Redington Pass and the backside of Mount Lemmon form one of the most complete mountain-gravel systems around Tucson. Redington Road climbs east from the city into the Catalina foothills and increasingly remote desert terrain, while Control Road approaches Mount Lemmon from the Oracle side through steep mountain country.

The four routes on this page form a clear progression. Redington Pass is the most approachable introduction, the Redington Lollipop extends farther into the backcountry, Control Road adds substantially more climbing and rough mountain terrain, and the combined Redington-to-Mount-Lemmon route links the two systems into a major Catalina Mountain ride.

Distance alone does not define the difficulty here. Surface conditions, elevation, temperature changes, climbing and time away from services all become increasingly important as the routes move deeper into the mountains.

Use the collection to compare the Redington Pass and Mount Lemmon routes together, including the shorter Redington ride, longer backcountry options and the backside approach to Mount Lemmon.

Redington Road climbs east from Tucson through open Sonoran Desert before moving into increasingly remote backcountry terrain. The standard Redington ride provides the most approachable version, while the Lollipop continues much farther into the dirt-road network and substantially increases both climbing and time away from Tucson.

The north and east sides of the Catalina Mountains move well beyond routine desert gravel. Control Road climbs toward Mount Lemmon through increasingly rough mountain terrain, while the full Redington connector combines long desert approaches with substantial climbing and remote dirt roads.

More Mount Lemmon & Redington Riding

Redington Road and Control Road are the primary corridors, but both areas support shorter turnarounds and longer combinations. Riders can adjust the day by changing how far they continue beyond the main climbs or by using surrounding Catalina Mountain roads to alter distance, elevation and remoteness.

More Tucson Gravel Riding

Northwest Tucson offers the closest transition from Catalina Mountain gravel into trail-oriented desert riding, while Tucson's eastside provides a contrasting mix of city-connected washes, singletrack and Rincon Valley routes.

Access & Road Notes

Redington Road and Control Road are working mountain roads shared with vehicles and recreational traffic. Stay on established public roads, respect posted closures and use extra caution around blind corners, loose descents and narrow mountain sections.

Surface conditions can change quickly after grading, storms or heavy vehicle use, particularly on the rougher upper sections of Control Road.

Choosing a Bike

A capable gravel bike is appropriate for the Redington routes under most normal conditions. Tire volume, casing strength, gearing and control on loose surfaces become increasingly important as the ride gets longer and rougher.

Control Road and the combined Mount Lemmon route can move farther toward mountain-bike terrain. Higher-volume tires and additional control may be more valuable than outright speed, and current surface conditions should guide the final bike choice.

Our Tucson gravel bike rentals work well for many of these routes. For rougher mountain conditions, ask whether a mountain bike would be the more appropriate choice.

Terrain & Road Conditions

These routes use working dirt roads rather than maintained gravel-bike trails. Conditions change with grading, storms, seasonal weather and vehicle traffic. Riders may encounter hard-packed dirt, washboard, loose rock, sand, ruts, washouts and increasingly rough mountain surfaces.

Redington can carry significant vehicle and OHV traffic, particularly on weekends. Control Road is narrower and more mountainous, with longer sections away from services and substantial elevation changes.

Recent weather matters. Monsoon storms can cut channels across desert roads, sustained rain can create mud and higher elevations around Mount Lemmon may experience conditions very different from Tucson.

Before You Ride

Check weather, daylight and recent road conditions before leaving. The longer routes include substantial periods away from reliable water, food and services.

Download the route for offline navigation and carry sufficient water, food, sun protection, layers, tire-repair equipment, inflation, basic tools and a charged phone. On the longer mountain routes, a conservative turnaround is often more useful than forcing the complete route when conditions change.