Route Map……Saguaro National Park Loop, Tucson
This is a great after work ride since my day finishes on the east side of town.
The short, very steep descent immediately after you enter the park is a recipe for a wipe-out if you’re not expecting it. (Just beyond the shade in the above image the road plummets and makes a sharp right hand turn at the bottom!)
There’s a parking lot at the Sahuaro Baptist Church on Old Spanish Trail and Houghton, which turns this ride into a short 12-mile loop. Starting the ride at the church means not having to deal with streets like Broadway during the rush hour.
I’ve followed the same route that you show on your map. It’s a great ride! I’ve done it a couple of times on the night of a full moon, without lights it’s a doable ride and very pleasant. (As you’ve stated, it’s requisite to be aware of the steep descent and quick right turn at the beginning of the ride).
Jim
8 Nov 11 at 3:14 pm
Do you have to pay the National Park fee if you’re on a bicycle? If so, how much is it?
Gary
8 Nov 11 at 3:51 pm
Jim/ cooool! gotta watch out for rattlesnakes in the road, however. i nearly ran over another one.
Gary/ i was going to address this in my next post, but the answer (unfortuntaltey) appears to be that bicyclists do have to pay a fee 🙁
fridaycyclotouriste
8 Nov 11 at 7:44 pm
Ooh, what a pretty ride that must be. Fee-wise, I like to buy the $80 annual all-park access card… gets you into all the national parks and national monuments (and BLM lands etc), plus paying the money gives me the impetus/excuse to visit more national parks! http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm
laura
10 Nov 11 at 9:21 am