Arizona: Tucson Bike Paths & the Sonora Desert Bike Tour

DAY 1: We meet in the late afternoon at the Omni Tucson National Resort, nestled near the scenic Santa Catalina foothills. Come early and enjoy the resort’s ample amenities, including tennis and pickleball courts, swimming pools, golf course, spa and direct access to the bike path. After a rental bike fitting and orientation, we’ll get better acquainted at our first dinner together. 0 miles.

DAY 2: After breakfast, we hop on The Chuck Huckelberry Loop and follow the Santa Cruz River south as it skirts around downtown Tucson and its urban parks. While the river ran dry in the early 20^th century due to excessive groundwater pumping, in recent years the city has restored flow in sections using recycled water. In turn, a verdant desert ecosystem is starting to return.

Our destination is the San Xavier del Bac Mission, located on the Tohono O’odham reservation. The mission was founded in 1692, and the white stucco church, a ravishing example of Spanish Colonial architecture, was constructed a century later. We’ll enjoy lunch on the grounds before shuttling (or cycling, if you’re ambitious) back to our hotel for another group dinner. 25 or 50 miles. ±528’ for regular option.

DAY 3: We start the day with a quick shuttle to Saguaro National Park East. We’ll cycle the celebrated Cactus Forest Drive; the 8-mile paved loop packs a lot of thrilling views with its twists and turns. Of course, the mighty saguaro rules here, but watch for teddy-bear cholla and prickly pear as well. Then it’s all downhill and mostly bike paths back to our resort. Dinner is on your own. 38 miles +812’/-1564’.

DAY 4: Many say Tucson’s most scenic bike path leads to Oro Valley, a northern suburb with breathtaking proximity to the Santa Catalina Mountains. We’ll pass through Oro Valley on our way to Catalina State Park, where we’ll break, if the mood strikes, to hike a nature trail. Lunch and dinner are your own today, so you should have plenty of time to enjoy the activities at the resort in the afternoon. 20 miles ±615’.

DAY 5: This morning, we shuttle to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Here we’ll make a deeper dive into the region’s native plants, animals, and natural history through exhibits spread over 100 acres. Most of the experience is outdoors.

After lunch by the museum, we’ll pedal through Saguaro National Park West and six memorable miles on Bajada Loop Drive. This bike-friendly gravel road is surrounded by a saguaro forest. We’ll be sure to stop at Signal Hill, where a short hike will lead us to petroglyphs created by the Hohokam people between about 1000 AD. While the precise meaning of these rock drawings remains largely a mystery, theories abound, from prayer ritual and fertility symbols to solar calendar and directional markers. We will celebrate our week together at a final group dinner. 33 miles +1524’/-2041’.

DAY 6: Our final ride gives you one sweeping view of Tucson, with a hefty dose of local history. We will shuttle to the entrance of Sentinel Peak Park & then cycle to the summit of Sentinel Peak on a road closed to vehicles. Once used as a lookout by Native Americans and European settlers, the peak is also known today as “A” Mountain. It got the name in 1916 when University of Arizona students built a giant letter “A” on the mountain’s east side in 1916.

Bike paths should get us back to the hotel in time for a quick shower and one last picnic lunch. We’ll provide a shuttle to the airport arriving by 1:30pm. Hope to see you again soon! 18 miles. ±605’.