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Tour The Sonoran Desert Landscape.

Marana is home to one of the finest cycling experiences in the world. Professional cyclists from across the globe consider the Southern Arizona region to be the American “Winter Training Capital.”

It doesn’t matter if you prefer a lengthy road excursion or a deep plunge into desert mountain trails, Marana has the right components to make your ride a memorable journey.

For those who don't believe the adventure begins until the pavement ends, Marana has the perfect playground in the Tortolita Mountains. Don't let the fact that the Tortolitas are the smallest of the area's five mountain ranges fool you. While some trails through these "Guardians to the North" offer a refreshing and restful explorative experience, the rugged upper trails can offer up to 1000 feet of elevation gain and are sure to challenge even the most seasoned hikers and mountain bikers at times.

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Marana Is The Perfect Destination For Cycling

There’s no better place than Marana to spend a weekend on two wheels.

Whether you love getting out onto rugged mountain trails or enjoy long-distance rides along dedicated bike paths, Marana’s got you covered. Cyclists love Marana, and when you bike around our fair community, you’ll see all the ways that Marana loves cyclists.

Santa Cruz Shared-Use Path

Winding through Marana is a riparian corridor teeming with desert wildlife. The ever-flowing currents of the Santa Cruz attract animals from near and far: here you can spy hawks flying overhead, deer leaping through the tall grasses, even coatimundi foraging for food in the thick undergrowth.

Running parallel to the river is an immaculately maintained shared-use path, offering cyclists the perfect opportunity to enjoy scenic views of the river, as well as the mountains looming in the distance. At its northernmost point, the shared-use path reaches El Rio Park, where Marana Lake often fills with water after a refreshing desert rain. As the lake rises, migratory birds make their way to these banks to sip the cool waters. For nature lovers, it would be hard to find a more picturesque rest stop.

Twin Peaks Trail

The Premium Outlets at Marana Center aren’t the only highlight on Twin Peaks Road. Approximately a quarter mile north of Linda Vista, a shared-use path begins, allowing cyclists a car-free trail so you can focus on riding and taking in the beautiful Sonoran Desert. As you gradually climb up the slopes of Dove Mountain, you’re ascending through an alluvial fan. Hundreds of years ago, the Hohokam tilled this arid landscape, taking advantage of the run-off from the Tortolita Mountains. Today, Marana has protected much of this natural land in Tortolita Preserve. On two wheels, you can enjoy the natural area in a way few others ever will.

Mountain Biking

As you ride through trails surrounded by Saguaro cacti and desert wildlife, you’ll see why Marana is considered some of the best mountain biking in southern Arizona.

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Our trails offer incredible biking all year, but only during this month can you take advantage of an attractive offer from HMS Bikes.

Looking for the perfect place to stay? Marana has a dozen affordable hotels located in the heart of our community, some of them just steps from the shared-use path. For a little luxury, head up to the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, where you can enjoy unlimited, convenient access to the mountain biking trails of the Tortolitas. This Five-Star, Five-Diamond resort will even lend you a mountain bike for your desert adventures.

Wherever you choose to pedal in Marana, you’re in for a treat. There’s a reason so many people flock to Southern Arizona throughout the year. Spring is one of the best times to experience all we have to offer, and there’s no better vantage point for all this beauty than the seat of bicycle. It’s time to get up and go! Discover Adventures when you Discover Marana.