Bicycle bloggers and outdoor enthusiasts Russ Roca and Laura Crawford of the website Path Less Pedaled are returning to Tucson and are looking for your suggestions of things to do.
The pair visited Tucson in 2010 on a bike tour across the country. Since then, the couple has been filming videos from their home base is Portland, Oregon.
Roca and Crawford have been dabbling in other outdoor activities including fly fishing and running.
Though fly fishing might be out here in Southern Arizona, the duo is hoping to escape Portland’s dreary weather in the middle of February get in some riding, both road and mountain, and some running.
What do you suggest they do while they are here?
Leave a comment below or on Facebook.
February is one of the busiest months here in Tucson…Gem Show and Rodeo keep things pretty hopping in addition to University of Arizona Basketball drawing close to March Madness….but for what you guys might be looking for:
24 Hours in the Old Pueblo is Feb 17-19, just north of Tucson is one of the biggest and best 24 hour mountain bike events in the country http://www.epicrides.com/events/24-hours-in-the-old-pueblo/event-guide/
give the Arizona Trail (the Cienega Corridor) a go for a trail run. I suggest starting at the Gabe Zimmerman trailhead out in Vail, AZ and head south for upwards of 13 miles and then back. Pretty smooth singletrack for running or mountain bike riding. Fair warning, ZERO facilities in this stretch….make sure you are well prepared and bring lots of sunscreen. http://www.aztrail.org/vailtrailrun/ (this is a link to an event on this very section held in April 2017 for detailed trail info)
if you have not given rock climbing a go Tucson is a great locale. Mt. Lemmon offers around the calendar year climbing spots depending on the temperature. Plenty of novice, bolted routes in addition to expert ones dot the entire length of Mt Lemmon Highway https://www.mountainproject.com/v/mount-lemmon-catalina-highway/106822703
road riding can be found everywhere, but if you guys did not climb the Mt Lemmon Highway you need to do that. 26 miles to the top with about 8000 feet of climbing…..get some pie at the top as a reward.
Tucson has IMO the best shared use path system in the country. Pima County’s Loop path stretches out to 130 or so miles and encompasses the metro Tucson area and extends into the north in Marana and Oro Valley https://www.facebook.com/ridetheloop
hiking can be had in each compass direction. To the north the Tortolita Mountains, the east Catalina and Rincon Mountains, to the south the Santa Rita Mountains, and to the west the Tucson Mountains. Plenty of trails for all levels and times of the year.