Coronado National Forest Biking Articles

Coronado National Forest Guide: Biking

Elephant Head Mountain Bike Route twists 13 miles (one-way) through rugged foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson between the mouth of Madera Canyon and the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory Visitor Center. Elevations range from 3,600 to 4,600 feet.
The Coronado National Forest has dozens of trails, many on southeastern Arizona's "sky islands" (isolated cool-climate mountaintop forests). Any trail not within a wilderness area or specifically posted "closed" is open for mountain bike use.
A scenic ride across the Chiricahua Mountains connects Pinery Canyon in the west with Cave Creek Canyon on the east, topping out at Onion Saddle (7,600 feet); turn south here for Rustler Park (8,400 feet).
Mount Graham (10,720 feet) has the greatest vertical rise of any mountain in Arizona. You can ride to the heights on the 35-mile-long Swift Trail Parkway, paved much of the way.
The Catalina Highway ascends from the desert on the northeast edge of Tucson to the alpine forests atop Mount Lemmon (9,157 feet) in 28 miles. All but the last mile is paved.

By Travel Expert: Bill Weir