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50-Year Trail

Trail Running Route

Details
19.53 mi
1,542 ft
Run one of Tucson's most renowned stretches of singletrack.

The 50-Year Trail is a classic Tucson singletrack route that’s long been popular with mountain bikers, hikers, and equestrians. While shorter loop options are available by starting at [Golder Ranch]( if you want to experience the entire 50-Year Trail, you’ll have to start further south at Catalina State Park.

The route as mapped forms a 19.5-mile out-and-back with a short loop at the end. It’s possible to lengthen this run even further by climbing higher up the Around the Mountain trail and then dropping back down on either the Rattlesnake Trail or Cowboy Slickrock.

However you choose to slice and dice the route, you’re in for a true gem of Tucson singletrack! The run begins with a long stretch of mellow, relatively non-technical singletrack in the state park. After a short climb, you’ll gain a low ridge and traverse the ridge for several miles, before reaching Golder Ranch itself. As a friendly reminder, know that "this area IS multi-use and gets a lot of equestrian traffic." []( advises that mountain bikers "be conscious of your riding and yield… STOP and let the equestrian riders go by. They’re all nice folks and we’re all out to enjoy these fantastic trails together." And the advice serves equally as well for runners and hikers.

After running through flowy, swoopy singletrack for a few miles, the trail character changes abruptly. When you reach the loop portion of the route, the trail transforms into a steep, rocky singletrack that climbs into the hills above Golder Ranch. This is also where you have the option to extend your run, if you desire.

After completing a loop of your desired length in Golder Ranch, turn around and return to Catalina State Park the way you came. If you’d prefer to shorten this route instead of lengthening it, you could use two cars, staging one at Catalina and one at Golder for a point-to-point route, or other variant.

Sources:

Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes

Route and Elevation

Segments

NameDistanceElev. Diff.Avg. Grade
Bridle Trail Parking Lot to Campground0.74 mi-16 ft-0.3%
rappers-delight-first-verse0.87 mi259 ft5.7%
50 year to the gate 2.57 mi407 ft2.8%
N Oracle Rd Climb1.21 mi318 ft4.9%
50 yr up up2.86 mi213 ft1.3%
Chutes to top of Gem0.90 mi243 ft4.7%
Catalina South through 50 Year to Bridal3.05 mi-367 ft-1.7%
Tally ho!1.52 mi-367 ft-4.6%
Bridle Trail Campground to Parking Lot0.73 mi20 ft0.4%