Mount Lemmon & Redington Gravel Routes
Mount Lemmon & Redington Gravel Routes
The Redington Pass and Mount Lemmon gravel routes form one of the most complete mixed-surface riding systems around Tucson. Riders can start with the familiar dirt climb over Redington Pass, continue farther into the backcountry, approach Mount Lemmon from the Oracle side on Control Road, or combine the two areas into a major Catalina Mountain ride.
The four routes on this page represent a progression rather than four versions of the same ride. Distance, climbing, technical difficulty and remoteness increase quickly, and the longer options require considerably more planning than the standard Redington ride.
For additional Southern Arizona riding areas, visit our Tucson & Southern Arizona Gravel Routes page. Our Tucson Gravel Riding Guide provides a shorter introduction to representative rides throughout the region.
Redington & Mount Lemmon Route Progression
Redington Pass provides the most approachable introduction to this terrain. The Redington Lollipop expands the ride deeper into the backcountry. Control Road approaches Mount Lemmon from the opposite side of the Catalina Mountains, while the combined Redington-to-Mount-Lemmon route links the systems into the largest and most committing ride on this page.
Redington Pass Gravel Routes
Redington Road climbs east from Tucson through open Sonoran Desert before moving into increasingly remote backcountry terrain. Surface quality changes with grading, weather and vehicle traffic, so loose rock, washboard, sand and rough descending should all be expected.
Redington Pass
67 miles | 3,669 feet | Hard
This is our shorter Tucson-start Redington route and the logical introduction to the area. Pavement leads across town before Redington Road begins its sustained dirt climb above the Sonoran Desert.
The route remains a substantial day despite being the shorter option. Loose descending, washboard, desert exposure and limited services make water, food, repair equipment and conservative pacing important.
Redington Lollipop
93.3 miles | 6,638 feet | Hard / Backcountry
The Redington Lollipop extends Tucson's familiar gravel climb into a major backcountry route. Continuing beyond the shorter turnaround adds substantial distance, climbing and time away from the city.
This is a considerably more serious ride than the standard Redington route. Water, food, daylight, weather and current road conditions all become important parts of the route plan.
Mount Lemmon & Control Road Gravel
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.
Backside of Mount Lemmon / Control Road
54.8 miles | 7,034 feet | Expert
The backside of Mount Lemmon approaches the Catalina Mountains from the Oracle side on Control Road. The route climbs through remote mountain terrain on steep dirt that generally becomes rougher as elevation increases.
Higher sections can move beyond what many riders consider comfortable gravel-bike terrain. Bike choice and turnaround should reflect current road conditions, weather and handling ability rather than the mapped route alone.
Redington Pass - Lemmon
91.65 miles | 9,621 feet | Expert
This is the full connection between Redington Pass and the backside of Mount Lemmon. The route combines Tucson's long Redington approach with remote backcountry roads before continuing into the Catalina Mountains and the sustained climbing of the Mount Lemmon backside.
This is the most committing ride on the page. Distance, elevation, changing surfaces, limited services and major temperature differences between the desert and higher elevations all require careful planning. Water, food, daylight, weather, navigation and current road conditions should be considered before attempting the complete route.
Compare the Routes
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. Dust and loose corners can reduce visibility on descents. 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.
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.
Before You Ride
Check weather, daylight, access 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.
More Tucson Gravel Riding
Tucson Gravel Routes
Compare Mount Lemmon and Redington with Patagonia, Ironwood Forest, North Tucson, Box Canyon and additional Southern Arizona gravel areas.
Gravel Bike Rentals
Reserve a gravel bike through our 6th Street Location and match the bike, gearing and tire setup to the route and current conditions.
Planning a Mount Lemmon or Redington Ride?
Call the Fair Wheel Bikes 6th Street Location at (520) 884-9018 for gravel rental sizing, route questions, bike selection or help matching the bike to current conditions.
Reserve a Gravel Bike Tucson Gravel Guide