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A popular technical downhill with a fun, sometimes slightly less technical warmup and views.


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Map Key

7.9

Miles

12.7

KM

60%

Singletrack

9,097' 2,773 m

High

7,794' 2,376 m

Low

1,562' 476 m

Up

1,562' 476 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

55%

Max Grade (29°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Overview

Most locals love Aspen Draw, but many of us also like to start a bit higher up and tie in Aspen Meadow Trail as a loop. It ads some beautiful scenery, a bit of chunky riding, and if you need a break, a very short hike to an old fire outlook post perched on an outcropping of rock with incredible views.

Need to Know

Park in Summerhaven and ride up the road for a great, lung-busting asphalt climb. Alternatively, you can shuttle up the hill with a vehicle. Earn that downhill!

Description

A wonderful, cool ride, and fun descent, but not incredibly long. Almost eight miles WITH the steep asphalt uphill should you choose to hit the pavement first. Aspen Draw is singletrack for almost all of the return downhill but because its so short, this is a loop you'll probably want to do twice. Ride it, eat in Summerhaven, and ride it again. It is 30 degrees cooler than the Tucson basin and feels all of it. 8,000 to 9,000 ft. elevation so the air is a lot thinner and you'll most definitely take notice of this.

The uphill on the little used road to the Observatory is fairly tough and the singletrack has some technical challenges (logs, roots, tree stumps, switchbacks, etc.) and it is multi-use so you WILL see hikers. Because this trail has many blind corners and invites lots of speed, please be very alert and cautious of other potential trail users, and yield to anyone coming up the hill.

Contacts

Shared By:

Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyc…

Trail Ratings

  3.8 from 11 votes

#2

in Mt. Lemmon

#2422

Overall
  3.8 from 11 votes
5 Star
36%
4 Star
18%
3 Star
36%
2 Star
9%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#2

in Mt. Lemmon

#96

in Arizona

#2,422

Overall
19 Views Last Month
6,581 Since Jan 29, 2015
Difficult Difficult

0%
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10%
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90%
0%

Photos

Standard fair for Aspen Draw
May 13, 2013 near Oracle, AZ
Woohoo!
Oct 2, 2014 near Oracle, AZ
Lots of waterbars on Aspen Draw
Oct 2, 2014 near Oracle, AZ
A view from  the top of Mt Lemmon
Nov 2, 2019 near Catalina, AZ
A short walk from the Y before you start climbing, you can see an old but still-in-use fire lookout station.
Oct 2, 2014 near Catalina, AZ
Gathering at the top, just before Aspen Draw descent
Oct 2, 2014 near Oracle, AZ

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