Tucson Mountain Park and Sweetwater Preserve

Saguaro singletrack on Tucson’s west side.

Pima County’s 20,000-acre Tucson Mountain Park and the neighboring Sweetwater Preserve hold about 62 miles of shared trail among the saguaros, from Sweetwater’s smooth, well-kept loops to rockier Starr Pass and Brown Mountain. It is Tucson’s go-to winter riding, about 20 minutes from downtown. Advanced riders should save a day for Mount Lemmon, where shuttled descents drop from pines to cactus.

At a glance

Tucson Mountain Park

~20,000 acres, ~62 miles of trail

Sweetwater Preserve

880+ acres of loops

Nearby networks

Starr Pass, Fantasy Island, Mount Lemmon

Camping

Gilbert Ray, 138 sites, Sep–Apr

Good for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert

What’s here

• Cross-country
• Enduro
• Bike rentals
• Races and festivals

Rentals, guides and shops

• Homegrown Bike Tours

  Regular shuttles up Mount Lemmon, guided rides and trip planning, with rental bikes from partner shop Earlybird Bikes.

• Sabino Cycles

  East-side Specialized and Salsa dealer with a full service shop.

• Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists

  Local club with trail info, including the Fantasy Island network.

• TORCA

  Tucson Off-Road Cyclists and Advocates, a good source on Mount Lemmon trails before you go.

Events

“Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• RaceFeb 12–14, 2027

  24 Hours in the Old Pueblo

  Epic Rides’ round-the-clock desert relay north of Tucson, with a tent city called 24 Hour Town.

• RaceOct 25Past

  MBAA Tucson Enduro

  Round 2 of the Mountain Bike Association of Arizona enduro series, based at Molino Basin on the Catalina Highway.

Where to stay

• lodgeMount Lemmon Lodge

  Boutique lodge at 7,700 ft in Summerhaven, handy for Mount Lemmon days.

  1 hr 30 min drive
• hotelWestward Look Resort

  Resort and spa in the Catalina foothills with mountain views.

  30 min drive
• hotelHotel Congress

  Historic downtown hotel with Club Congress and several bars.

  20 min drive
• innLodge on the Desert

  Pueblo-style boutique hotel in central Tucson.

  25 min drive

Nearby

• Saguaro National Park (West) · 15 min drive

  Dense saguaro forest and scenic drives just north of Sweetwater.

• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum · 20 min drive

  Part zoo, part botanical garden, inside Tucson Mountain Park.

• Mount Lemmon Sky Ride · 1 hr 30 min drive

  Summer chairlift rides at Mount Lemmon Ski Valley, with Cookie Cabin pizza and cookies nearby in Summerhaven.

Getting there

• Tucson International (TUS) · about 30 min drive
• Phoenix · about 1.75 hr

Directions in Google Maps