Arizona Trail Molino Basin Slingshot Santa Catalina Mountains Tucson, Arizona Distance: 9.2 miles Type: singletrack, out & back Time: 2.5-5 hours Season: all Elevation Range: 4300-4860 ft Permit Required: Catalina Mountains or Madera Canyon pass Quick Rating: self-abusive technical Trail Map-Molino East (251 Kb JPG) Trail Map-Molino West (211 Kb JPG) About the map and trail profile Updated 6/6/03

Description

This trail combines the Molino East and West trails for a challenging ride that will test your skill and endurance. It alternates tough climbs and exhilarating downhills. As long as you pick your time of day right, it's ridable year round. Weather and time of year can change trail conditions unexpectedly. The trail may be moist with great traction or dry and loose.

Rating

No doubt about, this is a tough trail. You'll find some of the most technical climbs and descents the Catalinas have to offer. Toss in the possible hiker around the next bend and you've got yourself a real challenge.

How to get there

Take the Mount Lemmon Highway to Molino Basin (mile 5.6).

Trail Log

0.0	Follow the road to the campground from the parking lot at Molino Basin.
0.1	Watch for the trail on the left just past the wash. There should be a waist-high brown fiberglass stake marking the Arizona Trail.
0.3	Trail crosses a dead end road. The wash crossing is VERY slick with algae when the water's running.
1.1	A marked trail forks off to the right to the campground. Don't take it.
2.2	Saddle. Turn around.
4.4	Back at Molino Basin parking. Ride across highway to trail on north side of wash.
4.6	Your trail cuts off to right through wash. Head up the hill.
5.6	East saddle.
6.9	West Spring tank. Cool off and turn around.
8.3	East saddle again.
9.2	Molino Basin parking. Enjoy a snack and relax.

Notes

Start early to avoid traffic on the trail. This is a popular trail with weekend hikers and resort groups.

Watch out for hikers and yield the trail, smile, and wave. In most cases they will encourage you to pass, possibly thinking that anyone crazy enough to try and ride this trail needs all the help they can get.

Trail maintenance can be dangerous if you're not paying attention. This trail has rubber tire sections across the trail to divert water and reduce trail erosion. These are a pain riding uphill and can throw you on the descents.

Variations

Molino Canyon Vista start. Park and start from Molino Canyon Vista Point. This will not require a Catalina Mountains pass and you get an extra 15 minutes of warm-up riding up the highway.

Arizona Trail - Molino Basin East
Arizona Trail - Molino Basin West