Samaniego Ridge Trail Santa Catalina Mountains Tucson, Arizona Distance: 17 miles Type: mixed trails, shuttle Time: 6-? hours Season: all if you don't mind snow Elevation Range: 3200-9100 ft Permit Required: Not if you're dropped off Quick Rating: awe inspiring Mt Lemmon Backside Trails-South (741 Kb PDF) Mt Lemmon Backside Trails-North (642 Kb PDF) About the map and trail profile Updated 6/6/03

Description

This is scenic and technical Santa Catalina riding at its best. Once you get past the initial drudgery of the asphalt warm-up climb from Ski Valley the ride will challenge your technical skill and endurance. You'll ride through snowy forests, grassy parks, pine carpeted fir stands, and along exposed rocky ridges with spectacular views. It's an exhausting ride along rarely traveled trail that is hard to follow, let alone ride, at times. You will many times wonder at the sense and sanity of your choice of trails.

Rating or You've Been Warned!

No doubt about it, this trail is only for the crazy. This is not only a very technical trail at times, it is more than 6 hours of demanding mountain biking. The trail becomes more primitive as you go and is at times no more than a route. In several places the trail disappears entirely and you're left with shouldering your bike to climb in search of more trail. Be prepared for the vagaries of weather and equipment failure and pack twice as much food and water as you think you'll need. If this doesn't sound like fun, don't even think about trying it. After all, if it isn't fun, why do it?

Special Considerations

This is what I call 'expedition mode' riding. It takes planning and preparation. By sharing with you the things we do to prepare I hope to prevent you from making the same mistakes we have. Check out Be Prepared.

How to get there

This is a shuttle ride. That means you'll need the assistance of a friend or significant other willing to drive you up the mountain for an early start and pick you up at trail's end. I do not recommend setting a meeting time. We did this once (only once). We grossly underestimated trail time and our shuttle waited patiently several hours before we dragged our starving and exhausted corpses to the trailhead. Avoid such embarrassment and carry a mobile phone. It's handy for emergencies and makes it easy to call for your ride as you approach the ride's end.

You won't need a Catalina Forest Service pass to drive up, drop off, and drive down. If your shuttle driver is sticking around to do some hiking you can buy a pass one at the Texaco station on the south side of Tanque Verde Road just shy of the Catalina Highway intersection. If you forget, the pass station above the Molino Canyon overlook may be open. You can pick up day passes ($5) from a self service station at Molino Basin.

Take the Mt. Lemmon Highway (aka Catalina Highway) to E. Ski Run Road (mile 24.8). Turn right on E. Ski Run Road and continue to Ski Valley. Unpack, mount up, ride on.

Trail Log

0.0	Ride up the road from the parking lot at Ski Valley.
1.5	Clearing on left with Radio Ridge Trail. Turn left off the asphalt and follow the jeep trail west up the hill toward the tower.
1.7	Tower and fenced enclosure on right. Follow the singletrack around the west side of the fence.
1.8	T into Mt Lemmon Trail #5. Follow left around the gate. Turn right on Meadow Trail.
2.5	T back into Mt Lemmon Trail. Turn right.
3.8	Trail junction at the start of the Samaniego Ridge Trail #7. A large laminated trail map shows you where you are. Continue down the steep trail on the right behind the sign. Watch out for ice and snow!
4.2	Sutherland Trail #6 on left. Stay right.
4.4	Cañada del Oro Trail #4 splits right. Stay left on Samaniego Ridge Trail.
5.0	CDO Shortcut Trail #4A joins from the right. It's signed here as the Samaniego Ridge Tr Shortcut #7A. I guess it all depends on your point of view. Keep left.
6.6	Trail right to Walnut Spring. Follow trail left.
7.4	Great views to east (right). Get ready for a drop to the west. The trail corkscrews down several hundred feet only to crawl back up. You'll see why when you get down. It's the only way to get around the cliff.
8.6	If you like heights, scramble up the rocks to the Mule Ears on your left. Be careful! There are sheer cliffs to the west and it can be windy. Wide view of the valley west and back up the ridge where you rode down.
10.2	Hang on for the drop to Charouleau Gap! The trail is very loose and deeply rutted in places. Good place to get some hiking in.
11.2	Charouleau Gap. Catch your breath. Count heads. Have a snack. Check your bike. The rest of the way down is a fast and slippery ride. Look out for 4WDs, motorbikes, and ATVs. You can bet they won't be expecting you to come roaring around the corner.
15.6	Cañada del Oro Wash. Here starts the gauntlet of fence on both sides of the jeep trail. This is the small passage of public access that keeps Charouleau Gap open.
17.1	End of the trail at the Charouleau Gap access sign. Congratulations! With any luck your ride is waiting with plenty of drinks and snacks. Ready to try it again?

Notes

Watch weather conditions. After a heavy rain the trail gets soft and seemingly dry roots and rocks aren't. Even if the roots and rocks are dry, it doesn't do you much good when your tires are wet. Keep in mind that wet trails are more easily damaged, too.

Watch your downhill speed after Charouleau Gap. Don't let the wide open spaces of a well used jeep trail mislead you. You're tired, your muscles are fatigued, and slippery ruts and speeding ORVs await you around every turn.

Variations

Stay home. Fry some eggs and bacon. Plop down in front of football games for the day with a case of light beer.