REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Santa Catalina Ranger District(Mt. Lemmon) Recreation Trails Plan Comment Period OPEN!

1431 Views 16 Replies 7 Participants Last post by suvlako, Feb 10, 2022

suvlako

Discussion Starter · Jan 4, 2022

TORCA has been at work for the better part of 10 years establishing a relationship with Forest Service in the hopes of one day developing new trail opportunities. Well that day has come!! The first step in that process is a public comment period. This comment period is now OPEN! This is where you get an opportunity to speak up and clearly define what you would like to see on Mt. Lemmon.

While we appreciate the "New Mtb trails" comments, we'd like to encourage people to think less broadly and instead, think specifically about what you'd like in the way of "experiences". Do you like Red Ridge and CDO trails? Then state that you'd like to see more Back country trails like CDO and Red Ridge. How bout an Alpine XC loop around Rose Canyon for those hot summer days? On that note, maybe you think Mt. Lemmon trails are too hard and not beginner friendly. Then let them know that! Perhaps you'd like a place where kids can progress at a Duthie Hill style Bike Park? Or maybe another super rowdy Milagrosa style trail is what you'd like to see? And on that note, want to legitimize unsanctioned trails like Milagrosa and 50yr Trails and bring them into the "system" of trails? Tell them!! The more comments we submit, the harder it is to deny the need for more mtb opportunities.

The FS has developed a nifty interactive system that allows you to drop a comment exactly where you want to see your desired "experience". A quick tutorial (2 minute read) will explain how the system works and then you can start submitting as many comments as you'd like. Please go on make your voice heard! Comment period ends Jan 31st so don't wait! Remember, this is the first step. But it is a VERY big step! Please share! Link Below on your social media pages.

Santa Catalina Recreation and Trail Planning

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suvlako

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jan 4, 2022

Btw. Better to use Google Chrome than Safari. States this in the tutorial but wanted to save you all some wasted time trying to figure it out.

rockman

· #3 · Jan 5, 2022 (Edited)

I'm not sure why this isn't garnering more attention but hopefully locals are more engaged. I don't ride Tucson much but it doesn't seem like any of the trails on Lemmon and the the Santa Catalinas were designed and built with bikes in mind. For example, the 0.4 miles of HAB from the TH on Bug Springs. Everything up there has a rugged backcountry character which is great for that user experience but the area could use more trail diversity with more options for loops and skill levels.

Thanks for the advocacy Suvlako! Opportunities for new trails optimized for bikes as the designed user even though they may be multi-use trails is a win-win.

suvlako

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 6, 2022

You are correct. Mtb's were not even on the FS's radar until recently and not one of the trails was built with Mtb's in mind. That's what makes them so damn fun. But that fun comes with a ton of maintenance. I have personally commented on the need for purpose built trails that suit all levels of riding. The more comments we leave, the harder we are to ignore. Comments, even from out of town are just as useful.

Reactions: 1

habsfan

· #5 · Jan 6, 2022

Done.

hogfly

· #6 · Jan 6, 2022

suvlako said:
You are correct. Mtb's were not even on the FS's radar until recently and not one of the trails was built with Mtb's in mind. That's what makes them so damn fun. But that fun comes with a ton of maintenance. I have personally commented on the need for purpose built trails that suit all levels of riding. The more comments we leave, the harder we are to ignore. Comments, even from out of town are just as useful.

I might have a somewhat interesting perspective, because we just visited the area on a riding vacation. Now admittedly, the weather didn't cooperate, so we didn't get to ride a lot of things I would have liked to ride. In addition, the OP is specific to Mt. Lemmon, but I'll just speak in broader terms about the region:

1) 50 year was a lot of fun with all the rock rolls.

2) We looked for "scorpion trail" forever and even talked to bike shops and other local riders. No one could detail where the trailhead is. That was a disappointment as we spent a half day driving up and down Redington Pass road getting out and scouting without any luck. Ended up just going up Lemmon and riding there, which was awesome. Next time I'd spend way more time on Lemmon as we really enjoyed the trails th ere.

3) WE road Tucson Mountain Park and that area was absolutely gorgeous. The signage there should serve as a model for all other areas. Really well marked, probably because it seemed to be in an affluent area.

4) My biggest perceived need would be a skills park with progressive features. We went to a lot of skateparks while we were there, but almost all of them didn't allow bikes (locals told us to hop the fences, so we did). Considering the amount of homeless at the park, it seems like bikes were probably the least of the worries. My son also spent a couple of days at Premises indoor because it was his best bet for actually riding some jumps. Newer riders want jumps and drops.

5) Only one small edit put together by my son so far which was at 50 year with obligatory trail gap and some slab rolls... oh and a Lion's Back Slab fail. You can view here if interested:

www.instagram.com

Finn Logan on Instagram: "Desert cruising into 2022!"

269 Likes, 31 Comments - Finn Logan (@floganmtb) on Instagram: "Desert cruising into 2022!"

www.instagram.com

www.instagram.com

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suvlako

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 7, 2022

Were you the guy that got the warm Tucson welcome from MIchigan's Fastest Enduro racer? LOL Yeah, you gotta be careful about online suggestions sometimes. I mean, if sessioning four jumps all day is your thing, then Scorpion is ok but man is it a lot of work to ride. Especially if you don't know how to find it. We are seriously lacking in the bike park/jump progression dept. Adding a comment or even just going on and agreeing with the comments would be helpful. Curious as to what you didn't ride that you wanted to and also what type of riding you were seeking?

Reactions: 1

hogfly

· #8 · Jan 7, 2022

suvlako said:
Were you the guy that got the warm Tucson welcome from MIchigan's Fastest Enduro racer? LOL Yeah, you gotta be careful about online suggestions sometimes. I mean, if sessioning four jumps all day is your thing, then Scorpion is ok but man is it a lot of work to ride. Especially if you don't know how to find it. We are seriously lacking in the bike park/jump progression dept. Adding a comment or even just going on and agreeing with the comments would be helpful. Curious as to what you didn't ride that you wanted to and also what type of riding you were seeking?

I wish I would have spent more time up high on Mt. Lemmon. We rode Prison Camp down, and I have no idea why we didn't go on up to Bug Springs that day, other than we hadn't really planned on Lemmon that day and when we got there we had no data and it was getting late in the day, and I was having a hard time figuring out where we wanted to start. I had Bug as a bigger ride in my head than it would have been. Then the weather got bad and conflicts happened with how we were going to spend our time for the remainder of the trip, and we never got back there. I'd want to hit Incinerator and all the gnarlier stuff up top. DH/chunky/tech/fast is the type of riding my son likes (as well as jumping). He wanted to put his enduro bike through its paces (which is why we went looking for Scorpion, because a bike shop guy told us some local enduro race kids trained there a lot).

I wish my son would have gone to Wild Wild West with me, as I think he would have liked that descent, but he was riding Premises that day. He's a really social rider, so that's another thing he likes about parks and session zones, is that you can chat with other folks, whereas I'm happy pedaling alone for 6 hours.

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suvlako

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 9, 2022

Holler at me next time you're here. I'll get you squared away.

suvlako

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 19, 2022

10 days before the close of comment period. Time to be heard!

Reactions: 1

suvlako

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 26, 2022

We're in the home stretch. TORCA is entering anyone who tags a friend and comments on the FS website into the June drawing for the Crank Brothers Carbon Wheels. Check their FB post for details.

Reactions: 2

KRob

· #12 · Jan 27, 2022

Done. (Although I think they wanted me to choose a location on the map for my comment, but I just put in my address)

suvlako

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 31, 2022

KRob said:
Done. (Although I think they wanted me to choose a location on the map for my comment, but I just put in my address)

Awesome. Thanks!

suvlako

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 31, 2022

LAST DAY!

evdog

· #15 · Feb 1, 2022

Done... Bump. Very easy to add comments to the map, or comment on other people's comments.

Reactions: 1

PonderosaT

· #16 · Feb 1, 2022

Commented! Hope we can get lots of goodies from this over the next few years

suvlako

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 10, 2022

Thanks everyone! We spoke to the Rec Director and he said there were over 8000 comments submitted and a lot of them were for Mtb opportunities. Appreciate you all!

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