Our Favorite Bike Rides in Tucson - Road, MTB, Gravel

Tucson is one of the best areas of the country for winter and spring cycling.  Whether you are into mountain biking, road riding or gravel touring Tucson has some of the best roads and trails. And the winter and spring weather can’t be beat: from November through April, you’ll enjoy temperatures in the mid-70’s and clear skies almost every day. 

Here are some of our favorite rides for mountain biking, road cycling, and gravel in Tucson - and best bike rental companies in Tucson:

• Mountain biking: Mount Lemmon has the best trails for all-mountain/enduro riding.  Either shuttle with two cars, or be prepared to ride on the road - not a bad ride but takes time/effort out of your day. Another option is to join the weekend shuttles from https://homegrownmtb.com/. They also rent great MTBs, have great private and group coaching, etc. If you rent they drop off and pick up.  Email owner  tara@homegrownmtb.com. 

• Road cycling:  Hands down the best road ride is Mt. Lemmon. You can go as far up as you like. The “real” Mt. Lemmon ride is to Summerhaven, which is a little ski town at the top, with a great restaurant called the Sawmill if you want to stop. Other popular turn-around points are Windy Point (about 10 miles from Summerhaven) and White Tail (about 6 miles from Summerhaven). 60 miles, 6.8k feet of climbing. For high quality carbon road bike rentals call Roadrunner Bikes 520-790-9394 or Mobilebikesmith (they deliver) 520-609-1833.

• Gravel: Redington Road is the most accessible. Take it as far as you want - you can even connect to other roads on the backside of Mt. Lemmon to circumnavigate the mountain. A good out-and-back is about 10 miles from where the pavement ends, then turn around. For gravel rides further afield, check out Mt. Hopkins. For high quality aluminum gravel bike rentals call Roadrunner Bikes 520-790-9394.

Wine Tasting in Sonoita, Elgin and Wilcox

When thinking about wine regions in the US, Arizona often doesn’t make the cut. However wine tourism in Arizona has exploded over the past few years and we are fortunate that there are award-winning wineries within close proximity to Tucson in the Sonoita / Elgin wine region, the Sonoita AVA.

Sonoita and Elgin are situated in grasslands at about 5,000 feet elevation, surrounded by multiple mountain ranges. This elevation allows for milder summers, which not only makes for a beautiful drive through the vineyards but also is ideal for grape production.

A day trip from Tucson to Sonoita/Elgin is easy as it’s only an hour drive from East Tucson. If you’re up for a bit more driving, Willcox is about 1.5 hours from East Tucson.

This wine region is primarily known for producing red varietals such as Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Merlot. However it is common to find great blends and white wines such Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Sonoita wine region is still a bit sleepy (but growing fast!) - so cellar door hours may vary. We recommend checking their hours and/or calling beforehand.

Our favorites in Sonoita / Elgin:

• Dos Cabezas: A nondescript tasting room, but the wines are excellent and the staff is knowledgeable. Great location too so it’s an easy stop before or after you head to a winery that’s further out of town.

• Deep Sky Vineyard: It’s worth a drive just for their views! They have a beautiful tasting room, with expansive views of the valley and mountain ranges. They always have a great lineup of wines.

• Rune: This is our favorite winery in this region. The property is nestled to the side of a mountain in what feels like a secluded corner of the world. The tasting room is off-grid and set up for casual conversation. The wines are outstanding.

• If you head to Willcox, check out Aridus and the Willcox Commercial Building tasting room.

Eating and Drinking in Tucson

Tucson offers an incredible food and drink scene, so much so it’s hard to keep up! Downtown is loaded with many options, some greats include:

• Cup Cafe in the Historic Club Congress Hotel

• Reilly’s Craft Pizza and Cocktails (check out the speakeasy/underground bar or beer garden)

• 5 Points (local, organic, amazingness).

• Tito and Pep (popular with the locals)

• Mi Nidito (that real Mexican cuisine!)

• Seis Kitchen (amazing regional Mexican).

Day Trips

•  Mount Lemmon: Take a drive up to our beautiful mountain, only about 1.5 hours to the top from central Tucson (tip: check out the ski lift in the summer, it runs during the day, and lets you off at the top of the mountain for killer views). Did you know, Tucson has the southernmost ski lift in the United States?

• Tombstone/ Bisbee: Check out these old cowboy and mining towns about 2 hours outside of Tucson. These little towns are close to each other and are incredibly unique. They offer attractions ranging from gun show fights performed by wild west actors, to creaky old mining cart rides into dark and spooky mines of Bisbee. 

Hikes and Other Natural Pursuits

• Check out the Sabino Canyon in the Coronado National Forest.  We recommend making reservations on-line prior to your visit. If you're looking for a hike, the tram will take you to several trail heads. 

• Don’t miss 7 Falls if you are looking Tucson’s #1 rated trail. It includes 7 waterfalls and is considered a moderately difficult trail.

• The Saguaro National Park East & West showcases the iconic Saguaro Cactus as well as The varied vegetation and wildlife of the Sonoran Desert. Stop at the visitors center to make a plan for your visit.

• You may not think of Birding when you think of Tucson, but it is home to a surprising diversity of birds. There is even a Birding and Nature Festival in January.

• Did you know that Tucson is home to several natural caves (Kartchner and Colossal) and offers subterranean tours where you can see a variety of giant crystal formations in limestone caverns? It is a bit of a drive but well worth it. You can even do a candlelight tour.