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Brown Mountain
3 reviews
3.33 of 5
The stuff across from Parking area K-16 is pretty tame. Don't be fooled. From the picnic area beside the Desert Museum, the trail drops into a wash and starts climbing. Many tight swithcbacks to test your skill. You will follow the ridge line of Brown Mountain and drop into a small saddle. From there, you will start a really long, technical ascent to the top of Brown Mountain. Many cactus to be aware of. Once you reach the top of Brown Mountain, you have a small chance to spin/recover as you follow it's crest and then you start down the back side. Here is where it get's really technical and takes a bit of advanced skill. The nice part of this trail are it's many switchbacks/drop ins. The last mile or so is babies heads . . . lots of em. I put advanced trail despite the ease of the fire roads on Orcutt trail. Brown Mountain will require some good bike handling skills.
Take Speedway Boulevard west of town where it climbs up and over the Tucson Mountains and becomes Gates Pass Road. When Gates Pass Road intersects Kinney Road drive straight across and park in parking area K16.
Ride starts at parking area K16 on Kinney Road. Ride across the intersection to a trail heading into the brush on the NE corner of Gates Pass Road and Kinney Road. Single track will soon become double-track jeep trail. Trail is fairly straight so don't be fooled into taking any crossing trails. Trail crosses graded road to Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute. Turn left and follow the road north. Turn left off the road onto a jeep trail marked with an Orcutt Trail sign. This is just before the sign on the left marking the Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute (trespassers will be eaten). Hint of a jeep trail goes left. Stay right.
Pass a fence corner on your right. Orcutt Trail 'T's into another jeep trail. Head left down the hill.
Downhill jeep trail 'T's into Cougar Trail running along a fence. The trail is not marked but go right anyway. Jeep trail joins from left. Keep going straight. Jeep trail joins from left. Keep going straight. Get ready for a steep climb ahead. Cross the wash. The trail is hard to follow but make your way to the jeep trail heading down toward Kinney Road.
Turn right on Kinney Road. Turn left into the Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area. Jump the curb before the road loops back. Look for a steep slope and steps leading down to the wash. If you're luck you'll see a trail sign. This is the beginning of the Brown Mountain Trail.
A sign on the right points you to the left. Heed it. You may be tempted to follow a route heading right to the west but resist. Save it for another time.
Here comes that downhill we've been promising.
Congratulations! You made it! A marked trail back to Kinney Road goes left. Keep going straight.
Another marked trail goes left and leads nowhere. Don't take it. Keep going straight.
McCain Loop Road. Go left if you want to take blacktop the rest of the way, OR, Cross the road and head into the Gilbert Ray Campground. Follow the signs to the 'A' camping area loop. Look for a trail marked with a TRAIL sign on the left between campsites 52 and Take it. Jeep trail Ts into Powerline Trail. Turn left. Return to parking area K16. Hope this is where you left your internal combustion conveyance.
If you're familiar with this area, you can add many miles of trail onto this ride from the Starr Pass/Gates Pass area. I like to park at Gates Pass, do Gates Pass trail and take a little slice of singletrack on the North Side of Gates Pass Road down to the jeep trail that leads to Orcutt trail. Hard to get lost out here, so just explore! If you're in good shape, this ride can be done relatively quick, so it's best to find some alternate routes if you want to stretch it out. A good source is www.cherba.com or buy "THE MAP" by AZORA at any LBS.
Summary: Trail is most ridable from North to South, although kinda short (about 5.5 miles if you park at the south end and ride Kinney Rd to the north end to make a loop.) There are some technical sections of climbing and the south end is technical even as a descent. I not suggest a hardtail, although I'm sure it is do-able.
Recommended Route: Park in the first pullout of McCain Loop Rd, ride Kinney Rd to the Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area and go through the wash at the end of the looping road. Go through wash, a few hundred yards, go right and begin climb. If you dont gain elevation, you missed your turn.
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Summary: Just wanted to bring this review up to date. Just rode the trail this weekend and the Brown Mtn trail has had some trail work. A number of steps have been installed and wash-out sections have been built up. It seems the trail bed has been recut as well in many spots. It doesn't make the ride 'easier' but you are able to ride a few more sections. Check it out, bring some water.
Recommended Route: Ride it N to S then S to N next time.
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Review Date June 10, 2000
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Every few months
Reviewed by: Dan
, from Tucson
Summary: This is a great trail for the rider that wants to really challenge their technical climbing and descending skills. The loose descent includes a couple of stair-stepped switch backs that will really test your faith. The initial climb will challenge your traction most of the way up and let you soak up some incredible vistas of the Arizona-Sonoran Desert (if you dare to pry your eyes from the trail!). Added to some other trails for variety and distance, Brown Mtn. is one of the finest technical trails on the west side of town.
Recommended Route: The description is very detailed and accurate. A good map will always help, as well as add some creativity to your ride. I like to link Brown Mtn. with the Prospector and Ironwood trails to the south. There is some wonderful desert singletrack to get warmed up on. I recommend a good warm-up, hitting the base cold will make for a miserable ride. What Brown Mtn. lacks in volume it makes up for in intensity.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Prospector and Ironwood trails, Golden Gate trail.
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3.33 of 5
3 of 5
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