Southern Arizona "Local" Rides - 2023

March 23, 2023  

There are literally only a few 'local' rides in southern Arizona. Many could be considered variations on the few paved roads that actually exist. This post is documenting one year's worth of those 'local' rides.

Let's define a 'local' ride for the context of this blog post. For some, it might only be in your current valley, or perhaps to the next valley over.

Another in that small group of riders I belong to (Iron Butt Association) created a logo a couple of decades ago that somewhat describes this in a graphical form:

Created by IBA#207 Bill Thweatt - contact Bill via Facebook for merch

So, my definition of local will be...I'm NOT crossing a state border. 😃 My serious definition will be, you're sleeping in your own bed when the ride is done. 

The maps are created using an on-line mapping tool located at mappite.com This tool allows the exportation of GPX files for sharing amongst other riders.  I have not shared these files, only these images of the data. Most starting locations are near my home on the NW side of Tucson.

Jan 4, 2023  

The weather finally improved enough at the start of 2023 to get out on the bike:

Roughly 300 miles - Maricopa, Avondale, Buckeye, Gila Bend

Mostly passing through the reservation, toward the race track, then looped home via the Interstate.

Jan 13, 2023  

Another 300 miles - Florence, Queen Creek, a pass thru the Salt River Canyon & Globe

A lap through the Salt River Canyon, and I was done - but 150 miles from home. "Suck it up, cupcake!"  I think I was still adjusting to my new glasses.

Jan 25, 2023

The Tucson Mountains loop - about 50 miles

A brief lap around the Tucson Mountains. 50 miles and that was enough for today.

Feb 2, 2023

I call this the San Xavier Loop - 80 miles

I really didn't get much of a ride. Weather has been extraordinarily wet for us, so even a brief ride is a good ride, knowing there's a lot of people that can't ride for weeks longer, due to weather being much worse. Fortunate? Oh, yeah!

Feb 8, 2023

Southern Pinal County 'loop' - 150 miles with the 'fun' roads

Stitch all of the 'fun' roads in the southern end of Pinal County together, and this is what you get.  It was about here that the thought came to my mind "I should consider documenting these."

Feb 17, 2023

Actually, I went looking for food...I didn't find it on this short ride

No, not much of a ride at all...zero points for creativity. Actually, I wandered back home and ate there.

Feb 18, 2023

I made up for my poor choice the day before...

Only a ~200 mile loop thru the Tohono O'odham Nation.

It's been a few years since I've made this route. Sketchy crap happens out here sometimes...being prepared is advised.

 

Feb 24, 2023  

 

Today, there was but a brief glimmer of good weather in the afternoon, and I was gone!

 

The Arivaca/Buenos Aires loop ride of ~120 miles

Yep - just what I needed. A few of those white signs with black numbers in those remote areas may have been used as suggestions...maybe.

 

Mar 1, 2023  

 

I needed extensive handlebar therapy. A substantial enough ride that I made a separate blog entry about it here: Dayride Lowell AZ

 

A fun 250 mile ride day featuring much of Cochise County.

Yep, there's a few more worthy roads in Cochise County to explore, and they can be done when the weather gets hotter here in this valley later this spring/summer.

 

Mar 8, 2023  

 

A few years ago, I did a variation of this loop counter-clockwise. I just needed to burn a bit of fuel and clear my mind.

 

Another 300 mile day in the desert.

When I got to Safford, I nearly decided to zip over to Lordsburg, NM. Who knows, that could be another ride for another day - like a full day of riding.

 

Mar 20, 2023  

 

A brief ride over to the other side of the valley.

 

A short ride across the valley & back, boring ride of 70 miles.

Didn't have the time to really pull off an extensive ride on this trip. No problem, there will be others.

 

So, at this point in the riding year, we've covered a few of the 'good' rides. A couple of others will certainly need to be added to this list, but I have a couple of priorities to deal with which will keep the bike parked for a bit.

 

My intent is to add to this specific blog post with more of those local rides as they're done. Check in from time to time to see how we're progressing.

---

There are two major local ride loops I've not yet ridden in 2023. One of these my wife and I did on Christmas Day. You just don't get many chances to do something like that.  The other ride has been around for decades.  I'll map 'em now, but they'll get ridden soon.

Loop ride from Oro Valley to Superior & Globe and back (~200 miles)

Loop ride from NW Tucson to Sonoita, then to Nogales (~150 miles)

There are two more rides rattling around in my head.  One of them is a loop of a couple of fun roads in Cochise County that clocks in at around 250 miles.  The other loop is a bit of exploring in western Pima County.  That one would be another 300 miles of riding.  

I didn't include a couple of the 'out-and-back' rides, such as the rides to Mt. Lemmon, Parker Canyon Lake, Kitt Peak (closed due to wildfires in 2022) and probably a place or two I've yet to mention.  

Once a rider has covered these routes, then what?  You start doing stuff like this: Motorcycle Miles on Arizona Highways

Glad to be able to point out places to ride this spring & summer.  Stay safe & enjoy the ride!