Trip Summary

9 Days / 8 Nights
Avg miles per day: 30-60
Hill profile: Long shallow hills.

Cost: $4,700/team
($2,350/person)

Adjusted to reflect no group dinners.

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Explore the bike path along the river banks on the west side of town. (Don’t expect to see water in the river, though. It is the desert!)

Mileage 15 to 50 miles.

On Day 2, we set out for Green Valley. The roads are incredibly quiet. Large Saguaro cacti that are unique to the Sonoran Desert are spread across the landscape. Stop at the historic mission, San Xavier del Bac, located on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. Then continue on to the town of Sahuarita where there are plenty of eateries. You will ride alongside pecan groves as you approach Green Valley. You may be able to stop at the Titan Missile Museum to tour the preserved site where an actual Titan II Missile is housed (but no longer operational). This is the only museum of its kind…anywhere. (Note that as of September 2020, the museum is closed due to the coronovirus.)

The day’s mileage is 43 miles with about 1600 feet of elevation.

On Day 3, we will be riding from Green Valley to the artsy town of Tubac. The riding ranges from 20 to 40 miles. You will have a choice of how to spend the day. Our longer route has a stop at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory Visitors Center. The Observatory is operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Harvard University. You can browse the galleries in Tubac…or you can enjoy a round of golf at the Tubac Golf Resort where we will spend the night.

We leave Tubac on Day 4, on our way to the old west town of Patagonia. Spend the morning enjoying the art scene in Tubac. On the way to Patagonia, stop at the Mission Tumacácori National Historical Park. (Admission is free if you have a National Park Pass.) Watch the landscape change from desert to grassland as we climb (yes, climb!) into Patagonia. The route choices range from 35 to 45 miles with 2000 to 3000 foot of elevation. The longer route also goes to the beautiful Sonoita Creek State Natural Area. Patagonia is the filming location of many western movies.

Today, Patagonia is a mecca for birders. We will take a stop at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. (It’s pretty cool seeing these tiny birds close up!) We will be staying at the Stage Stop Inn.

So before we leave Patagonia on Day 6, you will have the opportunity to take a guided hike with Matt Brown owner of the Patagonia Birding & Butterfly Co. He will tell us about the area, birding in general and point out the various species of birds as well as the local trees and vegetation. We will then ride to the wine country of Sonoita and Elgin.

Viticulture in Arizona began 500 years ago with Spanish Jesuit priests planting vines. Now there are over 110 wineries, vineyards and cellars in mostly Southern Arizona. Stop and do a tasting (or two!). Mileage choices are 13 to 40 miles (or more if you want them!)

Day 7, will be our longest day of riding. We will be riding 56 miles from Sonoita back into Tucson. But no worries, after mile 10, it is all downhill! You’re welcome!

Once back into Tucson, you will ride past the Boneyard (where old planes go to die) and the PIMA Air & Space Museum. There are great guided tours of both the Boneyard and the airplanes at PIMA. We end the day back at the Lodge on the Desert.