Brown Mountain Loop Tucson Mountains Tucson, Arizona Distance: 8.2 miles Type: mixed trail loop Time: 1.5-4 hours Season: Fall-Spring Elevation Range: 2680-3030 ft Permit Required: No Park Hours: 7 am to sunset Quick Rating: most abuse in the shortest time About the trail profile Updated 12/29/03

Description

The trail warms up with rolling desert hills and builds to long technical climbs on Brown Mountain. The final plunge down the south side of Brown Mountain is the most difficult, treacherous, and bone jarring descent the Tucson Mountains has to offer.

Rating

Your degree of fitness and ability will determine how much you enjoy this ride. As with most Tucson Mountain rides, do not attempt this in the summer heat unless you have a death wish. The trail gets you warmed up on flat jeep trails, tosses in a few steep climbs to get your legs going, and then slaps you with the grind up and over Brown Mountain. The climb up Brown Mountain saps your strength and you'll need it for the ride down. The last descent is narrow winding track of sharp turns and sharper rock. The experience is further enhanced by angular rubble strewn across most of the trail. We haven't found anything like it in the Tucson Mountains area. Even the hikers seem to avoid it.

How to get there

Take Speedway Boulevard west of town where it climbs up and over the Tucson Mountains and becomes Gates Pass Road. When Gates Pass Road intersects Kinney Road drive straight across and park in parking area K16.

Trail Log

0.0	Ride starts at parking area K16 on Kinney Road. Ride across the intersection to a trail heading into the brush on the NE corner of Gates Pass Road and Kinney Road. Single track will soon become double-track jeep trail. Trail is fairly straight so don't be fooled into taking any crossing trails.
0.4	Trail crosses graded road to Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute. Turn left and follow the road north.
1.4	Turn left off the road onto a jeep trail marked with an Orcutt Trail sign. This is just before the sign on the left marking the Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute (trespassers will be eaten).
1.5	Hint of a jeep trail goes left. Stay right.
1.8	Pass a fence corner on your right.
2.1	Orcutt Trail 'T's into another jeep trail. Head left down the hill.
2.4	Downhill jeep trail 'T's into Cougar Trail running along a fence. The trail is not marked but go right anyway.
3.1	Jeep trail joins from left. Keep going straight.
3.6	Jeep trail joins from left. Keep going straight.
3.7	Get ready for a steep climb ahead. Lots of loose rock and not much of a forgiving line.
3.9	Watch out for the attacking cactus on this slippery downhill.
4.0	Cross the wash. The trail is hard to follow but make your way to the jeep trail heading down toward Kinney Road.
4.2	Turn right on Kinney Road. Watch for early morning Speed Racers.
4.4	Turn left into the Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area.
4.7	Jump the curb before the road loops back. Look for a steep slope and steps leading down to the wash. If you're luck you'll see a trail sign. This is the beginning of the Brown Mountain Trail.
4.9	A sign on the right points you to the left. Heed it. You may be tempted to follow a route heading right to the west but resist. Save it for another time.
6.3	If you haven't done it already, take a drink and a deep breath. Here comes that downhill we've been promising.
6.7	Congratulations! You made it! A marked trail back to Kinney Road goes left. Keep going straight.
6.9	Another marked trail goes left and leads nowhere. Don't take it. Keep going straight.
7.2	McCain Loop Road. Go left if you want to take blacktop the rest of the way. We're taking the fun way. Cross the road and head into the Gilbert Ray Campground. Follow the signs to the 'A' camping area loop.
8.1	Look for a trail marked with a TRAIL sign on the left between campsites 52 and 53. Take it.
8.4	Jeep trail Ts into Powerline Trail. Turn left.
8.6	Return to parking area K16. Hope this is where you left your internal combustion conveyance.

Notes

Watch out for hikers on Brown Mountain and yield the trail, smile, and wave. They are a rare occurrence on this trail but have been encountered on the descent to McCain Loop Road. Gil Ray Campground is a popular spot for winter visitors and the Brown Mountain Trail is within easy walking distance. In most cases they will encourage you to pass, possibly thinking that anyone crazy enough to try and ride this trail may be contagious.

Take plenty of water and tubes. This can be a tough loop and demands much of body and bike. It'll take longer than you think and will become quite miserable if you run out of water or have to walk out on flat tires. A snack can also take the edge of things while you're waiting for your buddy to change his tire.

Consider elbow, knee, and shin protection. The Brown Mountain trails are rocky and overgrown with cactus and acacia in places, especially the final descent. If you tend to be uncoordinated, body protection can protect you from much of the physical abuse. It won't prevent mental anguish.