Quick Tips for Riding in Tucson
Tucson is widely known for Saguaro National Park, incredible Mexican food, and its quirky Southwestern charm, but it’s also a hidden gem for desert mountain biking. While Tucson’s trails might not have the same fame (or, let’s be honest, the same level of trail quality…) as Phoenix and Sedona to the north, the singletrack here is absolutely worth exploring, especially if you’re on an Arizona road trip.
I’ve had the chance to ride in Tucson several times, and it keeps me coming back for more. The trail systems offer something for every type of rider—think flowy desert singletrack, challenging downhill descents, epic backcountry adventures, and technical climbs that are perfect for refining your skills.
Mountain biking in Tucson is spread across multiple trail networks, each with its own unique character and vibe. To make planning easier and help you get the most out of your trip, I’ve put together this guide to what you can expect and where to ride on your Tucson mountain biking adventure.
A note about e-bikes in Tucson: Technically, e-bikes are not allowed on most trails in Tucson because of country and land trust rules around motorized vehicles. That being said, there are a lot of e-bikes on the trails and no one seems to be enforcing the rules, so 🤷♀️
4-Day Tucson Mountain Biking Itinerary
Looking for the best trails and route recommendations for mountain biking in Tucson, Arizona? Download my 4-day itinerary packed with tips, links, and local secrets including the best trails to ride and route recommendations. Grab it now and start planning your trip to Saguaro country!
Tucson Trail Map
Most of the mountain biking is Tucson is located in the north and west side of the city, although there are networks on the east side as well.
First time riding in the desert? Check out my tips for surviving your first mountain bike trip to the desert.
Ride among the Saguaros at Sweetwater Preserve
Sweetwater Preserve one of my favorite places to ride in Tucson. It’s a stunning park located on the western edge of Tucson and it’s home to an impressive variety of cacti including saguaro, barrel cactus, ocotillo, chollas, and more. When I rode there in May, many of the cacti were in full bloom, making the desert landscape even more breathtaking!
The mountain bike trails at Sweetwater Preserve are on the whole, pretty cross-country. There’s a lot of flow and smooth singletrack and while the pedaling is fairly mellow, there are some sections of chunk and rock gardens to keep things interesting. It’s a great place to rack up some easy miles while enjoying the beautiful desert landscape.
Navigation here is pretty easy thanks to well-marked trails and maps at every intersection. (Although I still always recommend having TrailForks downloaded to your phone). Keep in mind that Sweetwater is a popular place for recreation, so be prepared to share the trails with hikers, runners, fellow mountain bikers, and even horseback riders.
Tips for riding at Sweetwater Preserve:
🚴♀️ Check out Sweetwater Preserve on TrailForks 🚴♀️
Just looking for the best of the best? Check out my top picks for the best mountain bike trails in Tucson.
Explore Tucson Mountain Park
Tucson Mountain Park (and the adjoining Enchanted Hills) is one of the most popular place to mountain bike in Tucson. Like Sweetwater, there’s a good selection of trails, but Tucson Mountain Park covers a larger swath of terrain and has even more variety and awesome views.
The thing to know about Tucson Mountain Park, though, is that some trails are definitely best-ridden in one direction. I’ve suffered my way up trails are are meant to be downhills and it wasn’t fun… Use my route recommendations below to avoid hike-a-biking up Explorer or missing out on the fun descent down Mockingbird.
It’s also worth noting that the far northwest trails (the network of ‘green’ trails on TrailForks) aren’t really worth riding. They’re sandy and best left for the equestrians.
Tips for riding at Tucson Mountain Park:
🚴♀️ Check out Tucson Mountain Park on TrailForks 🚴♀️
Find Your XC Flow at Honeybee Canyon Ranch
Honeybee Canyon Ranch is a large network of (mostly) fast-rolling, smooth desert singletrack. If you visit in the spring and you’re lucky, it’s a great place to see tons of wildflowers in full bloom. There’s also some petroglyphs hidden among the rocks if you know where to look.
Honeybee isn’t the most interesting or engaging place to ride in Tucson, but it’s a good place for newer mountain bikers, family, or those who enjoy laying down the miles on fast, smooth singletrack.
Tips for riding at Honeybee Canyon:
🚴♀️ Check out Honeybee Canyon on TrailForks 🚴♀️
Get rowdy at Catalina State Park & the 50-Year Trail
If you like technical riding and unique rock features, you’re in for a treat at Catalina State Park. Situated at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, this network is one of the more popular areas for Tucson mountain biking. It’s also one of the most challenging. Expect a bit of hike-a-biking, punchy climbs, technical features, and tight corners. But there’s also super fun descents and plenty of alt-lines to play around on and work on your slow-speed skills.
50-Year Trail is the trail to do here. It’s one of the most iconic trails in Tucson. It’s not an easy ride, but it’s super unique with cool rock features and masterful routing. It’s a must for anyone visiting Tucson to ride. That being said, you can seriously hurt yourself here, so always scope your lines and walk if you’re not feeling it.
Navigation can be tricky since the trails at Catalina aren’t well marked, so a GPS app like TrailForks or MTB Project is essential.
Tips for riding at Catalina State Park:
🚴♀️ Check out Catalina State Park on TrailForks 🚴♀️
4-Day Tucson Mountain Biking Itinerary
Don’t forget to download my Tucson Mountain Biking Itinerary to make the most of your time there! It’s packed with route recommendations, best trails to hit, and more.
Enjoy a backcountry feel at Marana Trails
The Marana Trails are located north of Tucson and offer amazing views out over the city and surrounding mountain ranges. This area is kind of out in the middle of nowhere, except that the trailhead is randomly situated within the gates of the Ritz-Carlton (there’s a free public trail access parking area).
There aren’t many mountain bike trails here, but if you have the stamina and patience, I highly recommend doing the Tour de Tortolitas route I link to below. I think it’s one of the most beautiful rides in Tucson and has a special backcountry feel. However, there is a nasty hike-a-bike at the start of this lollipop loop, so be prepared for that!
Tips for riding the Marana Trails:
🚴♀️ Check out the Marana Trails on TrailForks 🚴♀️
Get your XC on at McKenzie Ranch
McKenzie Ranch is the ultimate new-school cross-country trail network in Tucson. It’s a mountain bike competition course and there is no tech – literally. It’s all smooth, buff trail with great flow. It has some fun, fast downhills, mellow climbs, and great views of the desert and surrounding mountains. It’s built for mountain bikers and is very well-marked with maps at each intersection.
Two loops make up McKenzie Ranch: the Lozen Loop and the Daheste Loop and they are both directional, so you need to ride them clockwise. You can combine them to make one big 9.7-mile loop, which is the route I recommend below. If you only want to do one loop, I thought the Lozen Loop is the better of the two.
Also, as I mentioned above, this is a racecourse so it might be smart to avoid it on weekends, or else you may drive all the way out there and not be able to ride.
Tips for riding at McKenzie Ranch:
🚴♀️ Check out the McKenzie Ranch Trails on TrailForks 🚴♀️
Fantasy Island Fun
Fantasy Island is a small network of trails on the southeast side of the city and it’s a great place for entry-level mountain bikers or families. I haven’t (yet) biked at Fantasy Island (there’s so much mountain biking to cover in Tucson!), but I have heard that it is made up of pretty mellow cross-country terrain with well-signed trails and not a lot (or even any) tech. But what it’s missing in features it makes up for with fun whoops and rollercoaster-like terrain.
The trails are well marked – most with fun and funky trail art and trail signs – and there is one main loop with several optional side loops.
The loops at Fantasy Island are one-way, so be sure you follow the signs.
Tips for riding at Fantasy Island:
🚴♀️ Check out Fantasy Island on TrailForks 🚴♀️
Vail Vortex & Colossal Cave
The Colossal Cave/Vail Vortex trail network, located southeast of Tucson, is definitely worth checking out if you’ve already explored the city’s more popular trail systems like Sweetwater, Tucson Mountain Park, and Catalina. I liked it for its quieter vibe compared to the busier networks.
The lower trails are classic cross-country riding with fast-rolling singletrack that weaves through ‘groves’ of prickly pear cacti and other iconic desert vegetation.
For a real treat, though, head over to the Colossal Cave section of the Arizona Trail (AZT). This stretch is stunning, with beautiful singletrack winding through a narrow canyon that feels like a hidden desert gem. But keep an eye out for some wheel-stopping rocks—there are a few tricky sections that require careful line choice!
Need to know:
🚴♀️ Check out Vail Vortex/Colossal Cave on TrailForks 🚴♀️
Downhill action on Mt. Lemmon
Mt. Lemmon, towering at 9,159 feet, is the highest peak in the Santa Catalina Mountains and home to some of the most technical and rowdy mountain biking in Tucson. The first time I rode Mt. Lemmon, I was a bit taken aback by its technical terrain compared to Tucson’s other trail networks. This is not the place for casual cross-country desert riders! Mt. Lemmon demands your full attention with its challenging rock gardens, hike-a-bike sections, and steep, technical climbs.
One of the most iconic rides to do in Tucson (for very advanced riders) is The Full Lemmon Drop. It’s a full-day endeavor with very technical riding and some guaranteed type 2 fun moments. I was worked after the first time I did it! If you don’t want to commit to that epic of a day, the route below is a good intro to the riding on Mt. Lemmon.
Tips for riding Mt. Lemmon:
🚴♀️ Check out Mt. Lemmon on TrailForks 🚴♀️
Planning Your Tucson Mountain Biking Adventure
☀️ When to go: The best time to mountain bike in Tucson is the late fall through winter and early spring. I’ve visited in May, November, and February. November and February were perfect while May was already getting too hot for mid-day rides. Tucson can actually get snow in the winter, so if you want to ride the trails on Mt. Lemmon, be sure to check the forecast.
🗓️ Number of days: Tucson doesn’t have a ton of epic riding. I’d say 3-4 days here is enough to get the best rides in.
🚲 What bike to bring: A short travel full suspension or hardtail mountain bike is ideal if you want to stick to the desert trails. If you plan on heading up Mt. Lemmon you might want to bring a bigger bike.
⚡️ e-bikes: Electric bikes are not allowed on most trails in Tucson.
🚗 Getting around: I definitely recommend having a car to get around to the different mountain bike trailheads in Tucson. The EVOC Duo is a great travel tailgate pad that you can use with a truck rental.
🏠 Bike shops & rentals: There are a number of good bike shops in Tucson. Home Grown offers high end rentals as well as shuttles and guided rides.
🚴 Mountain bike tours: Home Grown offers guided rides on Mt. Lemmon, Catalina State Park, Tucson Mountain Park, and Fantasy Island.
⛺️ Camping: There are several campgrounds around Tucson. Catalina State Park Campground is one of the most developed and nicest and it’s close to the 50 Year Trail. Book ahead of time, though, because it fills up fast. You can also purchase a $15 Arizona State Trust Land Permit to camp on any Arizona State Trust Land for five consecutive days.
🏨 Hotels: If you prefer to stay in a hotel, The Tuxon is a good choice for mountain bikers. It has secure bike storage for your bikes plus complimentary cruisers if you want to take a spin on the nearby Tucson Loop trail. The Tuxon is also located near Tucson Mountain Park and Highway 10 so you can easily get to other mountain bike networks.
🧳 Tucson-specific packing list: For a complete packing list, head over to my Mountain Bike Trip Packing List post. Here are a few recommendations specific to Tucson mountain biking:
- A tubeless tire kit: There are a lot of sharp, pointy things in Tucson
- A hydration pack: You’ll want to be able to carry at least 2-3L of water on your rides. I highly recommend at hydration pack over water bottles
- Electrolyte tabs: I find that these fastchews help me a lot when I’m riding in the desert. They replenish salt and other electrolytes.
- Extra sealant: You’ll probably get cacti spines in your tires. It’s a good idea to top-up with some sealant.
- Tweezers: In case you decide to hug a cactus…
Read next
Planning a mountain bike trip to Arizona? Check out these posts for inspiration and details:
Have you mountain biked in Tucson? What are your favorite trails or routes? Let me know in the comments below!
Planning your trip? Download my 4-day Tucson Mountain Biking Itinerary!
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I can attest that bikers and hikers will enjoy Tucson Mountain Park. It\’s scenic and the trails range from rather mellow to a technical challenge. Just bring a sense of humor about occasionally wrecking into a cactus patch (and tweezers, like you recommend). Surprisingly, brief sections of Fantasy Island are more technically challenging than what one may expect. Because some of these sections come up with basically no warning, it\’s the closest I\’ve ever come to wetting my pants on a bike ride. Tortolita Mountain Park was my personal favorite; feels so remote. If you go back to Tucson, I recommend exploring Redington Pass. I\’ve never had a bad encounter with e.g. someone driving an ATV or a motorcycle. Fair warning though — I\’ve seen more scary snakes here than elsewhere in the Tucson area.
Thanks for those insights, Michael! I definitely plan on heading back to Tucson – there’s so much great riding there 🙂