My Favorite Park in Arizona Is a Little-Known Paradise for Biking

One of my favorite ways to explore anywhere is on a bike. Whether it's my neighborhood, the city I live in, or beyond, there's something freeing about getting exercise while seeing the sights along the way. One incredible park in Arizona that serves as a paradise for bikers is located just outside of Tucson. If you plan to take a scenic bike ride this year, prepare for an adventure at Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, a park known for its diverse landscapes and wildlife species.

Located at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains northeast of Tucson, Sabino Canyon Recreation Area is part of the much greater 1.78-million-acre Coronado National Forest. Due to its easy access from Tucson, it's an incredibly popular area for outdoor recreation. In fact, it sees around 1.25 million people annually! While the park is well known for its hiking trails, it's not as popular for road biking, which is what I love doing.

While hikers can explore the park on one of its 14 trails, rated easy, moderate, or hard on AllTrails, bikers can enjoy a ride along the paved Sabino Tram Road. This 7.4-mile, out-and-back road is closed to private vehicles, making it an ideal biking route and hiking trail, especially for those with strollers or wheelchairs.

Leisure bikers will be happy to know that most of Sabino Tram Road has a gentle grade of less than 5 percent. However, there are some steeper grades between 0.8 and 2.4 at certain points, which will pose as an added challenge to the more die-hard cyclists. Whether you bike for fun or a workout, remember that, despite the steeper sections, you'll travel downhill on the way back!

Since the route is only 7.4 miles, round-trip, you'll have to ride it again if you prefer a much longer ride. I prefer at least 14 miles or longer whenever I ride my bike, so I'd ride this road twice. Sabino Canyon Road is an incredible route for those who love to bike through gorgeous scenery, and you can't beat the desert, canyon, and mountain views at this park.

Sabino Tram Road is typically used for the Sabino Canyon Crawler or Bear Canyon Shuttle, which offers a narrated tram tour complete with headsets. You can book your tickets on the Sabino Canyon Crawler website if you prefer an informative tram ride over hiking or biking. The trams are electric, emission-free shuttles for up to 48 passengers.

Due to trams using Sabino Tram Road, road biking is only allowed during certain times of the day, before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. (before and after the trams run). Biking is also not allowed on the Sabino Canyon Trail on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so plan your trip to Sabino Canyon Recreation Area accordingly.

I love biking, and Sabino Canyon Recreation Area outside of Tucson is the perfect place to do just that. While a paradise for scenery and wildlife, it's also a paradise for bikers. Please visit the U.S. Forest Service website for information on Sabino Canyon's location, hours, and fees.

If you can't get enough of the Santa Catalina Mountains just north of Tucson, you must visit Catalina State Park. This 5,000-acre park is an outdoor adventure-seeker's dream with miles of hiking trails, camping, birdwatching, and more.