Google Map – West Desert Preserve South Trails
Google Map – West Desert Preserve North Trails
Mountain Bike Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate (2B-3B)
Green Valley, Arizona – The West Desert Preserve is an awesome Fantasy Island style mountain bike and hiking area in Green Valley that is ideal for beginner mountain bikers. Parts of this are use a cyclocross bike. The Preserve is split down the middle by a hard packed dirt road that is great for cyclocross riders. We really recommend this ride as a great place to take the family.
Green Valley Mountain Biking – Tucson, Arizona Photos
West Desert Preserve Trails:
Beginner Friendly Green Valley Mountain Biking
The West Desert Preserve Trails are located on a 2000 acre area to the west of Green Valley. The property is now owned by the Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold and some of the property is used for groundwater extraction wells and related infrastructure. The trails traversing the area vary in length and difficulty and comprise power line roads, ranching roads, and single-track hiking and mountain biking trails. The trails provide great views of the Santa Rita Mountains and the valleys below. Most of the trails are level but a few rocky ups and downs will interest you. And you will get good practice on several tight sandy turns. The southern portion is particularly inviting to newer riders as it is mostly flat and includes interesting scenery. Take the time to explore the pristine area with your bike or on your feet. A unique feature of the area is the almost one hundred pineapple cacti that are resident.
Directions to The West Desert Preserve: From Tucson, head South on Interstate-19 toward Nogales for 20-miles or so. Take a right on Exit 69 for Duval Mine Road and go west past La Canada Road (traffic signal at intersection) for 1.8 miles.