Madera Canyon (via Box Canyon)

5 Star Route / Tucson, Arizona / Published May 2019

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Route:

Out & Back | 40 mi

Gain:

4000 ft

Surface:

55% gravel, 45% paved

Technical Difficulty:

Moderate

Navigation:

Straightforward

Locale:

Urban Backcountry

Tire Suggestion:

40 mm

eBike Friendly:

Yes

Community Condition Report:

Update

The Madera Canyon out and back (via Box Canyon) is no secret to local riders and there’s a reason: it’s a solid five star ride. As gravel cyclists, we love variety … in the surface, the scenery, and the wildlife … which this has all three. But the route is backloaded, meaning the second half is harder than the first. So no whining about it, ok? It’s an out and back so you know exactly what you are in for on the way back.

According to Wikipedia, Madera Canyon is rated as the third best birding destination in the US. Why? Bird nerds have documented fifteen species of hummingbirds, thirty-six species of wood warblers, and over 256 species of birds. And the final pitch up to the end of the canyon (13% grade) will give you the perfect speed to look for birds.

Map & Details

Brown = gravel / dirt road

Blue = single track

Red = paved road

Purple = paved bike path

Route Downloads

Ride with GPS Strava GPX file

Cue Sheet

When We Like to Ride This

Almost anytime of year. Summer, go early! Spring has the creeks running full. Fall has the changing colors. And winter, mid-day, can be gorgeous when the peaks are snow capped and the sun is out.

The Start

At gravel pad on the NW corner of Sonoita Road (Hwy 83) and Greaterville Road. This is just before the Border Checkpoint on Sonoita Road about 15-16 miles south of I-10.

Lat / Long: 31.78511468, -110.697159

Food & Water

~ Mile 18.8: Santa Rita Lodge
~ Mile 19: Drinking fountain on east side of road

Highlights

Terrain & Riding

The ride starts at a makeshift dirt parking lot just off Highway 83. The first few miles wind through farmland on a “paved” road (you know the type, Arizona paved) that is slightly uphill. It’s an easy climb that doesn’t buy you much elevation gain, but is a perfect warm-up. At mile 3.5 you switch to a gravel road, which leads you through Box Canyon. We loved the green cottonwoods and silver barked sycamores trees, the stream below us, and the waterfall. (Ok, it wasn’t a GUSHING waterfall, but still fun.) The views get bigger as you twist and turn your way down, down through the canyon.

You then reach a long, straight, gravel road (with a bit of washboard) that has a 1 to 2% click down. Yes, more down … but don’t you worry, you have plenty of climbing when you hit what we call powerline road. This is a wonderful paved road that takes you into the Coronado National Forest, up Madera Canyon. It feels longer than it is because the grade isn’t tooooo steep, but steep enough to slow you down. When you reach the Proctor Visitor kiosk the fun begins. (Including a short hike out to a “secret” waterfall.)

Along the way, we skipped the gift stores and the picnic pull outs and headed straight for the top. The road slices through the trees, twisting and turning, and getting steeper and steeper as you go. At the top Mt. Wrightson and Mt. Hopkins loom large in the background along with Jack Mountain and Pete Mountain. There are picnic tables and nice places to take a break …. and a simple loop to test those brakes for the wonderful downhill.

Yes, test those brakes! You you will need a handful near the top of the descent at the off camber right hand turn over the nondescript concrete bridge at Sprung Spring. Captain O nearly “over cooked” this turn and went ditch bound.

From here … it is a “blasting” down through the forest and down the powerline grade (no brakes required here). Yeeehah…. When you make the right hand turn onto the gravel road, you have an easy climb back through the open grasslands. The climb back up through Box Canyon seemed to go faster than we thought … plenty of nice views of Box Canyon seem to keep you distracted from the climb. And … there are a number of short breaks in the climb.

Once you hit mile 35, you have an easy 4.5 left to go… back on that “paved road” … and back to your car.

Notes & Options

Comments

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Ridden and Reviewed by:

Captain O / Team Dirty Freehub

He should have “Never Stop Exploring” tattooed on his chest! He loves adventures on bikes and is a Co-Founder of Dirty Freehub.

Gravel Girl / Team Dirty Freehub

She loves a good day of gravel, like most people like a good book. She’s always amused by the outdoors and the wild adventures. Gravel Girl is a Co-Founder of Dirty Freehub.