Trail Snapshot
Trails: The loop below is one of many options available. It is one of the more popular loops and connects with just a lot of other trails. If you leave from the parking area, take the whole loop and return to parking area the ride is about 9 miles. It is difficult to get lost in Tucson Mountain Park as all of the trails lead back to a main road.
Difficulty: I would rate it as a difficult - strenuous upper level intermediate
Outdoor Travels Rating: Trails 2.5 out of 5 bikes, Scenery 4 out of 5
Thumbs Up
- Pretty scenery
- Some sections are very entertaining
- Helpful local riders
Thumbs Down
- The initial road from the Star Pass trialhead is hard riding and boring.
- You'll need some sort of map if you are riding this for the first time.Good trail maps are scarce. The best? $12.99 for "The Map" - at Tucson bike shops.
- 20% of the trail reviewed here is loose gravel slog hell through dry washes
- Some sections are more suited to Jeeps
Nuts & Bolts
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Directions to Star Pass trailhead: Take St. Mary's Road west it turns into Anklam as it curves and approaches the mountains. Turn south into Star Pass Resort (a golf community). Take a left at the first stop sign and a right onto the gravel road to the trailhead.
Activities: Hiking, mountain biking
Admission: currently none
Contact: Pima County Parks and Recreation 3500 W. River Road, Tucson, Arizona 85741 Phone: 520-877-6006 email: pcpr@parks.co.pima.az.us
Bike Rental: Broadway Bicycle, 140 S Sarnoff Dr, Tucson, AZ 85710 Phone: 520-296-7819
Lodging: The Sun Catcher Bed and Breakfast, 105 N. Avenida Javelina, Tucson, AZ 85748 Phone: 877-775-8355
Maps and Stuff
Trail Photos
Notice how rocky and tough the climb is just to get to the entrance gate!
Mountain Biking
Tucson Mountain Park - Star Pass
Tucson, Arizona
Loose gravel slog hell through dry washes - and a bit of nice trail just outside of Tucson.
by Dana Farnsworth, Outdoor Travels
Overview
Located just 6 miles west of Tucson, Arizona, this park encompasses the area better known as Gates Pass. Tucson Mountain Park is located south of Saguaro National Park West. Tucson is the largest city in the area with plenty of resources and facilities.
The trails here are a mix of rocky double track, twisty hard packed single track and dry washes filled with loose gravel. Many options for most intermediate to advanced riders are available. They rise and fall through a beautiful desert landscape that is a favorite sunset watching area for locals. There are several trailheads from which to access the bike trails in the park. One of the most popular is just outside the park in Star Pass Resort. Good free trail maps are scarce. "The Map" is available for $12.99 at Tucson area bike shops.
Biking Log - December 29, 2002
Reading the Official Visitors Guide to Tucson that I found at the bed and breakfast my wife and I were staying at, I found what looked like to be a nice intermediate level loop to ride. With map in hand and a $20 a day rented Trek 4500 from Broadway Bicycles (with reflectors and a kick stand no less) stashed in the back of our rented pickup truck, we set off to find Star Pass and its "intermediate" trails described as possessing "beautiful views of the valley".
My wife Kelli wouldn't be along for the ride toady, as she twisted her knee while backpacking in Saguaro East a couple of days prior. With Kelli navigating, and me driving, we were having one hell of a time finding the trailhead. Our problems were several. First, we didn't realize that the trailhead is in a resort golf community. Second, Anklam Road splits and is called the same thing (you'll want to continue west). Third, the trailhead isn't marked. It's recognizable by being the only dirt and gravel road you encounter when following the driving directions listed above.
When we finally found the trailhead, I quizzed a local who was returning from a ride as to what directions I may need. I rarely if ever ride anywhere that's unfamiliar without a map. This time was an exception. I had read that it was a loop, so I assumed that would make for easy navigation. I was glad I asked someone, as the actual trail system is more complicated than advertised. I quickly sketched a rendition of his map for my reference. The "loop" includes jeep roads, single track, dry washes and dirt roads, so I was glad to have at least a representation of what to expect.
Setting out I was immediately disappointed. From the trailhead, I was riding an exceptionally rocky and uninteresting half-mile or so section. I was getting the crap beat out of me from all of the rocks. Working hard and going nowhere - two joggers actually passed me by. Just when I thought it might get better, it didn't. The road led me to a steep and long rocky climb up to the entrance gate of the Tucson Mountain Wildlife area. "Now, the fun must finally start", I thought to myself, I was somewhat wrong in my optimism. On the other side of the hill was a rocky descent that although it was a welcome relief from rocky ascents - it still managed to beat even more snot out of me. This was followed by a all too short section of flat hard-packed single track that was followed by a rocky dip, deep loose gravel dry wash crossing, and a bolder strewn steep climb on the other side. Being an optimist, I continued on, thinking the worst must be over.
I began a climb that appeared to wind around behind a large hill. I thought my map indicated a turn to the right. I was wrong. I ended up asking a friendly local hiker for help. He actually recognized the trail system from my hand drawn map and pointed me in the correct direction which was back towards where I made the incorrect turn. Back at the top of the hill I noticed a nice looking piece of single track that looked to be an alternate route. It had a hard immediate climb, but I thought that it would be more enjoyable than the double track I was on. It was short lived. I reached the top of the climb only to find that the trail stopped. I could see the double track below, so I started bushwhacking my way down a steeply inclined boulder and back onto the trail. I mounted my bike and just as quickly, almost wiped out in a glorious display of flailing arms, legs and bike as I entered a rock crevice that didn't allow me to ascend the other side. By this time, the hiker who had given me directions was now behind me, observing my futility. I mounted back up quickly and never looked back - hiding my embarrassment. I thought to myself that I was glad the backdrop for this ride was so beautiful, because with the exception of exercise, I was getting little else out of this thrashing.
The trail conditions were okay for a short distance until I reached a parking lot that is another trailhead - parking area G3. As you enter the lot from the trail there is a gate that I had to lift my bike over. The gate was on my map, so I felt confident that I knew where I was. The next long section was nothing but gravel parking lot leading to another gate that was also on my map. I headed off to the right on some nice looking single track. I stopped to take a look at my map when a local rider passing through the gate indicated I should follow him to the left. Good thing he was there! I was getting very tired, but I wasn't going to lose my newfound local "guide"! We chatted a little as we rode some very nice single track through a saguaro cactus forest. The trail was hard packed and full of twists, turns, quick descents and sharp ascents. Finally! I was getting to ride something enjoyable.
We came to a clearing, there where two other riders there who were also looking for the Star Pass trailhead. Mark (my new riding partner) gave them directions. As they peddled off, I started to follow them when Mark indicated we should wait a few minutes. "Widow Maker climb is right around the corner. I've made it up one time. I'm going to give them some time to get out of the way", Mark said. As it turned out, he was right. The climb is a killer - a long, rocky and technical leg-burning ascent. We passed the two riders about halfway up. I seriously was running out of gas at this point, but I wasn't about to lose Mark; he knew the way back to the trailhead. Mark tripped up near the top of the climb and I followed suit. Earlier I had mentioned to Mark that I couldn't stand riding in the dry washes that were out here. Mark had replied with a laugh and a "just wait" comment.
As we descended the hill, we entered a dry wash, (Yetman trail I think) that ended up being very long, perhaps a half-mile or more. Dry washes are ravines that water flows through in the rainy seasons. When they are dry, they are filled with 4" to 8" deep loose small gravel. If I wasn't already tired and beat, all I needed now was to flog my tired ass through loose pea gravel. Mark whom had fresher legs and more experience pulled away from me. I spun out several times and generally hated this portion of the ride. It's seriously not fun. I'm not entirely sure why the planner of this trail insisted upon using a dry wash of this length as trail. There is plenty of land around it. It just made no sense whatsoever to me. When I finally exited, I found Mark patiently waiting for me at a trail sign. He showed me the direction I needed to go, I said "thanks" and we parted ways. The trail that followed was hard packed double track that was very fast, for a very short period. It soon connected with a familiar section of trail that would return me back to the entrance gate. That meant that I had one long rocky climb and a long ride down a rocky road after the gate to get back to the trailhead.
Overall I'm a little confused as to recommend this ride. 20% is beautiful twisty semi-technical single track, 40% is incredibly rocky double track, that is probably better suited to Jeeps, 20% loose gravel slog hell through dry washes and the remaining 20% is hard packed single track. I can say the scenery is sublime. The backdrop for my ride was always very pretty. It is in a way a saving grace for the less-desirable sections of the loop. Its proximity to Tucson is a benefit and the backside of the loop that twisted its way through a saguaro forest was certainly memorable. My best advice is to take its "intermediate" rating with a grain of salt. I would rate it as a "very strenuous intermediate" trail. Not too technical that intermediate riders can't ride it, but technical and difficult enough to challenge even advanced riders.
