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John Krein Trail
Tucson Mountains
Tucson, Arizona
Distance: 9.3 miles
Type: mixed trail loop
Time: 2-4 hours
Season: Fall-Spring
Elevation Range: 2600-3380 ft
Permit Required: No
Park Hours: 7 am to sunset
Quick Rating: sick fun
About the trail profile
Pima County NRPR
Trail Map |
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Description
The John Krein Trail climbs to
a peak with a beautiful 360-degree view of the Tucson Mountains.
The climb to the peak is technically difficult, physically challenging,
and at times takes you along cliffs with shear drops. Combine
this with the demands of the Golden Gate Trail and Yetman climb
over Golden Gate Pass and you have the makings of a demanding
but satisfying ride.
Rating
This long and challenging ride
includes some of the best singletrack in the Tucson Mountains.
As with most of our rides, it starts with an easy warmup across
the desert east of Old Tucson, adds exertion in the climb up
John Krein Trail, and closes with scenic singletrack along the
Golden Gate Trail. Sure, I've left out a lot of details, but
I have to leave some surprises, don't I?
How to get there
Take Speedway Boulevard west
of town. It will change to West Anklam Road and climb up and
over Gates Pass where it becomes Gates Pass Road. Continue west
on Gates Pass Road and turn left (south) when it intersects Kinney
Road. Watch for parking area K9 on the left, approximately 1.5
miles from the intersection.
Trail Log
Tucson Mountain Park has a lot
of trails. I've done my best to note major trail crossings to
keep you on track. It's hard to get lost but easy to end up where
you didn't want to be.
0.0 |
Parking area K9. Ride north on Kinney
Road. |
0.3 |
Parking area K12. Pull in and take
the trail on the north side of the parking area. It will widen
into a jeep trail. The trail is a relaxing warmup to the climbs
ahead. If it's a cold winter morning, you'll need all the warmup
you can get. |
1.2 |
The jeep trail will split. Stay
left. The right trail will get you to the same place near parking
area G6. |
1.5 |
Trail crosses a jeep trail to parking
area G6. Continue straight. |
1.6 |
Trail ends at east-west jeep trail.
Follow right. |
1.8 |
If you're on track, you just crossed
a wash and have started a short climb. Stop where the jeep trail
makes a sharp right turn. To the right is the continuation of
the Golden Gate Trail, which you'll take on the loop back. Straight
ahead is the Golden Gate Trail coming down from Golden Gate Pass.
On your left is a less obvious singletrack going north. Take
it. |
1.9 |
Turn right and ride up the wash.
Don't mind the soft sand or sharp acacia. Remember, this is supposed
to be fun. |
2.2 |
The wash will narrow and the slopes
will steepen. Watch for a rock cairn and faint trail climbing
out of the wash on the left. Follow the singletrack to parking
area G3. |
2.4 |
Parking area G3. You won't have
any problem finding the well traveled trail to the pass. It is
a challenging climb over loose cobbles. |
2.8 |
Golden Gate Pass. Golden Gate Trail
on your right, Yetman Trail straight ahead, and an unnamed trail
goes left. Go straight and down the hill. |
3.4 |
Follow Yetman Trail left at split
in the trail. Follow the Yetman Trail east and disregard tempting
side trails. |
4.2 |
Sign and John Krein Trail on right.
Take it. It's all uphill from here. |
4.9 |
End of the line, unless you want
to take a shortcut down. Admire the view. Commune with nature.
Backtrack. |
5.6 |
'T' into Yetman Trail. Go left and
back the way you came. |
6.4 |
Go right and prepare for the long
grind up to Golden Gate Pass. |
7.0 |
Golden Gate Pass. Take the Golden
Gate Trail left at the trail intersection. |
7.1 |
Beware! The next mile is a challenging
stretch of technical downhill with lots of big rocks and drops.
It used to be more fun but someone's filled in some of the drops
with stepping stones to make it easier. Next thing you know they'll
be adding guardrails. |
7.9 |
You're back at a multi-trail intersection
you should recognize near G6. Follow the jeep trail left briefly
until you see a singletrack branch right. This is the rest of
the Golden Gate Trail that will take you back to parking area
K9. |
9.3 |
Loop complete at K9. Grab a drink,
snack, and relax. |
Notes
Watch out for hikers on the Yetman Trail 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. Hikers are uncommon on
the Golden Gate Trail and have never been seen on John Krein
Trail.
Take plenty of water and tubes. This is a tough loop and demands much
of body and bike. It'll take longer than you think and will get
really miserable if you run out of water or have to walk out
on flat tires. A snack can also take the edge of things while
you're waiting for your buddy to change his tire.
Consider elbow, knee, and
shin protection. The
trails are rocky and overgrown with cactus and acacia in places.
If you tend to be uncoordinated, body protection can protect
you from much of the physical abuse. It won't prevent mental
anguish.
Variations
Shorten trail time by starting
from parking area G8, G6, G5 or G3. If you start from G3 there
won't be any warmup before hitting the steep climb to Golden
Gate Pass. |
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