Ride Profile
Mt Lemmon
- Tucson, Arizona, US
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- 59.04 miles
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- Advanced level
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- Uploaded By: Tyler Ford
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- 5 Comments
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Ride Elevation
Must Do Ride
This is one of the best rides in the state of Arizona and right up there with one of the best climbs in the US.
Ride Description
This is an epic ride! You start off at 2,557 ft surrounded by saguaro cactus and mesquite trees and climb as high as 8,198 ft to pine tree vegetation and cool air. If you love to climb and descend this is the ride for you. The road is in great shape with a bike lane for most of the ride. ON the way down there is no need for a bike lane because you will be keeping up with traffic. Lance Armstrong in his winter training months in preparation for Tour de France rented a cabin on the top of Mt Lemmon and would climb up the mountain to top off a long days ride. This ride is up there with some of the best climbing rides in the US. To add 2.89 miles and 760 ft of climbing to the ride you can climb up to the Mt Lemmon Ski area. Just before Summerhaven towards the top of the ride turn right on Ski Run Rd. Potential Hazards: No real hazards other than potential high speeds and cliffs on the way down. Just ride in control and beware of vehicles. You may want an extra layer for the ride down.
Start Location and Parking
Park at the Safeway shopping center at the intersection of Tanque Verde Rd. and Catalina Hwy.
Ride Directions
Jump on Catalina Hwy and head northeast. Catalina Hwy turns into Mount Lemmon Hwy at the base of the climb. Keep riding to the top. Stop for some awesome homemade pie at the Mt Lemmon Café and ride back down the hill.
Food, Coffee and Juice Joints close to Start/Finish
Chuy's Mesquite Broiler and La Buzz Coffee shop at Catalina Hwy and Tanque Verde Rd
Food, Water, & Bathrooms along route
Water and Bathrooms at (Mile 8 - Molino Basin) (Mile 12 - Bear Canyon) (Mile 18- Windy Point) (Mile 24 - Palisade Ranger Station) (Mile 20 - Sumer Haven)
Recommended Bike Shops (name, phone, website)
Sabino Cycles 520-885-3666
A++ Climb
posted by Tyler Ford on 03/24/08, 7:56 pm
If you are in Tucson this is a must ride!
A++ Climb
posted by Tyler Ford on 03/24/08, 7:57 pm
If you are in Tucson this is a must ride!
water
posted by dgilby on 07/19/09, 4:47 am
This is an excellent ride however no one ever mentions water. Until you get to Palisades (almost to the top) there is no water. All campgrounds are dry. Two water bottles can go quick on a hot day. Carry more behind the seat or drink less! Mile 8, 12, and 18 mentioned above are dry as far as we could tell and were told by others.
Water Only at Mile 19
posted by Bruce_Ride on 09/29/09, 12:00 am
There in one water stop at Palisades at about mile 19--no other water so bring enough! The first few miles are very hot and you can use up two bottles quickly. Also in early to mid November, the water spicket can be frozen, and the water may be turned off by the Rangers. Normally there's little or no cell service--there is a pay phone right across the street at the store, Ranger Station there at Palisades should you need to call your jealous mates and tell them how great the ride is going!
Mt. Lemmon Ride
posted by farva on 12/31/69, 5:00 pm
Gotta agree with everyone else - this is a fantastic ride. Hat's off to the civil engineers who put this road in - the grade is pretty much perfect the entire way. There is plenty of shoulder & the road is in great shape. Lots of nice scenery too. The meat of the interesting climbing ends at the pass above Paradise. After that there are some ups & downs to get over to the ski area. The short steep road above the ski is in pretty bad shape & will rattle your fillings loose on the way down. That part is worth doing once I guess. Pretty jealous of cyclists who have this ride in their backyard. I'd definitely do this one again.