BROWN MOUNTAIN
Level: Intermediate to Advanced (2B to 3D)
Description: When it comes to technical trails, East Tucon has La Milagrosa, and the west side has Brown Mountain. The majority of this trail is not for the faint of heart. While the lower section is intermediate-level riding, the upper section is steep, rocky and brutal with dangerous exposures. If you're not comfortable with this kind of ride, then be aware you will be walking a lot, both up and down the mountain. That being said, the views are incredible! This is one of Tucson's best technical trails.
The favorite spot to park is Parking area G5 in the Saguaro National Mounument/Starr Pass area. From this parking area, around Brown Mountain and back, it's about 16-miles (roughly.) Ride from the North side of the parking lot and you'll cross a small wash and turn LEFT on the powerline trail. You will follow this for about 2.2 miles, paralleling Starr Pass Road, which will put you right next to the Gates Pass/Kinney Intersection.
Now you have two options:
1) Before you get to the parking area at Gates Pass/Kinney, (see here) turn right (north) and cross a rough wash. On the other side, you'll hit a rough old jeep road (double-track) heading north. Follow this for about one-mile until you hit a very obvious Jeep road turning left. Follow the left jeep road another mile or so. Just after you pass a large wash you'll come to another intersection. Take the left fork heading south and it will dump you out at the parking lot right across from the main Brown Mountain trailhead.
2) From the Gates Pass/Kinney intersection, turn right (north) on Kinney and ride about one mile, until you reach the third official PAVED parking area on the right. You will pass one or two unpaved areas along the way. The main trailhead is directly across the street.
From here, cross the street onto the singletrack. You should cross a wash with rocks embedded in concrete and just beyond the other side the trail will split. Take the right fork which will turn back and lead you North, counter-clockwise around the base of Brown Mountain. For those who don't want to try the difficult upper section, take the left fork which will take you around to meet the upper section at it's southern conclusion, here.
Finally, follow the singletrack south to a parking lot, across McCain loop and down the paved campground area where you can hit the restroom and get water. Ride the road south until you get to this point, take the track down to where it intersects the jeep road, hang a left and stay straight until you empty out at the Gates Pass/Kinney intersection. Cross the street and take the jeep road all the way back to your car (or ride the road all the way back.)
Directions To the popular G5 parking area: After you crest Gates Pass and start the drive down the other side, G5 will be the 2nd parking pullout on your right. Google Map.
Or you can park directly across from the Brown Mountain Trailhead. Google Map.
The Webmaster beginning the hard climb.
Navigating the loose, steep switchbacks is very tricky.
From the top of Brown Mountain, looking back at the G5 parking lot (red circle).
Rush hour on the switchbacks.
