You need a state land permit to ride on state land. This includes Fantasy Island, Rail X, the 24 Hour course and the Bobby trails at Oracle Junction. For information on obtaining a state lands permit and why you should have one click HERE.

IMBA Rules of the Trail
1. Ride On Open Trails Only.
2. Leave No Trace.
3. Control Your Bicycle!
4. Always Yield Trail.
5. Never Scare Animals.
6. Plan Ahead.

Comments, Questions or Concerns? Contact the Webmaster.

Some things to remember when riding, especially in Southern Arizona.
1: Let someone know where you are going.
2: Take a minimum of 70 oz. of water.
3: Flats happen, carry a spare tube and pump.
4: ALWAYS, ALWAYS wear a helmet.
5: You can increas e your positive (anti-crash) karma by carrying out trash you find.

Rides are rated based on technical and aerobic difficulty. If you are not sure about the suitability of a ride for your skill/fitness level, call the ride leader. Overestimating your fitness and skill can make the ride unpleasant for you and for the other riders.

HILL RATING
1: Slight rolling terrain
2: Rolling hills, no long climbs, low elevation
3: Hilly , longer/more climbs, possible higher elevation
4: Sustained steep climbs and/or higher elevation, advanced riders only

DIFFICULTY RATING
A: Smooth trail/jeep road
B: Some technical challenges but mostly nontechnical
C: Lots of technical challenges (e.g. big/loose rocks, ruts)
D: Highly technical, advanced riders only

Camping
Gilbert Ray Campground (520) 883-4200 - is located in western Tucson Mountain Park, west of Tucson. The park has many miles of singletrack ranging from relatively easy and flat to steep and technical. Gilbert Ray is also located near the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, a must-visit for people who want to learn about the flora and fauna of the region. In February and March Gilbert Ray fills to capacity every day, so get there early!

Tent camping (no electricity): $7/night
RVs or use of electricity: $12/night
No reservations

Catalina State Park (North of Tucson on the Oracle Highway) (520) 628-5798 - is located at the southern end of the 50 Year Trail, an equestrian, hiking and mountain biking trail that ties into other trails in the Golder Ranch area. These trails are more for intermediate level or above if you ride out of the park. You can drive to Golder Ranch Road and pick up the 50 Year Trail or jeep roads for easier riding. In February and March Catalina State Park also fills to capacity.

$12/night no electric hookup
$19/night electric hookup
No reservations

Mt Lemmon - Higher and cooler... If you are visiting during the warmer months, Mt. Lemmon, at nearly 9,000 feet, is a cooler place to ride. Trails are for the most part much more technical. For information ab out camping, all the Coronado National Forest Santa Catalina Ranger District, 749-8700.

Bed & Breakfast Inns
Karrels' Double K Ranch is located on the east side of Tucson, a short drive from Mount Lemmon and the Redington Pass trails. Features include a garden railway and a working model trail set in one of the rooms, a swimming pool and spa. Owners Ken and Mary Karrels are active in the Pima Trails Association, an organization of hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians who work to keep trails open and to promote preservation of open space in Southern Arizona.

If you are new or visiting Southern Arizona, it is best to ride with someone who knows the area before going off on your own. Many of the trails are not well marked, and getting lost in the desert can turn into a survival ordeal. Lack of water, high daytime and cool nighttime temperatures can be deadly to the unprepared. We recommend riding with a local club or using a commercial guide or outfitter. At the very least, get a good guidebook and ride with somebody else.

Fantasy Island, Tucson Mountain Park and the 50 Year Trail/Golder Ranch area are popular riding areas where you could go solo and probably encounter other trail users if you encounter problems. Maps and trail descriptions for many of our favorite trails can be found in Trails.

Recent fires on Mt. Lemmon have destroyed a lot of habitat, and we'll be experiencing some unusual animal behavior until things get back in balance. We are more likely to encounter mountain lions that are hungry, and if we're not aware and careful, could become a meal for them.

Lions have become a concern at Sabino Canyon a popular visitor spot in the urban fringe; there have been several sightings there, and the USFS could restrict or close access. Other areas bordering and on the mountain -- Chiva, Bellota, Milagrosa, 50 Year, Oracle trails, Bobby -- are also possible lion problem areas. But you could encounter a lion almost any place where we have trails here, so assume you are in lion country wherever you ride.

Realistically, the odds of encountering a mountain lion and being attacked are considerably less than getting killed as we drive to the trailhead. But as long as the possibility exists, it can't hurt to take some precautions. Below are a few suggestions for avoiding becoming one of the few people attacked by a mountain lion.

• Don't ride alone. The l ower trails in the Golder Ranch area and Fantasy Island are probably pretty safe, but otherwise you should have a companion.
• Dawn, dusk and evening hours are prime activity times for lions, so avoid riding or be extra cautious then.
• Do not approach a lion. (!) Back away slowly, and watch for signs that it may attack. (Often these are similar to their domestic distant cousin, your house cat.)
• Do not run from a lion; that is acting like prey, and an invitation to chase. And even if you are a track star you will lose the race.
• Do not bend over or crouch down. The mountain biker who was killed in Southern California, who was riding alone, was believed to be fixing a chain at the time of his attack.
• Make yourself appear larger by opening a jacket, raising your arms and speaking loudly and slowly.
• Throw rocks or sticks to discourage predatory behavior. If attacked, fight back with whatever is at hand and try to protect your head and neck. Use your bike as a weapon/barrier.

What about rattlesnakes and scorpions and other wild critters?

If you are out on the trails during "snake season" - roughly April through October, but warmer or colder temperatures can affect their movement - you have a good chance of seeing a rattlesnake.

Give them room and don't mess with them and you should have no problem. For the most part, the rattlesnakes in Southern Arizona are defensive, not aggressive, and won't strike unless provoked. Most snakebites are from people messing with them, usually men under age 25 who have been drinking. ( There's an interesting article in a back issue of Smithsonian Magazine about this; almost all of the bites on women are around the ankles, obviously from walking to close to one. A lot of men are bitten on the lips -kissing a rattlesnake is a popular pastime among certain macho types - and index finger, which shouldn't ever be within range of a snake.)

On a bike it's particularly hard to get bitten unless you fall and land on one. Off the bike, watch where you put your feet. Being alert and aware is necessary in the desert backcountry just as it is in any other backcountry environment. Rattlesnakes are more active in the evening and morning hours when temperatures are warmest, but in spring or fall they may be more active during the day. Again, it's temperature- driven.

If you are really unlucky and do get bitten, forget all those old snakebite treatments; often, people do themselves more harm from the treatment than the snake does with the bite. The current medical advice is to get to an emergency room. And remember, not every snake bite transfers venom. You can be bitten and have no poison in your system.

Scorpions are nocturnal critters and will be under rocks when you are o ut. It's good to take care at night when camping and even in homes, because some species climb into houses to get water. Only a few species of scorpions in Southern Arizona have poisonous bites, and for a healthy adult the bite is painful but not life threatening.

Bottom line: don't let worry about snakes and scorpions get in the way of a good time, but do be alert and use your head.

Gila monsters are another poisonous species you may encounter. They are shy and retiring, only get above ground a couple of weeks a year, and bites are rare. The good news about a Gila monster bite is it takes time for them to work the poison in. The bad news is that once they latch on it's hard to make them let go. As with any wildlife, enjoy observing them from a safe distance and you should have no problems.

You may encounter larger critters, such as the javelina, a pig-like animal (but not a pig; it's a collared peccary). Left alone, they are harmless and afraid of humans, but if they have to defend themselves they can be fierce. If you see a herd or an individual, watch but don't try to get closer.

Mountain lio ns live here (see warning above), and black bears can be encountered in the higher mountains. Other large animals that may be seen are bighorn sheep (extremely rare) and antelope.