What The Bike Bandit Says…
“Meet at La Posada Java on Nogales Highway and grab something to eat and get some good coffee. Madera is incredible. This is Tucson/Green Valley cycling heaven. Never ride this or Mount Lemmon on a holiday. Virtually any other time is great. The final 2.5 miles is intense uphill that will give you 14 percent grades. This is my favorite place to train in all of Tucson. Madera Canyon is the pearl of Southern Arizona road biking.”
Jason, The Bike Bandit
Cycling Madera Canyon: Ride one of Arizona’s most beautiful places.
Dificulty: Hard
Average time: 03:30:00 AM
Ride Mileage: 61 to 80 miles
Climbing Elevation: 1,922 ft
Type of ride: Climb
Road/Mountain: Road
Road Biking Madera Canyon is a local and international favorite.
ROAD BIKING MADERA CANYON, GREEN VALLEY, Arizona – Deservedly, Mount Lemmon gets most of the acclaim as Tucson, Arizona’s greatest climb. Madera Canyon, located just a hair south of Tucson in Green Valley, is our second greatest climbing ride.
Most riders will start and meet their buddies at La Posada Java at the base of Madera Canyon on Old Nogales Highway then head up Madera Canyon. This is an epic Southern Arizona road bike ride. And La Posada offers great food and tasty coffee.
Many cyclists – serious amateurs to the professional – will road bike Madera Canyon then head south of Green Valley to Mount Hopkins for another one of our fun, scenic traffic free climbs.
While Madera Canyon does not have any bike shoulder, this is a very safe road bike ride as long as you are not biking on any major holiday during tourism season. Green Valley police often have little to do and they monitor speeds here.
Go nine miles up and turn right at the lookout point for restrooms and water. Madera Canyon is famous for birders and do stop at the Santa Rita Lodge about 1.5 miles past this lookout point and you can purchase Gatorade if you like. This lodge is one of North America’s most famous lodges to see exotic birds.
The ride to Madera Canyon is a hard ride with a killer climb up to the top of Madera Canyon. You will conquer grades from 12 to 14 percent on the final three miles. For more information on Madera Canyon, click here.
Cycle Madera Canyon: BikeTucson.com Rents and Delivers Road Bikes
Tucson Bike Rentals and Tours at BikeTucson.com delivers and picks up carbon rental road, mountain, hybrid, kids bikes to all the entire Tucson/Oro Valley/Green Valley metro area. We are the official Tucson, Arizona bicycle guiding and rental arm for the Arizona Bicycle Association at BikeAZ.org as well as Madera Canyon. All cyclists receive free helmets and maps. When cycling Tucson, Green Valley and Oro Valley, only rent from the best.