast corner, near Colossal Cave Mountain Park, where camping ranges from $7.50 to $12 per night.īeginning from Michael Perry Park in SE Tucson, as we did for this day route, the ride begins with about ten miles of separated, perfectly paved, two-lane bike path (with one notable exception as the path connects a short segment along the shoulder of Rita Rd. The park is a great place to stage for this route, with bathrooms, covered picnic tables and plentiful parking spots. This 52-mile mixed-terrain route begins and ends near Michael Perry Park, just off the southern end of Tucson's Chuck Huckleberry Loop paved bike path.
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