Tucson Area Ride

[Sparkie]

Hi all, I'm planning on getting out of northern az for some sunshine later this week and was wondering about the ride out to Kitt Peak Observatory. Is this a nice road up to the top? I also want to stay out of the snow (theres plenty of that here in Flagstaff). Would that observatory road be free of snow? If things work out here, I'll be riding to Tucson on Thursday 3/11 and riding to the observatory on Friday. Thanks for any info. Mark

[GilaMonster]

If you are planning to do Kitt Peak, here's a pleasant diversion through the Saguaro National Park along the way:


7:00 AM 0.0  1   Depart W Cortaro Farms Rd on Cortaro Road Ramp (South-West) for 142 yds
7:00 AM 0.1 Road name changes to N Cortaro Rd for 1.8 mi
7:04 AM 1.8 Turn RIGHT (West) onto W Ina Rd for 0.4 mi
7:05 AM 2.2 Turn LEFT (South) onto N Wade Rd for 0.6 mi
7:06 AM 2.8 Bear RIGHT (South) onto (W) Picture Rocks Rd for 2.9 mi
7:12 AM 5.7 Bear RIGHT (South-West) onto Picture Rocks Rd [W Picture Rocks Rd] for 0.8 mi
7:14 AM 6.6 Keep STRAIGHT onto (W) Picture Rocks Rd for 2.9 mi
7:19 AM 9.5  2   At Avra, turn LEFT (South) onto N Sandario Rd for 3.7 mi
7:25 AM 13.2 Keep STRAIGHT onto (N) Sandario Rd [Kinney Rd] for 0.3 mi
7:26 AM 13.4 Turn LEFT (East) onto Golden Gate Rd [Kinney Rd] for 0.2 mi
7:27 AM 13.6 Road name changes to N Kinney Rd for 2.9 mi
7:32 AM 16.6 Turn RIGHT (South) onto McCain Loop Rd for 0.8 mi
7:35 AM 17.3  3   At near Tucson Estates, stay on McCain Loop Rd (South-East) for 0.2 mi
7:36 AM 17.5 Turn LEFT (North) onto Tuscon Mountain Park for 0.2 mi
7:37 AM 17.8 Turn RIGHT to stay on Tuscon Mountain Park for 0.6 mi
7:38 AM 18.3 Keep STRAIGHT to stay on Tuscon Mountain Park for 21 yds
7:38 AM 18.3  4   At near Tucson Estates, stay on Tuscon Mountain Park (North) for 0.2 mi
7:39 AM 18.6 Turn RIGHT (South-East) onto N Kinney Rd for 2.6 mi
7:44 AM 21.1 Turn LEFT (East) onto W Gates Pass Rd for 2.1 mi
7:48 AM 23.3  5   At W Gates Pass Rd, return South on W Gates Pass Rd for 2.1 mi
7:52 AM 25.4 Turn LEFT (South) onto S Kinney Rd for 5.2 mi
8:01 AM 30.7  6   At SR-86, return North on S Kinney Rd for 21 yds
8:02 AM 30.7 Turn LEFT (West) onto SR-86 [W Ajo Hwy] for 17.5 mi
8:32 AM 48.2 Bear LEFT (West) onto SR-86 for 14.3 mi
8:57 AM 62.5 Turn LEFT (South) onto SR-386 [S Kitt Peak Rd] for 12.0 mi
9:33 AM 74.4 Turn LEFT (North-East) onto Local road(s) for 43 yds
9:33 AM 74.4  7   Arrive Kitt Peak National Observatory

Just jump off at Cortaro Farms Rd as you come in the extreme north end of Tucson.

[swimmer]

The road to the top of kitt peak is pretty nice.  Very little traffic esp on a weekday.  I doubt there will be snow expect for maybe shaded areas off the road.  The weather seems to be warming up as the week goes along.  We've gotten a lot of rain lately.

[Sparkie]

Thanks for the tips. If the snow will let up here in Flagstaff, I hope to get out on thursday. Mark