Greater Arizona Bicycling Association
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HomeMLHC 3Day 2025 Info Page

Mt. Lemmon Hill Climb 2025

3 Days of Bicycle Heaven

Day 1 - Mt. Lemmon Hill Climb

Location:

Drive or ride over to McDonald Park, 4100 North Harrison Rd, Tucson AZ 85749, Free Parking

Check In - Between 6:00 am to 8:30 am

Verify your emergency contact information and sign in to confirm attendance

You will receive some goodies and a wrist band for the 1-day event or a bicycle tag for the 3-day event. Since this is not a mass start you can begin the ride! In fact Pima County requires no more than 5 riders at a time leave together, no packs blocking the roadways. Please be patient with our volunteers implementing this request.

Recommended start times, based on your average climbing speed, and assuming you spend 15 minutes at each SAG stop:

6:00 am for 4 mph average

6:30 am for 5 mph average

7:00 am for 7 mph average

7:30 am for 9 mph average

Support Stop Info:
Also take into account when each SAG stop will be open:

Molino Canyon Vista (breakfast stop) - 6:30 to 9:30 AM - with Bob and Marie - approx. 8 miles from the start

Middle Bear (sweet and salty stop) - 7:00 to 11:00 AM - with Tucson Tri Girls -15 miles from the start

San Pedro Vista (protein fuel stop) - 8:30 to 12 noon - 21 miles from the start

Loma Linda Overlook (pie and waffle stop) - 9:30 to 1:00 PM - with Cliff and Liane - 28 miles from the start

Ski Valley Iron Door Cafe and Lifts (water stop) - Official Turn-Around and Top of Climb Photo Op

McDonald Park Lunch - 10:00 am to 2:30 pm

Please take breaks along the way down the mountain, enjoy the spectacular scenery and take the pictures you thought about on the way up but didn’t want to break your rhythm.

Bathroom Facilities can be found at these locations:

Molino Basin Campground

Windy Point

Middle Bear

Palisades Station

Loma Linda

Course Overview:

Here is your Mt Lemmon Hill Climb Map and Cue Sheet: MLHC 2025

Please print or load it into your navigation device

The temperature on the way up to Mt. Lemmon is 20 to 30 degrees colder than the Tucson area. Weather can also change quickly. Check the weather the day before to know the conditions and bring appropriate clothing to keep your self warm. If you would like an extra layer to wear on the descent you can leave a well labeled bag with gear at check-in at McDonald Park. It will be dropped off at the Loma Linda SAG stop for your retrieval.

If you haven’t ridden the Lemmon in a while (or ever), GABA can help make it easy. You can minimize the weight in your pockets because we provide four SAG stops, about six miles apart, with fluids, munchies, and healthy carbs. In honor of the pie shop that once operated in Summerhaven near the summit, our Loma Linda stop will serve a variety of pies. GABA also provides vehicular sweep support to help with mechanical problems or provide a lift if the bicycle can't finish the descent.

Day 2 - “Spin Out Those Legs” Recovery Ride

This is a guided or self-guided Poker Ride. At each of the indicated spots you can pick up a poker chip. When you get back to the park you’ll trade your chips for cards and see what hand you can make! If self-guided you can start anywhere on the Loop you’d like and end your route at Mo Udall Park between 11:00 - 1:00 pm for Lunch and Eegee’s frozen drinks and some fun prizes depending on your poker hand.

If you prefer a group ride meet at Mo Udall Park in the parking lot near Ramada #3 (nearest Tanque Verde Rd entrance) at 8:15am wheels rolling 8:30. The group will work together to follow the route and collect all available chips and return to the park for lunch and prizes.
Poker Ride #1 Route Map

Day 3 - Crested Saguaro Treasure Hunt

A new twist on exploring the scenic east side of Tucson, hunt for crested saguaros! This group ride will be starting from Mo Udall Park near Ramada #3 again at 6:45 with wheels rolling at 7:00. Take a picture of each crested saguaro you find and we’ll compare results when we get back. One saguaro is in Saguaro National Park East so if you have a National Park Pass please bring it (one pass gets 4 riders in). We’ll have a prize for the most crested saguaros found. Here is the route to download to your device:
Crested Saguaro Treasure Hunt Route

Special Welcome to anyone New to Tucson!!

Welcome to our special arid space we like to call home. Besides riding bicycles all the time, we do have other activities to indulge in. You can find lots to do around town at Visit Tucson

A couple of ideas for a place to stay on the east side: Comfort Suites at Sabino Canyon (very close to Mo Udall Park) and Hilton Tucson East (very close to the Loop on Broadway) both and many more are also listed on the Visit Tucson site.

We hope you enjoy your stay and make plans to visit again!