Tucson Ride Routes
Day 1: East Tucson Arrival Day Spin
Typically we start the week out with a very relaxed spin around the East side of Tucson. This is great
opportunity to get the travel out of your legs and get to know everyone at The Cycling House. The arrival
day spin is also the only day that we will not have our support van. Typically the ride is in the late afternoon,
and is 1-2 hours and 30 miles or less with just over 1,000 feet of climbing. East Tucson offers some great
views and acquaints everyone with the surrounding area.
Ride Details= ~25-30 miles, ~1,000 feet elevation gain, ~2 hours
Ride With GPS Link
www.thecyclinghouse.com​ |
406-219-1318
| [email protected]
Day 2: Saguaro East & Pistol Hill (Single Saguaro East Loop)
Saguaro East and Pistol Hill is a classic East Tucson ride. The highlight of the ride is Saguaro East National
Park which boasts the largest population of Saguaro cactus in the world. Pistol Hill is a short climb at the
end of the out and back that offers a great view of the Tucson valley and the Santa Rita mountain range
South of Tucson. The loop in Saguaro East National Park is one of the greatest routes in the United States
for road cycling. It offers pristine pavement, spectacular views, fun twisty turns, and a good hill in the
middle. The route home is a net elevation loss and offers great views of the route up Mount Lemmon.
Ride Details= 50-60 miles, ~2,500 feet elevation gain, ~3.5-4.5 hours
Ride With GPS Link
www.thecyclinghouse.com​ |
406-219-1318
| [email protected]
Day 3: Mt Lemmon
Mount Lemmon is the crown jewel of Tucson riding and offers one of the best climbs in all of North America.
Many professional cyclists have made Tucson their winter home just because of Mount Lemmon. The road
switchbacks its way up the Catalina mountain range, topping out at 8,000+ feet and finishing up at
Summerhaven; a small town and Ski Valley; the most southern Ski resort in North America. The ride starts
with a 4-10 mile warm up from The Cycling House before hitting mile 0 of the 20.5 miles that we climb. Mile
markers and elevation signs give a good idea of where you are at on the climb although the amazing views
might take your mind off the actual climb. As you climb from the desert floor you travel through several
microclimates and enter a high alpine forest at the top of the climb. The climb itself is nearly 5,500 feet of
climbing at 5-8% grade over the 20.8 miles. The road surfaces up Mount Lemmon are impeccable and the
swooping turns make for a fun descent. Fourteen miles up Windy Point offers a spectacular vista and is a
great goal for everyone at just under 7,000 feet. Mount Lemmon is a great personal challenge for everyone
but with proper pacing, good fueling and determination is a very achievable goal. The total ride is 50 miles
with 5,500+ feet of climbing. We will finish up the ride back at The Cycling House.
Ride Details= 50-60 miles, ~5,500+ feet elevation gain, ~4-5+ hours
Ride With GPS Link
www.thecyclinghouse.com​ |
406-219-1318
| [email protected]
Day 4: Gates Pass
Gates Pass is one of the most well known cycling routes in Tucson. It offers spectacular views, a national
park and challenging climbs. The ride will be a shuttle ride from the Cycling House and we will start at El
Mercado. Our route to Gates Pass will vary with each group and is dependent on the desired mileage. The
real ride starts on Gates Pass road and we begin with a gradual climb up the pass that finishes with 2 short
steep pitches to the top of the pass. The climb is well worth the view! The other side of the pass offers
some of the best riding in Tucson. As you descend down Gates Pass you will notice the true desert
vegetation and the multitude of Saguaro cactus. Saguaro National Park West has the highest concentration
of Saguaro cactus in the world! We descend down into the valley to make a figure 8 loop before we climb
back up the other side of Gates Pass. The climb back up Gates Pass is challenging but short as well. It has
a short pitch that is less than ½ mile but hits 12+%. Once you make it to the top with the exception of 2
small hills we will descend back to El Mercado for lunch at Seis Kitchen. The total ride distance for Gates
Pass is 30-60+ miles with 3,000+ feet of elevation gain. We will have a fun optional out and back climb up A
mountain near the end of the ride which adds on 4 miles and a 500 foot climb.
Ride Details= 30-50 miles, ~3,000+ feet elevation gain, ~3-4 hours
Ride With GPS Link
www.thecyclinghouse.com​ |
406-219-1318
| [email protected]
Day 5: Madera Canyon (Option)
Madera Canyon has to be one of the most unique and beautiful places in all of Arizona. It sits 25 miles
South of Tucson in the Santa Rita mountains and is one of the best places in North America for birding.
Over 250 species of birds have been documented in Madera Canyon and birders from around the world visit
Madera Canyon. We start the day out with a 30 minute shuttle down to Roadrunner Market, 16121 South
Houghton Road, Vail, AZ 85641. We start the ride out with a slight downhill on Sahuarita road before
turning onto old Nogales highway. On old Nogales highway the road is flat and cruises through pecan
groves. The 14 mile out starts out with a 9 mile false flat climb before hitting the real bulk of the climb at mile
marker 10. The final 3+ miles of the climb is the most challenging part but the beautiful canyon makes the
ride worth it. Trees offer some shade and the recently paved road makes the climb a true classic. Once
reaching the top of Madera Canyon at 5,400 feet you have a nice descent back down to the ride finish point.
We finish this ride up with a picnic lunch, and a nearby coffee shop has restrooms and some good coffee!
Ride from TCH option= 74.6 miles, ~4,000 feet elevation gain, 5+ hours
Shuttle Option= 50 miles out & back, ~3,500 feet elevation gain, 3.5- 4.5 hours
= 40 miles out & back but finishing in Green Valley, 2.5-3.5 hours
Ride With GPS Link
www.thecyclinghouse.com​ |
406-219-1318
| [email protected]
Day 5: Kitt Peak (Option)
Kitt Peak is not a ride that we do all that often but it is really a great ride. We shuttle out to a gas station at
Three Points for this 56 mile ride. The first 16 miles is along Highway 86, but a big portion of this was just
re-paved with a good shoulder. The final 12 miles you turn off the highway towards Kitt Peak observatory
and top out at 6,880 feet. The Kitt Peak Observatory is one of the largest in the country and is used by
many Universities throughout the country. The lack of light pollution make it an amazing place to view stars.
The climb is desolate, challenging and very similar to some European climbs. The views are spectacular
and the descent is very fun and fast!
Ride Details= 55 miles, ~4,500+ feet elevation gain, ~4+ hours
Ride With GPS Link
www.thecyclinghouse.com​ |
406-219-1318
| [email protected]
Day 5: Parker Canyon Lake (Option)
Parker Canyon is a ride that requires a shuttle but is well worth the 1 hour shuttle each way. The ride has
become an instant classic and starts and finishes at Sonoita Vineyards the oldest winery in Arizona and their
Cabernet Sauvignon was selected by wine critics for the George W. Bush presidential inauguration gala.
Our ride takes us through the rolling hills and grasslands with views of the Huachuca mountains towards
Sierra Vista. The ride does not have any major climbs but has plenty of terrain changes. Our turnaround
point is Parker Canyon lake, which on a hot day can be quite refreshing. Our route home is the same as the
ride home except this time with a net loss. Typically we have a picnic lunch at the winery before making the
drive back to Tucson.
Ride Details= 48 miles, ~3,800+ feet elevation gain, ~4+ hours
Ride With GPS Link
**Please note that we reserve the right to change or cancel any ride should we deem the
conditions too risky or unsafe. This is a sample schedule, the order in which we do the rides at a
particular camp is subject to change.**
www.thecyclinghouse.com​ |
406-219-1318
| [email protected]