What The Bike Bandit Says…
““Great downhill ride starting at 5900 feet. Great cool ride going through the forest. You can continue to Molino Basin mountain biketrail just down the road. Then you can link with Green Mountain above for longer a longer day of riding.”
Jason, The Bike Bandit
TUCSON, Arizona – Mountain Biking – Bug Springs is one of the most fun trails Mt. Lemmon has to offer, and has been officially “adopted” by the Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists. No matter what kind of mountain biking you like, Bug Springs delivers and will put a smile on anyone’s face. Fast and smooth with a few choice technical areas, this is one of our favorites. As with all Mt. Lemmon trails, Bugs is fantastic for riding when the summer heat is upon us. Be aware, however, that during the winter the upper levels of Bugs and any trail higher in elevation (Green Mountain, Aspen Draw, Sunset, 1918, etc) will most likely be buried in snow.
We’re not going to lie to you… the first mile or so is STEEP hike-a-bike over big water bars. Only a mysterious few “super-bikers” have been rumoured to climb this nasty climb. It’s not technical… it’s just steep. You WILL get your workout pushing your bike up to the top. BUT once you’re at the top, the downhill is well worth it. This trail winds through cool, wooded areas, over slickrock HooDoos, and down to Gordon Hirabayashi (Prison Camp) all with incredible views of the mountain and Tucson below. Always be on the lookout for hikers, and take plenty of water. If you’re really in for a workout, start at the bottom and work your way up!
This trail is especially susceptible to erosion and damage due to the amount of traffic and weather it receives. Please be considerate and keep your speed under control on this trail. You may be in total control but the trail wasn’t designed for too much speed, and skidding only erodes it further. SDMB has officially adopted Bug Springs and we’re developing a relationship and helping the Forest Service in maintaining (and even improving) this trail.
Directions to Mt Lemmon – Bug Springs
Moutain Bike Trails – Tucson, Arizona
Directions: Take Mt. Lemmon Highway to the Bug Springs parking area. At the side of the parking lot, the trail begins with a steep, steep hike-a-bike, but after that, it is one of Tucson’s best trails.
One popular option is to park vehicles at the Molino View parking lot just south of the Fee Station, and shuttle up to Green Mountain. From there, you can easily ride Green Mountain, Bug Springs, and Prison Camp, which ends just a mile or so uphill from your parked cars. One of our great sponsors, Southwest Trekking, offers a shuttle service for those interested. You need to have at least six riders, and the cost is usually around $15/person. Contact John at SWTrekking and tell him you found this on the SDMB site.