Good thing we’re motivated to shed off our summer-fat (in most places, people gain weight over winter. In Arizona, winter is our active season because only crazy people run in 110°+ summer). On our first attempt to find Honeybee Canyon Loop the week before, we just kept biking up and down the street trying to find the trailhead. Unfortunately, Rancho Vistoso Blvd is hilly. By the time we found the trailhead, we had run out of time and my quads were spent. So on our second attempt, we knew where to go for the trailhead. This should make it easier for you.
Find parking at the Honeybee Canyon Park.
Bike along the road for about .7 of a mile to N Quiet Rain Dr. GPS Coordinates: 32.463906, -110.959311
You’re in the right area when you see a wooden post marking a TRAIL up ahead.
To the right of the community gates is a little side gate to access the powerline trail. There is room to left of the gate to get your bike through.
Bike along this trail following the powerlines.
Continue past these gates. There’s an area to the left that allows you to walk your bike through.
This is where we went wrong. Instead of taking this turn (about .8 miles from the start of the trail), we just kept going straight. Don’t be like us folks. TAKE THE RIGHT TURN!
And on we kept going… upwards. We were a bit confused as the fellas at Trek Bikes of Tucson had said this was a great trail for beginners & that the ascent wasn’t noticeable. Oh we noticed this ascent!
Which way do we go? We tried them all. All were wrong.
If you see this, you’re going the wrong way. But on we soldiered.
This is also the wrong way so back we went.
We decided to give this a shot. Turns out it was part of the Honeybee Canyon Loop. Hooray! We ended up doing the trail in reverse but once we were on, it was a blast!
Ooh rocks! Let’s stop!
Right where I managed to fall off the bike (my cat-like skills landed me on my feet)…
…it was a much better area to fall than here.
We tried to use MTB Project to find Honeybee Canyon Loop but obviously the directions were made for people not map impaired so with that said, we hope you have better luck. We got lost so you don’t have to!
Once we were actually on the trail we flew right through it & were actually invigorated by how fun it was. We’re definitely going to do this again –properly next time!
And here’s a video to make you motion sick! You’re welcome!
Honeybee Canyon Loop Trail Overview
- Coordinates: 32.463906, -110.959311
- Fees: FREE
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Usage: Moderate
- Length: 15.2 Miles
- Things to note:
- The beginning of this trail runs through the backsides of neighborhoods. Be respectful of the property because this is a trail that has become controversial in the community. Details can be read via this post by Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists.
- Tips:
- This a desert trail with lots of sun exposure. Be sure to bring plenty of water & wear plenty of sunblock.
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