Trail Guide: The Full Lemmon Drop In Tucson, Arizona
The Full Lemmon Drop in Tucson, Arizona is what The Whole Enchilada is to Moab: a 25+ mile link-up of epic mountain bike trails that plunge down ridges and canyons, ascend steep climbs (or hike-a-bikes…), and navigate tricky trail obstacles all the while showing off amazing views.
In short, it’s an epic, all-day ride.
However, as you’ll read below, it’s important to note that the Full Lemmon Drop is no walk in the park. It’s much more rugged, remote, and challenging than the Whole Enchilada and should only be attempted by experienced mountain bikers who are used to big days in the saddle and don’t mind a bit of suffering. If that sounds like you, though, you’re in for a treat!
In this post, I share everything you need to know about riding the Full Lemmon Drop including what to expect, how to shuttle it, alternative ride options, and more.
Ready for adventure? Let’s ride!
(Also, sorry about the lack of photos. I rode this before I started Two Wheeled Wanderer…)
4-Day Tucson Mountain Biking Itinerary
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Quick Facts
Watch Nate Hills Ride the Full Lemmon Drop with Randy Sooter
Important things to know
When I rode Mount Lemmon for the first time, I was a bit taken aback at how technical and remote it is. Please be aware that this ride is a full-on, full-day affair. Here are a few things you should know before taking the plunge:
Mt. Lemmon Shuttle Options
I don’t think even the crazies would attempt to pedal up General Hitchcock Highway and down the Full Lemmon Drop in a day. If you want to do the whole thing, you need to shuttle. Here are your options:
Home Grown
Home Grown is a locally owned guide, rental, and shuttle company in Tucson. They offer shuttles up Mount Lemmon as well as to other mountain bike destinations around Tucson.
You can see their pre-determined Mount Lemmon shuttle dates on their calendar or give them a call if you want a private shuttle. You can also book a guide for the day if you feel more comfortable riding with someone who knows the trails or opt for their Middle Mountain Adventure which starts at Bug Springs.
Tucson Mountain Shuttle
Tucson Mountain Shuttle offers shuttles all over Tucson (and southern Arizona!). They have options for mountain bikers, including drop-offs at Mount Lemmon trailheads.
Shuttle yourself
If you’re self-shuttling, park one car at the base of La Milagrosa (or Molino Basin if you choose not to do La Milagrosa – see the trail guide below). The drive time from the La Milagrosa Trailhead to the Aspen Draw Trailhead at the top is about an hour.
Google directions:
- La Milagrosa Trailhead (Full Lemmon Drop)
- Molino Basin Trailhead (skip La Milagrosa)
- Aspen Draw Trailhead (the start)
The Full Lemmon Drop Map & Trail Guide
The Full Lemmon Drop is not super well marked and it can be easy to get turned around. A phone (or two) with TrailForks or MTB Project downloaded is a must!
The Full Lemmon Drop
Route Basics
Ride it for:
- A big, backcountry day
- Awesome views
- Technical riding
- A rite of passage
Need to know:
- Don’t underestimate this ride
- Carry plenty of water, snacks, and spares/tools
- Know what you’re getting into
- It starts at over 10,000 feet
Route directions: Aspen Draw Trailhead > Aspen Draw > Sunset > Incinerator Ridge > Bug Springs > Molino Basin > AZT – Bellota > La Milagrosa
Trail breakdown
Aspen Draw
The Full Lemmon Drop starts on Aspen Draw near the summit at just over 10,000 ft. To access Aspen Draw, you’ll need to pedal a short way down a fire road and then the trail will be on your left.
Enjoy the fast, flowy dirt of this trail because there’s nothing else like it on the rest of the ride! Aspen Draw descends down through pine forest with tight switchbacks and one rock garden that comes up fast.
At the bottom of Aspen Draw, take the road into Summerhaven where you will then make your way to Sunset along North Sabino Canyon Park road.
Sunset
Sunset is a short one-mile connector trail with several pretty technical rocky sections to get you warmed up for Incinerator Ridge. The end of Sunset will bring you to a hiking trail that connects to Mt. Bigelow Road.
If you’re not warmed up already, this three-mile climb will do the trick. Just before you get to the water tower, you’ll see a trail to the left and that’s the start of Incinerator Ridge.
Incinerator Ridge
Incinerator Ridge is where the real riding begins! It is steep, rocky, loose, and very raw with several tight switchbacks that require impressive bike handling skills to get around.
If you have ridden Bug Springs and Molino Basin and found those trails challenging, you will be walking a lot of Incinerator Ridge.
Green Mountain
Green Mountain is a little bit more civilized (I say that in an endearing way) than Incinerator Ridge in that it’s not as rocky and chunky, but it is still very steep in places with large rock steps to bounce down.
Green Mountain starts with a grunt of an up (aka a hike-a-bike) and then it gets right back into full-on DH.
Both Incinerator Ridge and Green Mountain are good trails to stop and session features if you have time (and energy) to spare.
Bug Springs & Molino Basin
Now things start to get fast and flowy again. Bug Springs is one of the most popular trails in Tucson and for good reason. Most of the hardcore tech is left behind on Green Mountain and the trail opens up into hard, fast singletrack with a few rock gardens just because it’s Mt. Lemmon.
You’re now mostly below the tree line, so the views out over Tucson and Saguaro National Park are stunning. Molino Basin is a little less fun because it’s not as fast 🙂 but still pretty darn fun.
Planning a trip to Tucson? Check out my full guide for mountain biking in Tucson, Arizona.
La Milagrosa
Ok, now back to the rocky rowdy stuff. La Milagrosa is the final trail on the Full Lemmon Drop and since you’re probably pretty knackered at this point it’ll feel like the hardest. But it’s so fun!
La Milagrosa is arguably Tucson’s best technical descent. Where Incinerator Ridge and Green Mountain are more stop-and-go, La Milagrosa has flow and style. But there’s definitely still the tech, so check your speed.
La Milagrosa will dump you out at the base of Mt. Lemmon where you (should) have a car and cold drink waiting for you.
Tip: A good option to make the route shorter and (slightly easier) is to skip La Milagrosa and end at La Molina Campground/Parking Area. La Milagrosa is a technical trail and after 20+ miles of steep, technical riding, you’ll probably be feeling a bit wobbly. Save La Milagrosa for another day.
Alternative Route Option
If you still want to experience some Mt. Lemmon riding but don’t want to do the rugged and demanding Full Lemmon Drop, a good alternative is to just do the Bug Springs/Molino Basin section. Both of these trails are super fun without the gnarly rock gardens.
You’ll still need to shuttle this route (unless you’re up for a hefty pedal up General Hitchcock Highway), but Bug Springs and Molino Springs are far more accessible to intermediate (NOT beginner) riders.
If you want to add a few more miles and a bit more tech, you could also tack on Green Mountain above and/or La Milagrosa below, but keep in mind that both of these trails are quite challenging.
So should you ride it?
The Full Lemmon Drop is not for the fainthearted. Not only is it long (30 miles is a big day on a mountain bike in this terrain), but it’s also very challenging technically, physically, and – at times – mentally.
Most of the trails that make up this route are not built for bikers, but rather they’re multi-use hiking trails. Some sections – especially on Green Mountain – have huge rock steps to bumble down and steep, unswitchbacked climbs. Don’t expect the Full Lemmon Drop to be ‘purpose-built’. This is partly what makes it so unique!
All that being said, The Full Lemmon Drop is a blast if you take it for what it is: raw, old-school, gnarly in sections, and a full-day adventure.
Just looking for more great singletrack? Check out my top picks for the best mountain bike trails in Tucson.
The Best Time To Ride The Lemmon Drop
The Full Lemmon Drop is best ridden in the fall/early winter when the hot Tucson temps simmer down and the snow has yet to fly.
I rode it in November and it was perfect. Of course, that depends on the year, but I’d say that October-November is prime and you may be able to get away with later winter months if it doesn’t snow (yes, Arizona gets snow).
Spring (March-April) could also be a good time to ride as long as the snow has melted (or mostly melted) and temps down below aren’t already boiling.
Note: From January 1st to April 30th, traveling more than 400 feet off the Mt Lemmon trails is prohibited due to Bighorn Sheep lambing season. Learn more here.
What to bring
As I have mentioned several times before, the descent down Mount Lemmon is a challenging, all-day affair. As such, be prepared with:
Looking for a new hydration pack?
Carry all your tools, water, and snacks for your ride. I know there are three camps when it comes to mountain bikers: the hydration backpackers, the hip packers, and the water bottlers.
I fall firmly in the hydration backpack club for a few reasons. I drink a lot of water, I eat a lot of snacks, and I like to be prepared with all the tools and spares I might need (especially when mountain biking alone).
The Osprey Raven (Raptor for the guys) is my favorite pack that I’ve tried. It has a ton of organization including its own tool roll, it’s comfortable, and it can carry a 3L water reservoir.
I hope this guide gives you all the info to ride (or not ride…) this iconic route in Tucson. The Full Lemmon Drop is a bit of a rite of passage, but if you decide to do it, just make sure you’re prepared and know what to expect. It could be the best day of your trip or the worst depending on how to go into it.
Stay safe and have fun!
Read next
Looking for some more great riding around Tucson and Phoenix? Check out these posts:
Have you ridden the Full Lemmon Drop in Tucson? What did you think? Would you do it again? Leave a comment below!
Love the way you write, very well explained
Very useful
Thanks