Sky Islands AZ Bikepacking Loop (9-day Ride)

Come spend Thanksgiving in the desert with your bikepacking buddies! Have Thanksgiving together in Patagonia, AZ, while exploring the Sky Islands area in southern Arizona by bike.

This is a 9-day 300-mile ride. This ride is a loop starting from and returning to the Tucson Amtrak Station. We'll be riding around southern Arizona through the Sonoran desert areas and parts of the Coronado National Forest. We'll traverse the areas of the Canelo Hills and Santa Rita, Patagonia, Tumacacori, and various other mountain areas collectively known as the "Sky Islands" (thus the name of this loop), with Patagonia serving as the midpoint of our ride. We'll be at the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge on Thanksgiving Day, but we may possibly enjoy a Thanksgiving meal in Patagonia a couple of days earlier.

This ride is considered intermediate, as there will be climbing in the desert and forest (including hike-a-bikes), and you must be comfortable with a straight 4 days/3 nights riding-camping in the wild. We will have at most a 2-day gap for water and food re-supply (but usually it's just 1 day). A gravel bike, mountain bike, or all-terrain bike is required, with 2-inch tires (50 mm) or higher.

Our ride is partially based on the Sky Islands Odyssey Loop, both the East Loop and West Loop. We'll be traveling about half the roads set by these routes and carving our own paths for the other half. You can view the Loops' photos and read their description for an idea of our loop and its terrain. Although we will ride only parts of the Sky Islands Odyssey roads, we are in the same vicinity with similar roads and terrain.

THE ROUTE ITINERARY (See Route).

• Day 1: El Bisquecito Campground, Outside Vail, AZ. 31 Miles. We will bike from the Tucson Amtrak train station through Tucson to Vail, AZ, using bike paths and small roads. In Vail, we will stop to purchase groceries for the next 2 days (or so) and perhaps catch an early dinner at a restaurant. Then we will head east out of Vail, and camp at a place called El Bisquecito Campground. It's a semi-primitive campground, with pit toilets and water. Cost per person is $10.
  (Wild Camp Option: Instead of going 6 miles east from Vail, we head 6 miles south. We will wild camp at a piece of flat open land that formerly situated a silo missile base-- Titan II Missile Base #5. It's wild camping, so there's no water and toilets. This will save you 10 miles from the entire route and $10. We can decide which way we want to go when we gather.)
• Day 2: Cieneguita Campground. 35 miles. In the morning, we'll hop on the Arizona Trail, which is right next to the El Bisquecito campground. We'll travel for 5 miles on this single track trail, before hopping on roads to head further south. We will do a little bit of climbing and enter the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area (BLM Land). We will stop at the Empire Ranch Foundation, which oversees the land for BLM. We can get water there. We can also visit a rare groundhog preservation area on the land. Then we'll head for a wild camping area labelled Cieneguita Campground. The area has no water, as it is wild camping, so we need to make sure we have water for the day.
• Day 3: Wild Camp in Coronado National Forest, Canelo Hills - 34 miles. We will bike through the town of Sonoita, where we can pick up refreshments and lunch, and refill with water. There are also a couple of convenience stores to pick up basic supplies for the coming day. Then we will bike through the hills of the Coronado National Forest and find a suitable spot to camp in the wild for the night, somewhere north of the San Rafael Conservation Area.
• Day 4: Patagonia--25 miles. We will ride through the San Rafael State Natural Area and arrive in the town of Patagonia, where there is a campground called Terra Sol. Cost is $25 per person. You can take a shower and charge your batteries here. Patagonia is also a resupply place. We should arrive early enough to freshen up and enjoy the evening by having an early Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant in town. Yes, Thanksgiving in Patagonia!
• Day 5: White Rock Campground. 32 miles. Today is a fully paved road ride on the 82 as we head away from the eastern portion of our ride toward the western part. We'll go by a truck stop near Rio Rico, if you need basic supplies or need lunch. We'll then continue on and set up camp at White Rock Campground, a primitive campground with only a table and shade cover. We will camp there or, if needed, wild camp a few miles further down.
• Day 6: Somewhere near the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge--35 miles. We will head west into more magnificent scenery, as we ride between the Tumacacori, Pajarito, and San Luis Mountains. In about 25 miles, we'll get to the town of Arivaca, where we can resupply, or have a late lunch if desired (although we have to be aware that it's Thanksgiving Day today, so nothing may be open). Then we'll ride another 10 miles or so and set up camp in the wild. It's Thanksgiving Day today-- maybe we'll see some turkeys!
• Day 7: Somewhere past the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge-- 35 miles. We'll pass through the Visitor's Center of the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge, where we can fill up with water. Then we'll continue on through the refuge and settle somewhere past it in the foothills of more mountains.
• Day 8: Green Valley. 35 miles. We will start heading out of the wildness and arrive at Arivaca Junction, where we may possibly have lunch. Then we'll head north to the retirement town of Green Valley, where we will stay at a rented house (if we have 6 or more) or stay at a motel (if there are less than 6). (There are no campsites in or near Green Valley.) Our camping is done, and we can freshen and clean up after our ride and get ready to go back into the city. Maybe we'll all hit a restaurant in the evening to celebrate the (near) end of the ride.
• Day 9. Back to Amtrak Station. 33 miles. We will ride through the San Xavier Reservation Land (Tohono O'odham Nation) and then catch part of the Tucson Circle Bike Trail, before getting into the city and arriving at the Amtrak Station. (For those taking the train, the Amtrak train arrives at the Tucson station at 7:15 pm. We will arrive back in Los Angeles the next day.)

PACKING CONSIDERATIONS

• RAIN GEAR AND COLD GEAR. Although November still has low rainfall, drops from the sky is still possible. You should be prepared for localized rain. Days are comfortable but the evenings can be very cold, so have clothes for cold weather (average hi/low=mid 75/mid 40s). Pack accordingly.
• WATER SUPPLY. There may be a couple of days between water supplies, so bring bladders or bottles to hold at least 2 days of water. (I'll have my usual 2 water bottles, plus an extra 3-liter water bladder when needed.) Also bring a water filter, if you have one, as we may run into small streams.
• BATTERIES. There are 4 days/3 nights out wild camping, with no ability to recharge. Make sure you have enough battery power to charge your bike computer, phone, etc. for this length of time.
• PASSPORT OR US ID?-- The southern area of our route is patrolled by Border Patrol. Be sure to have relevant ID if concerned.

COST (per person):

• $25: TerraSol campsite in Patagonia
• ($50-$70) Room Stay in Green Valley (either your share of 1-night house rental, or hotel room cost, possibly shared). Full costs determined after people sign up and we know the number of people riding
• add $108 (or so) if using Amtrak, roundtrip from Los Angeles
• you'll need to plan for your own meals and supplies. We may eat out 3-4 times, above your own camp meals and ride snacks.

MEETING POINT
We will meet at the Tucson Amtrak Station at 9:30 AM on Saturday November 22, and depart from there when ready. Get there in whatever manner you choose.

Using Amtrak (optional- for those coming from So. Cal.)
Although the official starting point for the ride is the Tucson Amtrak Station, those in the southern California region may consider taking the Amtrak from the Los Angeles Union Station. I have found Amtrak to be useful (it will be my mode of travel to Tucson). If interested in using Amtrak, here are the details:

You will need to catch the Amtrak train from LA Union Station a day before the official bike depart from the Tucson Amtrak Station, i.e. Friday). The train leaves from LA Union Station at 10 pm Friday. The train is scheduled to arrive in Tucson at 8:30 am, but I have never found the train to be on time. (On my last trip, the train arrived in Tucson at 11 am). The cost is $55 and up each way (variable-- like airline tickets), plus an additional $20 for the bike. You can book your reservation online. When you're ready, book as early as you can to make sure your bike gets on.
At the station, you will first have to go to the baggage area in Union Station, show them your reservation, and they will give you a tag to put on the bike (like a luggage tag you tie to your suitcase). At the train, you have to unload your bicycle and hand the unladen bike to the baggage car. You do not need to box the bike; it can be intact, but just unloaded. What I have previously done is bring a foldable duffel bag and put everything (all panniers, bike accessories, etc.) into that single duffel bag and carry it with me onto the train. Upon arrival at the destination, I unpack everything from the duffel bag and load it onto the bike. I fold the duffel bag and stuff it in one of the panniers.

6-day option. If anyone thinks 9 days is too much for them and would like to do just 6 days (description from an earlier listing), it may be possible to do so. Separate from the main group after the town of Patagonia. DM Thuan (use Messages in the Meetup app) if this may be what you want to do. For anyone using Amtrak, there are trains going to Los Angeles from Tucson on Thursday and Sunday only. (providing a good reason for the 6 and 9 Day rides)

************************
Disclaimer: This bike-touring/camping group ride is a meeting of like-minded people gathering for a time of fun and social interaction. No organizational responsibility is implied in the creation of this ride. Upon registering for this event, you acknowledge that participation in the event is done out of your own risk and you accept responsibility for your own safety.