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Ride the West Loop – Campfire Cycling through Saguaro Park West and Back
January 18, 2020 @ 6:00 am – 11:00 am
Get ready for a beautiful desert ride headed straight out the doors from Campfire Cycling.
We leave early, while its still dark to cross over Gates Pass while there is very little traffic. Bike lights are required for this ride. We then swoop down the west side of the Tucson Mountains past Old Tucson and through Brown Mountain before entering Saguaro National Park West.
As we are passing through National Park West, this is officially a non-supported ride. The ride leaders will be maintaining a pace that will get us back to Campfire Cycling between 10:30 and 11:00 AM. As we need to get back to the shop at this time for opening, we will not be waiting for riders who are unable to maintain this pace. This will be relatively easy pace however it is a long and challenging ride so please be prepared to be self-sufficient and ride on your own.
Notes on Bikes and the Route
About 30 miles of the route is on road. 10 miles is on gravel. There is a sandy stretch that is a little over a mile long that is probably only ridable by 2″ or larger tires. So with a road bike they’ll be a bit of walking. Overall, its mixed terrain, making optimal bike choice a little tricky. A gravel bike with 45mm tires or wider is probably best, but any bike will do, just being better or worse suited at different sections.
The Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30004683
National Park Pass
Additionally, ride participants are responsible for purchasing an entry for Saguaro National Park West in advance of the ride online for $10. https://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/payfeesonline.htm
Or better yet, get an Interagency Annual Pass for $80 (Allows pass holder to bring 3 additional cyclists under the same pass). https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/annual-passes.htm
