Wild Hog!
Highlights & Remarkable Spots
Town of Patagonia / Start & Finish
Locals like to describe Patagonia as a quirky town – from the local flute maker to interesting retail stores to the pizza joint – but Patagonia is also known as the “Jewel of the Sonoita Valley” because of its natural beauty. [Santa Cruz County]
Before the Patagonia of today, the area provided the Anasazi, an early Native-American tribe with an abundance of hunting and fishing. Archaeologists have found ruins of the settlements and petroglyphs of the Anasazi in the area.[Wikipedia]
Old Ranch Building / ~ Mile 15
These rolling hills and grasslands were once used extensively for cattle grazing. At ~ mile 15 there is an old partial ranch structure on the right-hand side.
Nogales Veiwpoint / ~ Mile 26.4
A small pullout along the Sycamore Canyon climb that looks down towards Nogales and the Santa Cruz River Valley. “Nogales funnels an estimated $30 billion worth of international trade into Arizona and the United States, per year, in fresh produce and manufactured goods from Mexico.”[Wikipedia]
The Santa Cruz river starts in the San Rafael Valley, loops into Mexico and then runs northward connecting with the Gila River an hour south of Phoenix.
Most of the Santa Cruz River is usually a dry riverbed unless the area receives significant rainfall. This was not always the case, but a combination of human errors and natural catastrophes in the late nineteenth century led to the decline of the Santa Cruz. Prior to this, water flowed perennially in a number of places, including along nine stretches in the Tucson area, and the river’s banks were lined with cottonwood and mesquite bosques. Although there is some disagreement among historians and hydrologists as to what the biggest causes of the river’s decline was, contributing human factors included overgrazing, excessive pumping of groundwater for agricultural irrigation and industry, and the construction of dams and ditches. In the mid-20th century, the river’s stretch through Tucson dried up completely.[Wikipedia]
San Rafael Valley Veiwpoint / ~ Mile 27.5
As you begin to descend there are some excellent views down into the San Rafael Valley.
“The San Rafael Valley represents one of the finest stands of native grassland in Arizona. The valley extends over 90,000 acres and lies at the headwaters of the Santa Cruz River between the Patagonia Mountains, Huachuca Mountains, and the Canelo Hills. Marshy springs feed the river and the floodplain that includes several swampy stretches. The great importance of the San Rafael Valley is an intact landscape, unfragmented and relatively undisturbed from the mountain ridges down to the valley bottom.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service estimates the “Madrean Sky Island” bioregion (which the San Rafael Valley is part of) harbors the greatest diversity of mammal species in North America. Big-game species are abundant in the valley and surrounding mountain ranges: white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, and javelina are the most common species.” [San Rafael State Natural Area]
Mining Relic / ~ Mile 27.5
Just after this, there is an old rock sorter used in mining operations. The Patagonia Mountains are littered with old mining sites as evidenced on the USGS map series 2016 and prior.
Matus Family Cemetery / ~ Mile 33
At mile 33 there is a slight detour to the west of the main road of travel. On this spur, there is the Matus family cemetery. The Matus family, of Greek heritage, is well known within Southern Arizona and is considered one of the pioneering families in the region.
Harshaw Creek / ~ Miles 40.5 to 44.5
This 4-mile sector is absolutely beautiful as it follows Harshaw Creek through a narrow, steep-walled valley with stands of big cottonwood, willow, and sycamore trees.
When We Like to Ride This
Almost all year round. The route elevations range from 3900 feet to 6000 feet. We would avoid the heat of the day in the summer. If it has recently rained, give it several days to let the roads dry; they are of a clay base and can turn into super sticky mud.
Terrain & Riding
This ride has three distinct sectors: the rolling west hills of the Patagonia Mountains, the Sycamore Canyon climb/descent and the western edge of the San Rafael Valley.
The Rolling West Hills of the Patagonia Mountains / ~ Miles 5 to 20
Expect steep punchy climbs and descents, sections of chuck, and several wash crossings. It will work you! But there is some great riding! At ~ mile 15.5 there is a brutal two-stepped wall of a jeep road. Rutted. Chucky. Steep. Almost everyone will do a bit of hike-a-bike here. However, be sure to look back over your right shoulder, you’ll see plentiful views of Mount Wrightson, Mount Hopkins, and the Santa Rita Mountains. Just after this, you descend and then climb a second steep pitch. The low point marks Wild Hog canyon.
The sector is marked by rolling hills, tall grasslands and scattered mesquite trees. Some will love it, some will hate it. Also, this is the sector where you will want the big beefy tires. Miles 5 to 20 are the most remote, you may not see anyone. However, you are relatively close to the highway on your west, usually within 5 miles. The other sectors of the ride tend to have a bit more activity with campers, hikers, bikers, OHVs and hunters.
Sycamore Canyon Climb and Descent / Miles 20 to 28
The further your ride into this sector, the better it gets! However, it starts out deceptively hard. A hard-packed dirt road with a fine layer of white sugar sand. Even though the gradient is only 2 to 4%, it feels much more difficult, the sand just sucks the power out of you.
At ~ mile 24.6, Red Hill will be to your left and there is a sign calling out” Unpaved Mountain Road Ahead”. From here, the climbing steepens and the views open up. Gone are the mesquite trees, replaced by oaks. At the summit and beyond you get big views to the east. On the descent, the San Rafael Valley highlights itself.
Western Edge of the San Rafael Valley / Miles 28 to 48
Over the next 20 miles, you lose 2100 feet of elevation. But … don’t be thinking that it is all easy. There are a number of short punchy climbs (razor teeth) that remain. Here you are in the Patagonia Mountains with oak and pine trees and at the edge of the San Rafael valley; an undulating valley of low rolling grasslands.
The Start
Patagonia Town Park. Flush Toilets. Stores.
Food & Water
- None.
Route Notes
The first five miles are on pavement. We recommend a red blinky light as there is not much of a shoulder and light to medium traffic.
Rides well in both diretions. The counter-clockwise direction as mapped and discussed in this guide puts the more demanding and technical terrain in the first half of the ride.
We rode this on a Salsa Cutthroat adventure bike with Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 2.2″ tires with CushCore inserts.
Route Options
Miles 32 to 48 (the finish) of this route are the same, and in the same directions, as the Patagonia 30 route. If you have ridden the Patagonia 30 route, we recommend this alternative, it traverses the beginning of the Patagonia 30 and 50 routes, but in the opposite direction. It also adds in a bit more pavement.
In this option, you will pass by the ghost town of Harshaw where there are a few houses, some building foundations, two small cemeteries, and some dilapidated mine shafts. The cemetery is across the gravel road ~ 100 yards to the west from the most visible building structure. It is worth the stop and look.
“Harshaw was founded as a mining community in the 1870s by cattleman-turned-prospector David Tecumseh Harshaw, who first successfully located silver in the area. At the town’s peak near the end of the 19th century, Harshaw’s mines were among Arizona’s highest producers of ore, with the largest mine, the Hermosa, yielding approximately $365,455 in bullion over a four-month period in 1880.
Throughout its history, the town’s population grew and declined in time with the price of silver, as the mines and the mill opened, closed, and changed hands over the years. By the 1960s, the mines had shut down for the final time, and the town became a ghost town.”[Wikipedia]
RideWithGPS: Wild Hog (Alternate Finish)
Get Involved!
On the first couple of miles of this route, you (unknowingly) pass by the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve (to your right).
The Nature Conservancy was instrumental in conserving this special place. It contains the first two miles of the permanent flow Sonoita Creek and floodplains. The 873-acre preserve also protects a magnificent example of the rare Fremont cottonwood-Goodding willow riparian forest. Some of the trees are among the largest (more than 100 feet tall) and oldest (130 years old) Fremont cottonwood trees in the United States.
One way you can make a difference is by visiting and taking a walk through the preserve to get an understanding of the great work the Nature Conservancy does. (Lat / Long: 31.528136, -110.776126)
Videos
The Ride! Wild Hog
A quick 2-minute video of what to expect on your ride!
Ridden and Reviewed by:
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