This is an out-and-back ride across the desert to the top of SE Arizona’s tallest mountain. Most of the ride is on pavement across the vast, open landscape of the Chihuahuan desert. The highlight is the ride on the Swift Trail Parkway to the top of Mount Graham. This is a beautiful, twisty road with lots of tight corners and expansive views.
Expect much cooler temperatures as you ascend to an elevation of approximately 9,000 feet at Riggs Lake. Note that the last 15 miles or so of the ride to Riggs Lake is on a well maintained dirt road. Rest and relax in the cool alpine forest at Riggs Lake before turning around and riding pavement all the way back to Bisbee.
This is a magnificent ride to do when it is really hot in the desert as the temperatures at the top of Mount Graham can sometimes be 40-50 degrees cooler than the desert below.
Details
- Location: Starts and ends at The Jonquil Motel in Bisbee, Arizona
- Distance: 300 miles out-and-back
- Gas: Bisbee, Elfrida, Sunizona, Willcox
- Difficulty: Easy
- Road Surface: mostly paved, gravel at the end
- Time: full-day
- Note: Seasonal road closure possible at the top of Mount Graham
- Connects to: High Lonesome
Approximate Mileage
- Start – Circle K Bisbee – 0 miles
- Start – High Lonesome – 7 miles
- Whitewater Draw – 22 miles
- Gas – Elfrida – 32 miles
- Gas – Sunizona – 45 miles
- Gas – Willcox – 77 miles
- Start – Swift Trail Parkway – 120 miles
- Start dirt – 135 miles
- Riggs Lake – 150 miles
- Return home the same way