Aspen Draw Meadow Trail Loop Santa Catalina Mountains Tucson, Arizona Distance: 6 miles Type: mixed trails, out&back Time: 2-4 hours Season: all if you don't mind snow Elevation Range: 8320-9100 ft Permit Required: Catalina Mountains or Madera Canyon pass Quick Rating: scenic technical fun Summerhaven Area Trail Map (220 Kb JPG) About the map and trail profile Updated 6/6/03

Description

This is one of the most beautiful and accessible trails Mt. Lemmon has to offer. The ride strings together an asphalt warm-up climb, a scenic and sometimes technical cruise along the Meadow Trail, and rewards you with winding singletrack down the Aspen Draw Trail. Just for fun, we've tossed in a punishing climb back up the Aspen Draw Trail so you can come down again and catch the turns, drops, and trees you missed the first time.

Rating

Don't let the wind whistling through the pines and bird song fool you. This ride has more than its fair share of steep climbs and technical challenges. The Aspen Draw Trail is a demanding singletrack that changes with the weather and requires skill, nerve, and a belief in your own immortality. A mistake, lapse of concentration, or unexpected trail change can send you into a tree or down the hillside.

How to get there

If you don't have a Catalina Forest Service pass, you can buy one at the Texaco station on the south side of Tanque Verde Road just shy of the Mt. Lemmon 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 to E. Ski Run Road (mile 24.8). Turn right on E. Ski Run Road and continue to Ski Valley. Park.

Trail Log

0.0	Ride up the road from the parking lot at Ski Valley.
1.6	Clearing on left with Radio Ridge Trail. Turn left off the asphalt and follow the trail west up the hill.
1.7	Tower and fenced enclosure on right. Follow the singletrack around the west side of the fence.
1.8	T into Lemmon Trail. Follow left around the gate. Meadow Trail is on the right. Take it.
2.5	T into Lemmon Trail. Good place to turn around and climb back out Meadow Trail. You can also turn left on the Lemmon Trail and climb back to the start of the Meadow Trail.
3.3	T back into the Lemmon Trail. Turn left, ride around the gate, and turn right on the trail along the west side of the fence.
3.4	Start your downhill ride on the Radio Ridge Trail. When you reach the clearing beside the paved road, stay right and follow the jeep trail around the gate. Ok, the jeep trail goes through the locked gate so you want to go around it.
3.7	As you approach the ski lift on your left, pick a trail up the slope. The Aspen Draw Trail starts just east of the lift. Make sure your brakes are working. From here on it's all downhill.
4.5	Still alive and ticking? T into Upper Sabino Canyon Trail. Turn around for a quick climb back up Aspen Draw. If you've had enough abuse, follow the trail left and climb out to the parking lot.
5.2	Top of the Aspen Draw Trail. Once more down for luck.
5.9	This looks familiar. Turn left at the trail intersection and climb out to the parking lot.
6.0	Parking lot and snack time. You did remember a snack, didn't you?

Notes

Aspen Draw is a popular trail. Watch out for hikers and trail runners and yield the trail, smile, and wave. In most cases they will encourage you to pass, possibly thinking that anyone crazy enough to try and ride this trail needs all the help they can get.

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.

Variations

Extended Aspen Draw-Meadow Trail Loop. Instead of turning around at the end of Meadow Trail, turn right and continue west on Lemmon Trail.

Upper Sabino-Aspen Draw Loop. Ride down E. Ski Run Road from the parking area. Turn right on Mt. Lemmon Highway into Summerhaven. Turn right on Turkey Run Road. It will turn into the Upper Sabino Canyon Trail. Up and down Aspen Draw as many times as you'd like.

Upper Sabino-Aspen Draw Out & Back. Park in Summerhaven near the public restrooms and bear-country trash bins. Ride up Turkey Run Road. It will turn into the Upper Sabino Canyon Trail. Up and down Aspen Draw as many times as you'd like.

Aspen Draw. Ski Valley parking area. Trail along guardrail to Aspen Draw Trail. Up and down and up and down till you're dizzy.