Mountain Biking the 50-Year Trail at Catalina State Park in Tucson
If you’re planning a mountain bike trip to Tucson, Catalina State Park and the 50-Year Trail should definitely be on your ride-it list. They might already be on your radar since both are pretty popular legendary among the mtb crowd.
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 high-stakes rock features, punchy obstacles, large slickrock slabs, and some rather rude climbing.
This is one of my favorite places to ride in Tucson, though, and in this post, I break down everything you need to know about planning your day there.
Quick Tips
For mountain biking at Catalina State Park
TWW Take
Please note that these are my personal opinions – you may argue otherwise! And if so, state your case (politely) in the comments 🙂
Fun-ness Factor
Trail Variety
Average Difficulty
The Good & Bad of Mountain Biking at Catalina State Park
What I like
What I don’t
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!
Planning Your Catalina State Park & 50-Year Trail Rides
Best trails to hit
Catalina State Park isn’t huge, but here are the best trails to hit during your visit:
- Lower 50-Year Trail: (beginner+)
- The Chutes (beginner+)
- Upper 50-Year Trail (advanced)
- 50-Year Slabs (advanced)
- Cowboy Slickrock (advanced )
- Middle Gate (advanced)
Tip: Cowboy slickrock is a must!
Route recommendations
- 8-Mile Loop (beginner) – a good intro to Catalina State Park for newer riders or kids. Chutes is super fun!
- 50-Year All the goods (intermediate+) – My go-to route at Catalina State Park. It hits all the best trails: 50-Year, the Chutes, and Cowboy Slickrock. This is a big ride, though, so be prepared.
- 50-Year/Middle Gate Loop (intermediate+) – A shorter (but no less challenging) ride. You don’t hit Cowboy Slickrock, though.
Catalina State Park Trail Map
How hard, really, 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 with high-stakes exposure and maneuvering.
FAQs & Planning Tips
🚗 Getting there: 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.
🅿️ Parking: The main parking area (for mountain bikers) is off Golder Road.
🗺️ Navigating the trails: The trails aren’t very well signed. There are some 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.
🚻 Bathrooms: There are no bathrooms at the trailhead.
💧 Water: There is no water available at Catalina State Park.
📅 How many days: You really only need one day at Catalina State Park since there aren’t that many trails to explore.
☀️ When to go: Winter (November through March) is ideal for mountain biking in Tucson.
🚲 What type of bike to bring: A short or mid-travel full-suspension bike would be best.
⚡️ E-bikes: No, e-bikes are not allowed at Catalina State Park or on the 50-Year Trail.
Need gear recs?
Head over to my gear closet! I’m always testing out new pieces of bike gear and if I really like them, they earn a place on this page.
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!
Have you mountain biked at Catalina State Park? What did you think of the 50-Year Trail? What questions do you have about riding here? Leave a comment below!
I love hearing from you and appreciate your comments! However, if you leave a rude, unconstructive, or spammy comment, it will be deleted. It’s cool to be kind. Have an awesome day!