Original Article posted on Mountain Bike Action here
Escape Adventures is excited to offer a 5-day wintertime cycling retreat to America’s Southwestern prize – Tucson. Rated as America’s second most bike-friendly city, this velo dreamscape offers an ideal winter escape, seemingly endless back roads on vast expanses of wide-open desert, and world-class ascents like Mount Lemmon. Starting at $2,895 per person double, including all internal land expenses and services, guests will stay at Hacienda Del Sol, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places in Arizona and a member of Historic Hotels of America. Electric bikes are available upon request. For more info, visit https://escapeadventures.com/tour/arizona-tucson-and-the-sonoran-desert-road-bike-tour/.
Nestled in the Sonoran Desert near the foot of Mount Lemmon, Tucson enjoys temperate, dry conditions when the rest of the country is buried under snow. The mountains create a variety of ecozones and climates, resulting in exceptionally diverse riding. Tucson offers a vibrant cycling culture, hip cafés, breweries, and restaurants, making it an ideal winter getaway.
“Tucson is one of the best biking destinations in North America,” said Jared Fisher, Director of Escape Adventures. “On this tour we will cycle Arizona’s wine country, Gates Pass, Pistol Hill, the Old Spanish Trail, Mount Lemmon, and more.”
Day 1-2: After an authentic Mexican meal, we carve into a local favorite: the Tucson Loop. The next day, we ride the high-altitude grasslands around Sonoita, Arizona’s wine country. Drinking in the crisp air at 5,000-ft., we follow the scenic road around “vineyard alley” and continue to Patagonia Lake and the village of Patagonia: a onetime mining/railroad hub turned arts-crafts and superb coffee habitué.
We then drop into the Spanish mission of Tumacácori, now a National Historic Monument. At the adjacent village of Tubac, we decompress amidst a former Spanish fort turned vibrant arts colony. Stopping at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, we immerse in an innovative presentation of flora and fauna in region-specific ecological exhibits.
Day 3-4: After a warmup ride on the Old Spanish Trail, we merge onto Pistol Hill, which offers 40-miles of bike-dedicated lane through Saguaro National Park. Expect upwards of 1,600-ft of climbing and an equal amount of descent just beyond the reach of long-armed Saguaro cactus (which grow nowhere else on Earth). The following day we tackle the 30-mile Mount Lemmon route, the very centerpiece of our tour de Tucson.
Day 5: Gates Pass, at 3172-ft, is one of the most scenic rides in the West. On Tucson’s west end, we wind on a narrow road through rich High Desert environs with Saguaros standing watch on the steep hillsides. Closing out at Tucson’s Mountain Park, we then shuttle back to our hotel and airport.
Mountain bike Mt Hood to Columbia River Gorge
About Escape Adventures: Since 1992, Escape Adventures has been blessed to shape and lead adventure travel vacations through some of the most awe-inspiring natural destinations in the world. Building on over 100 destinations, Escape Adventures caters to the full spectrum of active traveler, respective to fitness level and activity type. From road cyclist to mountain biker to electric biker, hiker, and multi-sport enthusiast, and from first-timer to friends and family groups of all ability levels, Escape Adventures looks forward to many new and exciting adventures with you. https://escapeadventures.com/
Since 1992, we at Escape Adventures have been blessed to shape and lead adventure travel vacations through some of the most awe-inspiring natural destinations in the world. Each successive season, our passion for adventure grows through memorable moments with our guests. Fresh air, faith, fitness and friends are the building blocks for our ventures, the treasured experiences that keep us moving forward. For those of you who have trekked and traveled with us over the past quarter century, Heather and I express our sincerest gratitude. The memories are priceless.
