Mountain Biking the 50-Year Trail at Catalina State Park in Tucson

If you’re planning a mountain bike trip to Tucson, Arizona, Catalina State Park and the 50-Year Trail should be on your ride-it list. Maybe these names are already on your radar since both are pretty popular amongst locals and visitors alike.

50-Year Trail is one of the OG mountain bike trails around Tucson as is the rest of Catalina State Park. But it’s important to know what you’re getting into – the trails at Catalina are definitely different – (read: more challenging) than the other trail networks around Tucson.

50-Year Trail starts off mellow and fast-rolling but once you get to Upper 50-Year Trail, you’ll see what I mean. There are steep climbs, high-stakes rock features, punchy obstacles, and large slickrock slabs.

Catalina State Park and the 50-Year Trail are among my favorite places to ride in Tucson and in this post, I break down everything you need to know about planning your day there.

Collage of Tucson Mountain Bike Itinerary pages

4-Day Tucson Mountain Biking Itinerary

Download my 4-day mountain biking itinerary to Tucson! This is your ultimate guide to epic trails and the best route recommendations. It’s packed with tips, links, and local secrets. Grab it now and start planning your trip to Saguaro country!

Buy Now

Views out over beautiful Tucson landscape with rock slabs and tall mountain range — Catalina State Park has some of the coolest (and most beautiful!) views. Look at all those rock slabs

Quick FAQs & Facts

Where is Catalina State Park? Catalina State Park is located north of Tucson off Highway 77 as you’re heading toward Phoenix. It’s nestled right at the base of the Catalina Mountains.
Where should I park? The main parking area (for mountain bikers) is off Golder Road.
Are e-bikes allowed? No, e-bikes are not allowed.
Is it well-signed? Not really. There are signs, but you’ll probably get lost if you try to rely on them. Have TrailForks or another mountain biking app downloaded to your phone.
Is there water available? No, there is no water available at Catalina State Park.
How hard is 50-Year Trail? Lower 50-Year Trail is rated blue (intermediate) on TrailForks and I’d say that is pretty accurate. There are some technical sections that you can bypass. Upper 50-Year Trail is rated black on TrailForks (advanced) and that is accurate as well. There are some steep climbs and lots of rock features.

Map of where Catalina State Park is located in relation to Tucson, Arizona — Catalina State Park and the 50-Year Trail are located north of Tucson

Why Mountain Bike at Catalina State Park?

So many reasons! As I mentioned above, Catalina State Park is one of my favorite places to mountain bike in Tucson. It has a different feel and a different style of riding than the other trail networks around the city like Sweetwater Preserve and Tucson Mountain Park.

Here are a few reasons to add Catalina State Park and the 50-Year Trail to your Tucson mountain bike agenda:

Slickrock riding: If you make it up to Cowboy Slickrock, you’ll experience some awesome slickrock riding reminiscent of Gooseberry Mesa in Utah.
It’s stunning! Catalina State Park is situated at the base of the Catalina Mountains and the views are spectacular – especially if you visit in the winter when the peaks are dusted with snow.
Practice your technical skills: there is definitely some tech at Catalina State Park and on 50-Year Trail. It’s a great place to stop and session features (or work on your courage…)
Tire yourself out: If you’re feeling like you need a big ride to tire yourself out, Catalina will deliver. Unlike the desert cross-country trails that make up most of Tucson mountain biking, Catalina has good climbs and punchy features that will keep you on your toes and leave you feeling like you actually did just ride 12 miles.

Planning a mountain bike trip to Tucson? Check out my complete guide to the best riding in Tucson.

Photo out over handlebars of mountain bike onto trail at Catalina State Park in Tucson, Arizona — The views at Catalina State Park are stunning, especially if you ride them when the Catalina Mountains are dusted with snow!

Best Trails to Ride

Alright, now to the fun stuff! Catalina State Park isn’t huge, but here are the best trails to hit during your visit:

Beginner/Intermediate

Catalina isn’t the best place for beginner riders, but these trails are suitable for beginner+ shedders with decent fitness.

Lower 50-Year Trail: This is the trail that leads north from the Golder parking area. It’s mainly flat(ish), fast-rolling, and flowy. The trail does braid a bit to avoid or lead into a few technical sections, but overall it’s pretty beginner-friendly and fun.
The Chutes: I love this loop! It’s like a slalom course or rollercoaster for mountain bikes. I highly recommend riding it counterclockwise for the most ‘whoop factor’.

Advanced

Upper 50-Year Trail: This is the trail that most people come to Catalina for. It’s important to note, though, that it will probably make you curse in places. Don’t expect it to be completely ‘mountain biker-friendly’. There are some very steep (albeit short) climbs, tight squeezes, and janky rock gardens. But if you go into it knowing all that, Upper 50-Year is one of the best trails in Tucson!
50-Year Slabs: You probably won’t even notice that this is a separate trail since the main 50-Year Trail leads right into it. There are some awesome rock rollers to practice your balance and slow-speed skills.
Cowboy Slickrock: SO BEAUTIFUL! And fun. The problem is getting to it… you can either ride up Cowboy Slickrock or do the Around the Mountain loop, which has some hike-a-bike sections but is also one of my favorite rides in Tucson (see route recommendation below).
Middle Gate: A good mix of tech and awesome flow. A great trail to finish your ride at Catalina.

Just looking for the best of the best? Check out my top picks for the best mountain bike trails in Tucson.

Mountain bikers taking a break on rock slab section of trail at Catalina State Park in Tucson — Catalina State Park has some Hurricane-esque slickrock slabs that are really cool

Route Recommendation

There aren’t too many ways to link up the trails at Catalina State Park and most riders do one main loop (or a shorter version of that loop).

The route below hits all of the best trails at Catalina including 50-Year, The Chutes, and Cowboy Slickrock. Don’t underestimate this ride, though – the miles are hard-won, there’s some hike-a-bike, and probably a number of features you’ll want to session or walk.

If you’re not looking for an epic day, see below for my suggestions on making this route shorter and easier.

50-Year All the goods

Trail Basics

Skill level: Intermediate+
Fitness level: 6/10
Miles: 12.4 miles
Elevation Gain/loss: 1,362 ft
High point: 3,927 ft
e-bikes allowed? No
Map: TrailForks

Ride it for:

Awesome views
Technical challenge
Slickrock riding
Backcountry feel if you do Around the Mountain

Need to know:

Trails are not well-marked
There’s some hike-a-bike on Around the Mountain
Ride within your skill level
Scope lines before sending
Don’t underestimate these miles

Route directions: Golder Trailhead > 50-Year Trail > The Chutes (counterclockwise) > Upper 50-Year > Around the Mountain (easy-to-miss left turn) > Tank > Rattlesnake > Cowboy Slickrock > Upper 50-Year > Middle Gate > 50-Year Trail

Make it shorter: Skip the larger loop on Around the Mountain / Tank / Rattlesnake / Cowboy Slickrock. Instead, just follow Upper 50-Year Trail.

Make it easier: From The Chutes, cross over to Middle Gate (i.e. skip Upper 50 Year)

Mountain biker riding down rock roll on 50-Year Trail in Tucson — A fun (but high stakes) – alt-lines on Upper 50-Year Trail

What to Wear & Pack

Catalina State Park definitely has some more tech and rowdy riding than the other trail networks in Tucson (barring Mt. Lemmon). You’ll want to be prepared with:

Your mountain bike pack essentials
Plenty of water (at least 3L if you plan on doing the full loop)
Snacks or lunch
A full-face or breakaway helmet if you want to try some of the bigger features
Knee pads

Get two helmets in one!

Get the best of both worlds with a full face helmet that has a removable chin guard. Full face helmets provide more protection for your beautiful face and can help boost your confidence on challenging features.

But on the flip side, full face helmetns can be heavy and miserable to pedal in.

For years, I wore the Bell Super DH, which has a detachable chin guard so you can wear it as a ‘normal’ helmet when you’re charging uphill and as a full face helmet when you’re bombing downhill.

It’s great for enduro-style riding or big backcountry days that involve some rowdy tech.

Buy AT Backcountry Buy at Jenson Buy AT Competitive Cyclist

Feeling ready to take on the 50-Year Trail and Catalina State Park? I hope this post gives you all the info and inspiration you need to have a great – and safe – day out on the trails. Have fun!