Segment START: Oak Tree Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains
Segment END: Tucson
Notes: The AZT does not exist north of Oak Tree Canyon. Several have scouted for routes (myself included) but a route has not been fixed and construction is unlikely to happen before 2006.
We weren't able to test out the drop through Davidson Canyon, so this description starts at three bridges on Marsh Station Road. Cross one of the three bridges (the one for vehicles) then immediately turn left on the north side of the deep canyon (it's cienega creek). Follow the edge of the canyon until you reach a fence. There is constructed trail on the other side of the fence, though it may be hard to spot at first.
In 1.25 miles the trail will cross a gasline. Turn left for about 30 feet, the turn immediately right on a faded dirt road. The trail is on this road for about 50 feet before turning to singletrack on the right side of the road.
0.5 miles from the gas line the trail crosses a washed out powerline road. The trail continues directly across it. As of April 2005 the trail continues only another 1.0 miles from this point. However, there is a good route where the trail does not exist and it is not very hard to get down to Posta Quemada ranch which is in Colossal Cave Mtn Park.
After the trail runs out follow flagging proceeding parallel to a small drainage. Your goal is a small notch that is the lowest and most logical place to take a trail. See the GPS data for a coordinate at the top of the notch. There are some very old and faded flags all the way up and I added a few orange ones near the top of the notch in April 2005.
Once at the notch you are looking down at the ranch house, stables, etc. There is an old trail (perhaps reclaimed road) that drops from the notch to the pavement into the Ranch. The beginning of the trail is not obvious so you may need to scout around. But it drops down on the west side of the drainage. It is easy to spot once you are away from it.
It is overgrown but it does get some horse traffic. I was able to ride down the whole thing with my loaded bike. Turn right to drop into the wash on the more worn trail when you get to a vague junction. Crossing the wash and turning left/west will lead to a well worn horse trail that brings you right to the paved road.
The AZT does not yet exist from the ranch to the La Sevilla picnic area. So hop on the paved park road heading west out of the ranch. Turn right (left says road closed / bike gate) towards the park entrance/exit. In just under a mile turn right towards La Sevilla picnic area. This road turns to broken pavement/dirt before reaching the picnic area.
The AZT leaves the picnic area on the northeast side near the bathrooms. In April 2005 the entrance is not obvious and not signed. If you head that way you should find it. There's a fence at the back of the picnic area that will keep you from going too far. The trail climbs away from the picnic area and crosses some rock gardens as it makes its way to a low saddle at the back edge of Colossal Cave Mtn. Park. The view of the Rincon Mountains from here is quite nice. As of writing this 1.25 mile section from the picnic area to the saddle is not complete but it is heavily flagged and easy to follow. By summer 05 it will be complete.
After crossing a steep and eroded dirt road the AZT continues on trail built in Fall 2004. It will cross several dirt roads before dumping out onto Pistol Hill road at a lightly used parking area. There is a kiosk (not AZT) on the other side of a cattle guard. Don't cross the cattle guard, just look for a trail gate on the north side of the fence and on the other side of Pistol Hill Rd.
The trail next crosses bumpy, washboarded, X-9 road. The trail is directly across. The next road is Camino Doretea (not signed). This is the thru-biker's exit. The trail continues another 1.25 miles across Rincon Creek before dead-ending near the Saguaro National Park boundary. No bikes in the park, (except the tiny Cactus Forest Trail), so it's time to hit more pavement.
Camino Doretea heads due West for a mile, rolling on some steep, loose hills. Then it turns due south for a mile, then west again but this time for 2 miles. You will now be on pavement on a road called Camino Loma Alta. Turn south here for 0.5 miles to Old Spanish Trail.
Old Spanish Trail can have a fair amount of traffic on it at times, but it has a pretty good shoulder. There is a small store / gas station 3 miles from Camino Loma Alta. As old Spanish Trail passes Saguaro National Park there are two restaurants that both have odd hours.
The next section to pick up on the AZT is to ride up Redington Road, which leaves the far east side of Tucson. The most direct route is take Freeman RD -> Speedway -> Redington, but I recommend taking Old Spanish Trail west to Houghton Road. At Houghton and Broadway there are a whole slew of businesses, grocery stores and restaurants. Broadway bikes is 3-4 miles west (continue on Old Spanish Trail) at Broadway and Sarnoff.