Mountain Biking HoneyBee Canyon And Rail X Of Oro Valley
Arizona’s most scenic trail system is a memorable adventure for everyone
With the splendid Catalina mountains in the background, idyllic and beautiful HoneyBee Canyon is perhaps the most scenic mountain bike trail in all of Tucson – and Arizona. Mountain bikers from all over, come to mountain bike and hike this spectacular trail in the Tortolita trail system that includes a 16.1 mile single track loop trail that takes you through land touched and occupied by the Hohokam Indians. Hollywood has used this real estate as a backdrop in various old west films. There is a hikers only trail down the street that is great for anyone wanting to enjoy some of the great desert hiking in Arizona.
A desert filled with saguaros, cholla cactus and every desert critter you can think of, HoneyBee is a fast, fun, flowy, windy up and down racetrack style trail that offers a gentle elevation gain of about 700 feet. The trail system can offer you 35 miles of mountain biking if you extend your ride up to ridge line. The HoneyBee Canyon Loop is a favorite for all mountain bikers from beginners to advanced. Fast riders can do the loop in just over 2 hours. Otherwise give yourself up to 3 hours if you are taking it easy.
Just how incredible is HoneyBee Canyon for both hikers and mountain bikers? There are homeowners who paid $2M for houses right at the start of the HoneyBee Canyon trail head located on Quiet Rain Drive. Many of these people are mountain bikers. You can mountain bike here for free or rent a mountain bike from Tucson Bike Rentals.
Ideal mountain bike of choice: Hard tail. Full suspension mountain bikes are overkill for this trail. Many locals use rigids on this trail. Tucson Bike Rentals offers contact free pickup and delivery of Specialized mountain bikes to HoneyBee and Upper 50 Year Trail at Catalina State Park.
We recommend parking at The Views Golf Club. They have the best restaurant in Oro Valley with the deepest beer and wine selection. And yes, the views of the Oro Valley Catalinas are incredible. You can park here and go to the locals entry Honey Bee Canyon Trail access point by just taking a right going west. Go west and look straight ahead for power lines and you will see a perfectly manicured trail head UNDER the power lines. (If you go past the power lines to Quiet Rain Drive, you went too far.) This access point has a no trespassing sign near it. Ignore it. All of the locals use this spot as the signs were declared illegal quite some time ago. Go straight, north UNDER the power lines and the trail starts 100 yards to the right at a telephone pole AFTER the cattle gate.