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Mescal

Development Route / Tucson, Arizona / Published: Mar 2021 / Directions
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The gravel portion of Mescal road near Tucson, AZ.
Leading out Mescal Road.
A steer grazing along Mescal road in southern Arizona.
Caution!
A sign for Turkey Creek trailhead leading into the Ricon Mountain Wilderness.
Near mile 11.9, the turn north.
Wild turkeys near the turn to Rincon Mountain Wilderness.
A big oak tree in Happy Valley off of Mescal road.
Happy Valley
A view of the grasslands from Mescal road near Tucson, Arizona.
The view on the return.
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Route:
Out & Back | 27 mi
*
Gain:
2,200 ft
*
Surface:
85% gravel, 15% paved
*
Technical Difficulty:
Unknown
*
Navigation:
Attention Required
*
Locale:
Remote
*
Tire Suggestion:
50 mm+
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Options:
---

This is an out & back route that needs a lot further exploration! There may be a way to build a loop, there may be a natural turn around point with a viewpoint, we just don’t know. Our research was by truck as part of an evening drive.

On your way out to the start you pass by the Mescal movie set on the left, about 4 miles north of the railroad tracks. Two of the most famous movies filmed here were Tombstone (1993) and The Quick and the Dead (1995).

The route generally parallels the boundary to the Rincon Mountain Wilderness following Ash Creek for the first 7.5 miles. You pass by several ranches and will most likely encounter a few cows on the road. To the west, the Rincon Mountains and Rincon Peak loom inside the Wilderness area.

At mile 9 you reach a high point and then descend down into Miller Canyon where there are a handful of ranches. There are some surprising mountain views along with undulating terrain.

The road quality is reminiscent of Redington Road on the east side of Tucson, but without as much traffic and activity. As mapped, the route goes left a mile 11.9 leading up to a high point. However, the main road continues east and comes to a green gate in a couple of miles. We are told that the road becomes more rugged from here. Explore away!

Caution, this is a Development Route. It has not been fully vetted or ridden by the Dirty Freehub Team. Go prepared and expect a bit more adventure. Any feedback you have would be much appreciated. You can leave it below in the comments block.

Read More
Map
Brown = gravel / dirt road
Blue = single track
Red = paved road
Purple = paved bike path
GPX Download   Version 0.1
Ride Details

When We Like to Ride This

… fall through spring when the temperatures are more moderate.

Terrain & Riding

The route generally parallels the boundary to the Rincon Mountain Wilderness following Ash Creek for the first 7.5 miles. You pass by several ranches and will most likely encounter a few cows on the road. To the west, the Rincon Mountains and Rincon Peak loom inside the Wilderness area.

At mile 9 you reach a high point and then descend down into Miller Canyon where there are a handful of ranches. There are some surprising mountain views along with undulating terrain.

The road quality is reminiscent of Redington Road on the east side of Tucson, but without as much traffic and activity. As mapped, the route goes left a mile 11.9 leading up to a high point. However, the main road continues east and comes to a green gate in a couple of miles. We are told that the road becomes more rugged from here. Explore away!

The Start

Lat / Long: 32.022024, -110.423878

A makeshift dirt parking lot ~ 2.4 miles north of the railway tracks.

Food & Water

  • None.
Notes & Options
Comments

Have you ridden this route? Got a question? Join the discussion!

Help Make this Guide Better!

At Dirty Freehub, we believe the best routes are organic and driven by the riding community. This route and guide are a work in progress, and we need your help to make it great!.

Provide us with route feedback, both good and bad.

  • Let us know about points of interest and viewpoints,
  • Submit pictures and videos,
  • Suggest a best time to ride,
  • Let us know about a better or alternative option,
  • And tell us about your favorite place to go after the ride for a burger and beer.

Submit your feedback via the comments block (tab just above map).

Get Involved!

Wilderness Connect is a good first step in learning how to get more involved with time, talent, or money. They have short explanation page of the Rincon Mountain Wilderness, but then continue to their page on Support Wilderness.

Ridden and Reviewed by:

KevinE

KevinE / 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.

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