Winter 2022
Arizona Ride
Spend six days cycling through Southern California’s beautiful desert landscapes
About the Ride
Join us on our Arizona road bike tour! Our ride begins outside of Scottsdale with two classic rides and then heads down to Tucson where we’ll explore Saguaro National Park and you’ll have the option to climb the legendary Mt
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Scottsdale, AZ
Lemmon. This is a unique cycling adventure combining two epic regions and it is a beautiful dose of warmth when it’s winter everywhere else.
Event Details
Positive Planet Impact
Full Event Story
Welcome to the American Southwest and some of the most exciting winter road cycling in the country. Starting in Scottsdale, we’ll venture into a wild and beautiful landscape.
From Sky Islands to vast deserts, we’ll see it all. Giant saguaros are a universal symbol of the American West, yet these majestic plants are only found in a relatively small portion of Arizona. You’ll visit Saguaro National Park which protects some of the most impressive forests of these sub-tropical giants, right on the edge of the Tucson city limits.
Join us to experience southern Arizona’s finest biking, stay at a signature wilderness camp and then a hotel in Tucson, gain a first-hand understanding of this special land, and then have a chance to summit Mt. Lemmon, one of the great cycling ascents and descents in the world! It offers a stunning experience for every level of cyclist.
Climate Ride charitable events bring together bright minds, breathtaking routes for all cycling abilities, and an unforgettable combination of passion and purpose. Thank you for being a part of this journey.
Photo Gallery
Itinerary Overview
Itinerary subject to change, your Ride Guide will include full details.
Day 1: Arrival in Phoenix
We’ll shuttle to McDowell Mountain Regional Park. Here among wildly eroded granite boulders, your guides will provide a trip orientation after setting up camp. Optional ride. Then we will enjoy dinner, welcome introductions, and some bike fitting. We’ll also have a shuttle from long-term parking.
Day 2: Ride the Rio Salado – 68 mi / +3137 ft
Today’s route takes us through the outskirts of Tonto National Forest and along the verdant Salt River. We’ll tackle a brief climb, Usery Pass, before heading back and settling into camp for the night. As your guides prepare a delicious meal to fuel the following days of journey-style road riding, you can put your feet up and prepare for another road cycling challenge through the heart of the Sonoran Desert.
Day 3: Around McDowell Mountain – 59 mi / +3583
Wake up surrounded by the rugged McDowell Mountains. Today, our route takes us west over 59 miles of varying terrain. From “9-mile climb”, as the locals call it, to the pristine pavement of Sonoran Desert Drive, this route allows you to roll along some of the best roads in the Sonoran Desert while sinking into the rhythm that adventure cycling brings. With plenty of support and encouragement along the way, we’ll arrive back at camp with time to relax over a hearty dinner and exchange stories from our day in the saddle.
Day 4: Saguaro National Park – multiple options from 30-50 mi / +1284 ft
Today we begin with an early morning shuttle from our camp to our hotel in Tucson. Then we’ll begin riding through Tucson to the eastern side of Saguaro National Park – a not-to-be-missed ride popular among local roadies. The local term for our ride today is known as the “The Loop” – this ride winds through saguaro forests and lush vegetation.
Day 5: Choose your own Adventure!
Epic Mt. Lemmon – 32 mi / +3500 ft or 42 mi / +5200 ft or 64 mi / +7014 ft
Or you can choose to do a valley ride with less elevation, or hike.
We have all day to tackle the legendary sky island, Mount Lemmon, riding from high desert to cool alpine forest. ‘Sky Island’ is a term for an isolated mountain surrounded by a vastly different climate – in most cases, desert. Isolated mountains retained unique biodiversity in contrast to the desert floor below. Mt. Lemmon is one of Arizona’s most iconic sky islands. This truly spectacular ride climbs at a steady 4-5%, and if you need a boost, we’re there for you. The downhill is unforgettable.
If you would prefer another option, there are incredible day hikes on Mt. Lemmon or you’ll have the option to ride through the valley near Mt. Lemmon.
Day 6
Today you can depart from Tuscon or we’ll shuttle you back to Phoenix (2 hours). We’ll say our farewells until the next ride! Thank you!
Ready to get started?
FAQS and More Info
Gear, Accommodations, Meals, Single Supplment, and Full Hotel Option
This is a camping and then a hotel trip. You will need to bring or rent a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. You can rent these through our outfitter and they will be brought to camp (rental information will be provided in the Ride Guide).
The hotel portion of the trip is based on double occupancy. If you would like a single supplement for the hotel portion on the ride (two nights in Tucson), the additional cost is $225. We can try to pair you with another rider, but cannot guarantee it.
If you would like hotels during the camping portion of the trip (first 3 nights), there are two hotels 12 miles from our camp and we will offer a shuttle. Please email [email protected] to request the hotel list. This would be an additional cost.
Breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks are handled by our expert local guides. We serve delicious energy-packed meals with lots of fresh ingredients to satisfy all tastes. We can accommodate special diets; just let us know your preferences. We do not provide alcoholic beverages but feel free to bring your own. We’ll provide lots of snacks, and plenty of water.
Travel Information
There are a few options for how to meet the trip. We will offer a shuttle pick up at Pheonix Sky Harbor International Airport on Day 1. If you are driving and prefer to leave your car in Phoenix, you can use long-term parking and shuttle back to Pheonix at the end of the trip. Or, if you are driving, you can meet us at our at basecamp in McDowell Mountain Regional Park. You can park there for the first three days, then drive to the second part of the trip in Tucson.
The cycling event will end in Tucson, AZ. We will offer a shuttle to the Tucson airport (TUS) and to (PHX).
What precautions are being taken for Coronavirus?
Please visit our Covid-19 Policies and Procedures Page.
Vaccination is required to participate in Climate Ride events. We want to keep everyone as safe as possible during this trip, so we recommend being very cautious and following the recommended protocols for coronavirus during the two weeks before this trip. We recommend getting a COVID-19 test, self-isolating as much as possible, and taking extra care when traveling to the ride start.
Cell Phone Service and Wifi?
There will be limited cell service when camping.
What do I need to bring on the ride?
All riders need to have a road bike (see below for bike rental info), helmet, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad (see camping gear rental info), and a suitcase or duffle containing clothes, toiletries, and anything else necessary for several days on the road. The Ride Guide will contain a more detailed suggested packing list. The Ride Guide will be distributed to participants several months before the event. If you have a non-perishable personal favorite snack or electrolyte brand please feel free to bring some along!
Road bikes are required for this trip as we’ll be riding on paved roads and remote byways. The most important factor in choosing a bike and pedals is your comfort. You want to be riding a bike and using pedals that you will be comfortable riding with for multiple hours a day, for several days in a row. Our local outfitter has road bikes available for rent.
IF BRINGING YOUR OWN BIKE: Have your bike tuned up before the tour and have any worn-out parts replaced. You may want to ship your bike ahead of time to our bike shop partner in Tucson. There will be an assembly fee, and they can also disassemble and box it up at the end of the trip as well.
Can I rent a bicycle for the ride?
Yes! Our outfitter will have road bikes for rent in various configurations and sizes. These are high-quality bikes. You will need to book quickly as sizes do run out. More information will be available in the Ride Guide.
What kind of support can I expect while on the road?
Climate Ride has partnered with an outfitter to provide the most experienced and friendliest professional guides. We have rest stops each day with snacks and water, and on-route we have vehicle support that carries luggage, and also functions as a mobile mechanic and first aid station. You can also expect an unlimited supply of camaraderie and encouragement from the Climate Ride staff, the guides, and your fellow riders!
What does my fundraising support and why is it so important?
Participants can choose from the more than 100 incredible beneficiary organizations in the Climate Ride network! One of the things that make Climate Ride such an effective charitable event is that you can select the organization(s) you wish to benefit through the Climate Ride grants program. Our beneficiaries were selected for their work on the environment, justice, conservation, sustainability, climate education, and active transportation advocacy. At the end of the year, Climate Ride grants the proceeds from our events to these hard-working organizations. Learn more about beneficiaries here.
Fundraising Deadlines and Important Dates
Fundraising Deadlines:
| $500 to be raised by | 12/29/2021 |
|---|---|
| $1600 to be raised by | 1/20/2022 |
| $3200 to be raised by | 2/9/2022 |
Learn more about deadlines and transfers on our Policies page.
Note: If you’d like to register after or near a fundraising deadline, don’t worry, we’re here to help you get up to speed!
More Questions?
Be sure to review our general FAQ and policies or contact us!