Helpful Goodies
Level: Beginner to Intermediate (2B-3B)
Special Note: A fantastic, Fantasy-Island type trail near Green Valley. A State Trust Land permit is required.
Inspecting the local wildlife (the cow is, rather.)
Look at that scenery! Try to ignore the spandex.
Fantastic flowy singletrack awaits.
The West Desert Preserve is a 2000 acre area to the west of Green Valley. It is currently Arizona State Trust Land (so you need a permit!) and there are plans in place to permanently acquire and preserve the land for the future. The trails traversing the area vary in length and difficulty, and comprise power line roads, ranching roads, and single-track hiking and mountain biking trails. The 5-mile mountain bike trail winds around the West Desert Preserve and provides great views of the Santa Rita Mountains and the valleys below. Some of the MTB trail is level but a few rocky ups and downs will interest you. And you will get good practice on several tight sandy turns. Take the time to explore the pristine area with your bike or on your feet. A unique feature of the area is the almost one hundred pineapple cacti that are resident.
Directions: From Tucson, head South on Interstate-19 toward Nogales for 20-miles or so. Take a right on Exit 69 for Duval Mine Road and go west past La Canada Road (traffic signal at intersection) for 1.8 miles. Open the gate on your left to the main trailhead.
Google Map – West Desert Preserve
