Sonoran Desert Family Trip

MEETING TIME AND PLACE

This trip will begin at 8:30am MST at Performance Bicycle 3302 E Speedway, Tucson, Arizona, 520-327-3232. We will load up the van and then drive to Tucson Mountain Park to begin our ride. You will need to spend the night before in Tucson.

ENDING TIME AND PLACE

We will return to the bike shop in Tucson between 4:00-5:00 pm on the last day.

ITINERARY

TRIP DAY 1

Our goal for the morning is the Tucson Mountain Park, a 20,000 acre Sonoran Desert natural preserve that includes one of the most magnificent Saguaro Cactus forests in the world. We will ride some wide rolling singletrack trails for about five miles before lunch. After lunch we will visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. This famous research institution includes a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place! Exhibits re-create the natural landscape of the Sonoran Desert region so realistically you find yourself eye-to-eye with mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila Monsters, and more. Within the museum grounds, you will see more than 300 animal species and 1,200 kinds of plants. There are almost two miles of paths traversing 21 acres of beautiful desert. This is a complete overview of the southwestern flora and fauna and will give us a great foundation of knowledge to enjoy the rest of our journey. Finally we will shuttle out to the Santa Rita Mountains and Gardner Canyon, our camp for the next two nights. TOTAL MILEAGE - 5-9 miles

TRIP DAY 2

We will do several loops from camp in the shadow of Mount Wrightson. The morning ride will take us though limestone cave country, and we'll traverse in and out of old growth oak trees. We'll have lunch at the historic gold mining establishment of Kentucky Camp and learn about the trials and tribulations of the early gold miners. After lunch we will have several options, including more riding for those that wish it, or a shuttle back to camp for games and activities for the kids. TOTAL MILEAGE - 8-20 miles

TRIP DAY 3

From our camp nestled in old growth oak trees, we will head for the Flume Trail. This section of trail follows an old water flume built by the ambitious gold miners in the early 1900's. Their hope was that through "advanced water technology" they would be able to recover trace amounts of gold that were previously not extractable. Needless to say, no one made much money, but in their efforts to make water run uphill, they did leave us a great swooping and zooming trail that leads us right back to camp. "Downhill in both directions on this flume trail"! Back at camp, we'll pack up and head to the tiny town of Patagonia, Arizona. After lunch in the town park and a peek into Patagonia's fun art galleries, we will head over to the Sonita Creek Preserve which was the first project of the Nature Conservancy in Arizona. This area includes 130 year old Fremont Cottonwoods, a permanent stream, high biodiversity, abundant birdlife and a pristine riparian area. Afterwards, a short shuttle will take us to our camp in the nearby Canelo Hills. TOTAL MILEAGE - 10-15 miles

TRIP DAY 4

Spectacular scenery and views will start our day today. We'll ride through the San Rafael Valley, the historic region where the Apaches, Mexicans, rustlers and ranchers were commonly friends or foes from the mid 1800's until the early 1900's. We'll see the old mining districts of the Patagonia Mountains and continue until we reach the ghost town of Harsaw. Silver and lead extractions were the bread and butter of this region until the market fizzled out in the early 1900's. A visit to Harsaw will be convenient from our large campsite as well as plenty of afternoon extra credit riding. TOTAL MILEAGE - 16-25 miles

TRIP DAY 5

We'll start our final day with a ride back into Patagonia, where we'll load up for a shuttle to the fringes of the Tucson Valley. The Saguaro National Park in the Rincon Mountain District is the destination of our last pedal. Saguaro National Park, previously Saguaro National Monument, consists of 91,327 acres which contain spectacular examples of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem including a wide variety of desert plants, and of course the famous Saguaro Cactus, symbol of the American Southwest. In 1933 the Rincon Mountain District was the first national park or monument set aside to protect a species of plant. Zipping through the cactus forests and granite boulders along a combination of dirt trails and paved one way roads will bring us to a great lunch spot for our final feast before heading back to the bike shop in Tucson. TOTAL MILEAGE - 16-24 miles

TERRAIN

Riding Surface: Variable. Loose rocky singletrack, double track and dirt roads.
Technical Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.
Physical Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.
Altitude: 2,000-6,000 feet.

Please Note: We will be without vehicle support during the singletrack sections of the trip. Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety, and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.

TRAVEL LOGISTICS

GETTING THERE

-Driving
Tucson is located at the intersection of Interstates 10 and 19. It is 110 miles from Phoenix, about 1- 1/2 hours drive. There is parking available at the bike shop.

-Flying into Tucson
Airport Code: TUS

-Flying into Phoenix, AZ
Airport Code: PHX

There are two options.
1. Rent a car and drive to Tucson. Park the car at the bike shop while on the tour.

2. Take the Arizona Shuttle. Rates are $37 one way. Call 800-888-2749 or 520-795-6771 for departure times and to make reservations.

TAXI SERVICE
Arizona Stage Coach 520-889-1000 (airport shuttle)
Alpha Transportation 520-322-0868 (taxi service)

LODGING

It is a good idea to book your rooms ahead and these are our recommendations.

Windmill Inn
$175-200
800-547-4747, 520-577-0007

Marriott University Park Hotel
$190-275
800-228-9290, 520-792-4100

Historic Hotel Congress
$80-109
800-722-8848, 520-622-8848

Best Western Royal Sun Inn
$120-150
800-545-8858, 520-622-8871

These last three hotels are near the University and will require a taxi ride to the bike shop.

Above rates are approximate.

WEATHER

There are really just two kinds of weather: weather you like and weather you do not like. Come prepared for both and you won't care what the weather does.

If you have questions about temperatures for your specific trip please feel free to give us a call 800-845-2453 or email us at biking@westernspirit.com. We will be happy to give you packing suggestions and help you with ideas for things to do before and after your bike trip.

PACKING FOR YOUR TRIP
You will receive a tour packing list with your tour confirmation package. Be sure to bring everything on this list. Weather in the desert can be unpredictable so be sure to bring all the warm clothing and rain gear listed! Please pack all of your gear in a medium to large duffel bag. It will ride in the trailer. If you have any questions about anything on the list, please call us.

SHIPPING YOUR BIKE

You are welcome to ship your bike to us in advance of your trip. For a moderate fee we will unpack it, build it, and ship it back home to you afterwards. Bikes can be insured to $4,000. Domestic shipping only. If you decide you want to go this route, you must call us in advance of your trip so we can inform the shop that your bike is on its way.

To ship your bike UPS, send it to Performance Bicycle 3302 E Speedway, Tucson, AZ 85716; 520-327-3232. It is critical that you include your name, "Western Spirit Cycling" and tour date on the outside of the box. Check with your local UPS people for the number of days needed for it to arrive in time. It is imperative to have your bike finely tuned and cleaned before your tour so you know it is in top running condition.

If you have any other questions about trip logistics, please feel free to send us an email or, better yet, to call us at 800-845-2453. We will be happy to try to help you answer any other questions you might have about our bike trips.
THINGS TO DO

MAPS

Your guides will have all the maps necessary for your trip. If you would like your own copy for a souvenir, here is all the info:

For Forest Service Maps of the Western Spirit Routes go to http://www.store.usgs.gov/. To get to the Forest Service maps go to "Featured Products" and then under "Go to product line" choose US Forest Service Maps and Arizona for: 111559 CORONADO NAT'L FOREST NOGALES SIERRA, AZ