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Trip #13 Circle Tucson
This is a great trip for anyone who is looking for some sunshine and wanting to escape the snow in the North. This trip is similar to Trip #6, except it is almost double the mileage of Trip #6.
Our first day is spent biking in Saguaro National Park East on a paved one-way loop through the park. We will then bike through Colossal Cave State Park and we will eat lunch at the outdoor cafe in the park.
We will visit Tombstone, sight of the famous gunfight at the OK Corral and Boothill Cemetery, both remnants of the Old West.
Many of our nightly stopovers are very unique. Sonoita Inn was originally being built as a retirement home for the famous race horse, Secretariat, but the horse died before he was shipped to Sonoita. The barn was well under construction and was changed to an inn upon Secretariat's death.
In Bisbee, we stay in a quaint bed and breakfast on the second floor of an old downtown business. In the early 1900's, Bisbee was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco. We will spend two nights at two different beautiful golf resorts. One resort is in West Tucson and the other resort is in the famous village of Tubac. Tubac was one of the first settlements in Arizona.
We will bike over 6,000 foot Mule Pass which overlooks the town of Bisbee. We will bike over Starr Pass Road, Gates Pass and Rattlesnake Pass in West Tucson. We will also bike up Mt. Lemon. This newly renovated road was just reopened in the mid 2000's and was constructed with a wide bicycle lane. The gradient of most of this road is between 3 and 5%. At the top of our climb. we will eat lunch in a the restaurant near the ski slopes.
These are some of the activities which we will do as a group, the cost of which is already included in Trip 13 costs:
Bicycle up 6000' high Mule Pass.
Eat a lunch at a working cattle ranch.
Bicycle a paved one-way loop road inside Saguaro National Park
Tell time using an analemmatic sundial (horizontal, not round).
Titan Missile Museum Tour - time permitting
In Tombstone see OK Corral, Boothill Graveyard, Big Nose Kate's Restaurant, Crystal Palace Saloon, Hafford's Saloon and Oriental Saloon.
Wine tasting (6-8 different kinds) at a winery in Southern Arizona. Two of their wines were served at the White House. We will be given a free souvenir glass from Sonoita Wineries.
Visit Colossal Cave State Park.
Bicycle across Fort Huachuca, built originally for protection from the Apache Indians, later used in electronic surveillance warfare.
Tour Colossal Cave, a dry cave with temperatures ranging between 70-71°F.
Sluice for minerals.
Tour mission San Xavier Del Bac completed in 1796 and still in use as a mission today.
Some of the animals which are in the area are deer, mountain lion, bobcat, roadrunner, coatimundi, ringtail cat, jack rabbit, badger, fox, javelina, racoon, lizard and antelope.
Walk among saguaro cacti which may grow over 40' tall and live to be 150-200 years old.
Bicycle Gates Pass.
Climb Star Pass Road.
Bicycle the paved roads around Saguaro National Park West (Tucson Mountan sector).
Optional activities not included in cost of trip:
Guided horseback ride, 1-2 hours, cost approximately $35.00.
Visit Old Tucson old movie sets and historica area.
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Starting City |
States Visited: |
Scale of Difficulty:
See Key |
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Tucson, AZ |
Arizona
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18 |
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Duration: |
2008 Dates |
Off Days |
Temperature, Average Daily Highs |
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7 days/6 nights |
Sunday, 3-2 through Saturday, 3-8 |
0 |
Low 70's
Mountains mid 60's |
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7 days/6 nights |
Sunday, 11-2 through Saturday, 11-8 |
0 |
Low 70's |
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Trip Biking Stats All roads 100% paved.
Daily Miles
76, 69, 69, 65, 59, 59, 52
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Average Miles/Day
64 |
Longest Day Miles
76 |
Total Miles
450 |
| Pricing |
Notes |
| Double Occupancy |
Single Occupancy |
Includes all meals. (Breakfast first day and dinner last day are not included.)
Remember, you can ride the SAG Van for any reason, at any time, for any distance. |
| $2,310.00/person |
$2,783.00/person |
| Available Bike Rental |
Price |
| Cannondale or Trek Touring |
$130.00 |
| Schwinn or Trek Hybrid |
$90.00 |
| Shuttle From |
Shuttle To |
Price |
| Tucson, AZ |
Starting Hotel |
Public Transportation |
| Local Links |
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