singletracks is mountain biking
Sign In | Create Your Account | Site Map | Help  

 

50-year Trail / Golder Ranch Mountain Bike Trail

Tucson, Arizona

MTB TRAIL STATS

Avg Rating: 13 trail reviews
Status: Open
updated 7/20/08 by cisco006
Difficulty: Intermediate bike trail Intermediate
Length: 0 miles Global Rank: #749
Tread: Singletrack Configuration: Network
Ridden: 58 Wishlist: 18
2 trail check-ins
 
Directions: To view directions to 50-year Trail / Golder Ranch mountain bike trail, please login. If you don't have an account, sign up now: it's free, only takes a minute, and gives you access to tons of other rad features.

Description: This is simpy the best riding that Tucson has to offer - miles and miles of trail options cater to the beginner rider on up to extremely technical. Each visit you'll leave with a smile and a desire to come back for more!
added on April 11, 2004 by guest
Map   Videos   Photos   Bike Shops  

SIMILAR TRAILS

Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:
 
 
 
Fantasy Island in Tucson
 
 
Robles Pass in Tucson
 
 
 

TRAIL REVIEWS   review this trail


  
reviewed by lorin on February 10, 2012

Great trail, chutes are awesome. Only suggestion would be to think about wearing shin guards and or forearm guards cause there are a lot of cactus that are very close to the trail just waiting to high five you.


  
reviewed by Agingrider on February 10, 2012

This Sonoran Desert trail is simply beautiful, threading through big Saguaros and prickly pear, dropping down chutes, against the backdrop of the Catalina Mountains. If anything, it felt like it needed expansion, especially on the those wonderful mid-winter and spring weekends when the parking lot is jammed with out-of-towners loving the balmy warmth. Not a lot of climbing.

Similar Trail: Sedona


  
reviewed by Jared13 on January 8, 2012

Wow. I was told this trail was a "Must Ride" during my vacation in Tucson. The trail did not disappoint. A few words of advice: Give yourself plenty of time to explore and if you can, get a guide. I spent a lot of time exploring and got turned around a few time. I was running out of daylight QUICK. As for the trail itself, it has some flat sections, some climbs, some descents, and some HUGE rocks. 50 Year Trail is awesome and the Chutes are a BLAST. I was disappointed I had to get off the trail.


  
reviewed by TreyGL6 on November 22, 2011

I agree with most everything the other reviewers have said about this trail. The "Upper 50" is my favorite type of riding...steep rock slabs and multiple rock drops that fall into the "Freeride Category". Look for alternate(gnarly) lines around every corner. 6 inches of travel seems to be the sweet spot for this area. I haven't found anything better in Tucson.

Similar Trail: Haven't found anything better (yet)!


  
reviewed by rockerc on September 25, 2010

Slowly learning this trail complex, bit of everything for everyone. Go S from the TH described for a nice 40 min loop down to the Park gate and back, then tie in a cool northbound loop up to the chutes if you want to go longer. If you want some much more serious stuff, head up to the Upper 50 for some more challenging stuff. Good map at fattirefinesse site, watch out for pinch flats, and if you go to the Upper 50, you will get scratched and pierced. I Suggest some armor, especially now after the rains have brought up the prickly stuff.

Similar Trail: taking too long learning this one!


  
reviewed by AK_Dan on February 15, 2010

This trail actually starts at the Catalina St Park 5 miles south of described TH. This will give you 3 miles of really rocky riding followed by 2 miles of sandy, cow trail and add 10 miles to your daily total. Yea, unless you’re a brute start at the TH listed here. There is also a great, challenging climb and decent of a loop at the northern end of this trail. Go to where the trails start down into the different chutes and just keep turning right and uphill when you can. The trail Y’s near the top with one way leading back down some steep switchbacks and the other going through a gate to …?


  
reviewed by amhall1612 on December 5, 2009

Good trail for beginner to intermediate riders. If your looking for technical riding this is not the place for you. The more challenging trails are located on the south side of the trail system. Great desert scenery, lots of small rocks on trail, plentiful cacti very close to the trail... so try to stay on your bike. Overall, a fun scenic ride... but not a place for adrenaline junkies.

* Review edited 12/5/2009


  
reviewed by vincimus on May 25, 2009

50 Year Trail offers some great riding! The Chutes were so fun, that I did a second loop just so I could do them again. Tried the more technical sections, would have been better if I'd done them at the beginning of the ride, instead of at the end.

Similar Trail: Fantasy Island


  
reviewed by abegold on May 14, 2009

50 Year is the main trail here but the trail system is 40+ miles. Middle Gate and Upper Loop, Charleau Gap, Rattlesnake Canyon. 50 Year has great flow thru high desert and boulders. The trails above are more tech, rockier. Tucson's best.

* Review edited 3/29/2010

Similar Trail: AZ Trail, Fantasy Island, Brown Mountain, Bug Spring-Milagrosa


  
reviewed by cisco006 on August 2, 2008

I ridden this trail twice this summer, and was blown away both times, most of the trail flows very nicely and feels like an easy ride for the intermediate, the chutes are a blast, they are deep grooves in the rocks and steep too! awesome ride!


  
reviewed by NoTrace on April 21, 2008

50 Year is a nice trail with variety in difficulty. It starts almost deceptively easy, with swooping downhill singletrack. As you near the Chutes, more climbs and faster sections require more attention and leg power. The ride back is also enjoyable, with a nice flow back to the trailhead. Be sure to pick up a State Land Recreational Permit and watch out for the cows and the extra "challenges" they regularly leave along the trail, especially on the upper part of the trail.


  
reviewed by skibum on October 7, 2007

This ride is an absolute hoot. It is consistently entertaining with either climbs, descents, or small rock gardens. Make sure you hook up with the loop known as The Chutes. You can do many laps here without getting bored. A reasonable uphill brings you to a roller coaser downhill, so the fun to work ratio is very high. Lots of flowy singletrack with a couple opportunites for air.* Review edited 2/16/2008

* Review edited 2/16/2008


  
reviewed by tamerlane240 on January 30, 2006

Trail is pretty decent. Nice slopes in most points until you get to the Upper 50 Year, which will take you into the Catalinas, and is full of switchbacks. Watch for pinch flats, fairly large rocks litter the trail, just watch where you put your front tire, snakebite flats are the leading cause of mechanical problems in the Fifty Year. The trail composure is light, layered dirt over a good hard packed soil littered with rocks.

Similar Trail: Fantasy Island

MTB Trail Dashboard

Tags (comma separated)

cancel

Widget Code
copy and paste this code onto your website.
Horizontal Vertical Trail Name


 
 





Site Map | Advertise | Partners | Contact Us | Terms | Privacy
Campground Reviews | Hiking Trails | Trail Running | Skiing / Snow Sports | Mountain Biking
Copyright 2012 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | Atlanta, GA
singletracks.com is yet another slick Review App
 
time: 0.13339400291443 seconds