+ 22
Honeybee-X Trails
Mountain Biking Trail
Moderate
27.64 mi
1,532 ft
A classic, scenic desert mountain bike trail that is just plain fun to ride for all skill levels.
The Honeybee Canyon Trail is a classic, scenic mountain bike ride that beginners will enjoy for its lack of hardcore technical features and the more experienced cyclists will find enjoyable for the sheer speed it encourages.
The new Big Wash Trailhead makes for a better entrance to the trail than the previous trailhead. It is located just off State Highway 77, and for mountain bikers who are camping, it is just a couple miles from the Catalina State Park, which I highly recommend as a home base.
Once you've ridden the first couple of miles on the new trail constructed for the Big Wash Trailhead, the rest of the trail isn't marked, so you’ll need to follow the trail in your FATMAP app. But it isn’t very complicated. After the first left turn at the tee intersection with the old entrance, everything else is right turns. I highly advise riding the lollipop counter-clockwise to enjoy the long, gradual descent on the return ride.
Although this trail doesn’t have the technical rocky sections found on most other trails in the Tucson area, it does offer just enough fun rock features to keep you on your toes. Plus, if you pay attention, you can hit some of the bypass loops that route cyclists on a more technical ride. They aren’t super techie, but it adds some variety.
The ride out is a gradual ascent that most of the time you won’t even notice. But on the return it adds just enough of a push to make for an exhilarating, fast ride as you weave along the twisting, turning path, trying to avoid brushing up against the notorious Jumping Cholla Cactus.
If you are in the area I highly recommend putting the Honeybee Canyon Trail on your to-do list. You won’t regret it. Written by Bob Robinson
The Honeybee Canyon Trail is a classic, scenic mountain bike ride that beginners will enjoy for its lack of hardcore technical features and the more experienced cyclists will find enjoyable for the sheer speed it encourages.
The new Big Wash Trailhead makes for a better entrance to the trail than the previous trailhead. It is located just off State Highway 77, and for mountain bikers who are camping, it is just a couple miles from the Catalina State Park, which I highly recommend as a home base.
Once you've ridden the first couple of miles on the new trail constructed for the Big Wash Trailhead, the rest of the trail isn't marked, so you’ll need to follow the trail in your FATMAP app. But it isn’t very complicated. After the first left turn at the tee intersection with the old entrance, everything else is right turns. I highly advise riding the lollipop counter-clockwise to enjoy the long, gradual descent on the return ride.
Although this trail doesn’t have the technical rocky sections found on most other trails in the Tucson area, it does offer just enough fun rock features to keep you on your toes. Plus, if you pay attention, you can hit some of the bypass loops that route cyclists on a more technical ride. They aren’t super techie, but it adds some variety.
The ride out is a gradual ascent that most of the time you won’t even notice. But on the return it adds just enough of a push to make for an exhilarating, fast ride as you weave along the twisting, turning path, trying to avoid brushing up against the notorious Jumping Cholla Cactus.
If you are in the area I highly recommend putting the Honeybee Canyon Trail on your to-do list. You won’t regret it. Written by Bob Robinson
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Wash Outward Grind | 2.22 mi | 138 ft | 1.2% |
| Big Wash to Honeybee E | 4.25 mi | 269 ft | 1.2% |
| Big Wash Sand Bars | 1.26 mi | 69 ft | 1.0% |
| Big Wash to Rail-X | 6.91 mi | 495 ft | 1.4% |
| The sidewinder | 1.13 mi | 75 ft | 1.2% |
| HoneyBee-2 | 1.00 mi | 118 ft | 2.0% |
| Idiocracy Highway | 3.04 mi | 207 ft | 1.3% |
| HB2 | 1.71 mi | 115 ft | 1.2% |
| HoneyBee-3 | 1.00 mi | 49 ft | 0.7% |
| HB3 | 2.89 mi | 210 ft | 1.4% |
| full como cactus garden | 1.12 mi | 85 ft | 1.4% |
| can-i-have-my-batchelor-party-at-your-house | 0.69 mi | 52 ft | 1.3% |
| Batamote Climb | 2.37 mi | 187 ft | 1.5% |
| HoneyBee-5 | 0.99 mi | 79 ft | 1.5% |
| Y to Jabba Point | 0.64 mi | 56 ft | 1.4% |
| Reverse Primo | 1.58 mi | 125 ft | 1.4% |
| Jabba Pt. North to Nobb Hill | 0.40 mi | 36 ft | 1.5% |
| HoneyBee-6 | 1.00 mi | 62 ft | 1.1% |
| Nobb Hill North to Edwin Rd. | 0.59 mi | 39 ft | 1.1% |
| Up the North Forty | 2.97 mi | 249 ft | 1.6% |
| Fence Line | 2.59 mi | 233 ft | 1.7% |
| HoneyBee-7 | 1.00 mi | 66 ft | 1.2% |
| HoneyBee-8 | 1.00 mi | 105 ft | 2.0% |
| Badlands CCW | 6.44 mi | 184 ft | 0.1% |
| Window Rock Loop | 1.23 mi | 72 ft | 1.0% |
| down hill wowzers | 8.55 mi | -643 ft | -1.3% |
| Jack Rabbit Boggie | 1.35 mi | -85 ft | -1.0% |
| Far Point Down | 9.11 mi | -709 ft | -1.4% |
| Desperado | 0.79 mi | 75 ft | 1.0% |
| rocky ridge climb | 0.41 mi | 66 ft | 2.6% |
| HoneyBee-11 | 1.00 mi | -118 ft | -2.2% |
| The West Forty | 5.49 mi | -545 ft | -1.8% |
| Edwin Parallel Rollercoaster DH | 1.97 mi | -240 ft | -2.3% |
| The Steve Haider's Clavicle Memorial Highway | 3.31 mi | -397 ft | -2.3% |
| Large Fries | 1.19 mi | -161 ft | -2.6% |
| McRIB | 0.76 mi | -75 ft | -1.9% |
| Hot Apple Pie | 0.76 mi | -43 ft | -1.1% |
| McNugget | 0.51 mi | -102 ft | -3.7% |
| McChunk | 0.20 mi | -39 ft | -3.7% |
| Meadow option | 1.69 mi | -105 ft | -0.9% |
| Cowpie Highway | 0.44 mi | -66 ft | -2.8% |
| The Esses | 0.50 mi | -56 ft | -1.5% |
| Honeybee - Out | 0.52 mi | 62 ft | 1.3% |
| jeep road to mini catus shortcut | 0.27 mi | 10 ft | 0.2% |
| Honeybee E to Big Wash | 4.18 mi | -269 ft | -1.2% |
| Down Franks | 1.82 mi | -118 ft | -1.2% |
| franks meadow | 0.44 mi | -36 ft | -1.5% |
| Its a Big Deal to the gate | 0.89 mi | -59 ft | -1.2% |
| Big Wash Homeward Dustbowl | 2.18 mi | -135 ft | -1.2% |
| Big Wash in Bound | 1.15 mi | -69 ft | -1.1% |