For riders looking to experience the raw, unpaved heart of theSonoran Desert, the Cascabel-Redington Loop from Bisbee is a premier adventure. This 233-mile loop transitions from wide-open river valleys to rugged mountain passes before returning via scenic high-desert pavement.
Leaving Bisbee, head north through Tombstone to Benson. North of I-10, the pavement ends as you enter Cascabel Road. This is generally an easy, graded dirt road that meanders through a lush desert landscape of giant, multi-armed saguaros and vast forests of chain-fruit cholla.
At the Redington turnoff, the terrain shifts dramatically. This section is strictly for dual-sport or adventure bikes; it is a “suspension workout” filled with potholes, sand, loose gravel, and steep, guardrail-free switchbacks as you climb toward the Rincon and Santa Catalina Mountains.
The final descent into Tucson offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city valley. After navigating the grit of Redington, the return to Bisbee is a high-speed, paved reward.
Details
- Location: Starts and ends at The Jonquil Motel in Bisbee, Arizona
- Distance: 233 mile loop
- Gas: Bisbee, Tombstone, Benson, Tucson, Sonoita, Whetstone, Sierra Vista
- Difficulty: Easy
- Road Surface: paved, gravel, dirt, sand, rocks, hills
- Time: full-day
- Connects to: Fish Canyon, Santa Rita OHV, Carr Canyon
Approximate Mileage
- Start – Circle K Bisbee – 0 miles
- Mule Pass – 2 miles
- Start/End – Juniper Flats – 2 miles
- Gas – Tombstone – 24 miles
- Gas – Benson – 48 miles
- Cascabel Road
- Start dirt – 70 miles
- Reddington Road – 91 miles
- End dirt – 115 miles
- Gas – Tucson – 121 miles
- Saguaro Corners – 126 miles
- Gas – Sonoita – 170 miles
- Gas – Whetstone – 189 miles
- Gas – Sierra Vista – 203 miles
- Start/End – Carr Canyon – 204 miles
- Hereford Bridge – 214 miles
- End – Circle K Bisbee – 233 miles
