Ring Around The Ritas (RATR)

• For best conditions, spring is the best time to ride this loop. March and April can strike a good balance between heat and daylight. Snow can persist on Tia Juana ridge throughout the winter. Expect warm days and chilly nights during this period of the year. Fall can also provide good weather, but the trails are often overgrown after the summer monsoon season.
• Logistics: The loop is best started either at the Proctor trailhead at the base of Madera Canyon if you want a resupply, or in the town of Patagonia. The Proctor trailhead is easily reached from the town of Green Valley and is a reasonably safe place to leave a vehicle.
• Some of this route is on State Trust Land. You’ll need to purchase a permit online and have a copy of it with you.Get that here.
• Dangers: Rattlesnakes make their home in the area and start to become active in early March. It’s a good idea to always watch where you’re riding. More than half of all rattlesnake bites are due to humans harassing the snake. Be smart and aware and you’ll (most likely) be fine. 
• The area is littered with signs warning of illegal human and traffic smuggling in the area, and you’re likely to run into a border patrol agent at some point of time. My personal experience is that this is at the bottom of my list of worries when bikepacking in the area.
• Rideability. The west side of this route, namely Elephant Head Trail and Tia Juana Ridge, consists of a lot of chunky riding on backcountry roads and trails. Most riders will be on and off their bikes frequently through this stretch. Once in Josephine Canyon, the rest of the loop is much more rideable, but still on challenging terrain. This is not a gravel bike friendly route.

• There are several great options for camping along the route.
• The whole of the Arizona Trail provides ample opportunities to camp.
• You’ll pass through the private Rosemont Ranch on the way to Sycamore Canyon where camping is not allowed. It’s best to get down to the base of Sycamore before starting to look for camping options again.
• Camping on the Hopkins Road and Tia Juana ridge is not recommended.
• Once in Josephine Canyon or Salero Road, there are several nice campsites along the road.
• Salero Road passes in and out of private land, and the last camping option is about 6 miles outside of Patagonia

Water Sources

• Proctor Trailhead – A spigot is available behind the entrance station/information center. 
• Wildlife guzzler – Very green water available at the end of the Elephant Head singletrack. May be dry after long dry spells. 
• Whipple Observatory picnic area – Water available in bathrooms if the outside water fountain is turned off. 
• Josephine Canyon – Running water available just below the road at the base of Tia Juana Ridge. The road also crosses the creek lower down. 
• Gardner Canyon – Reliable water both at road crossing and AZT crossing. 
• Kentucky Camp – Two spigots on property
• Rosemont Junction Cow Tank – Green cow water in a tank on the side of the road. 
• Heurfano Butte Cow Tank – Fenced off tank

• Proctor Road and Elephant Head Trail. Before the modern era of mountain biking, the Elephant Head Trail was considered a bike-specific trail. It is now moderately overgrown and has several challenging sections as it circumnavigates the stunning Elephant Head Peak. Expect some hike-a-bike throughout this trail. The side scramble up the peak is well worth the time. Slippery bike shoes may not be the best option, but something equipped for normal hike-a-bike should be enough. You’ll be able to ride to the Wilderness Boundary before having to revert to foot travel. 
• Hopkins Observatory to Tia Juana Ridge. The road up towards the Hopkins Observatory is smooth, firm, and completely rideable. The views of Mt Wrightson at the turn to Tia Juana ridge are beautiful. Even the best riders will end up hiking down large parts of Tia Juana Ridge, but the road gets progressively better the lower you go. Rest assured, the alternative to this up-and-over has plenty of slow riding, climbing, and uphill hike-a-bike. Once you get into Josephine Canyon, it’s smooth riding all the way to Patagonia. As you’re entering town, pay a visit to the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. 
• Patagonia Rail Trail. This singletrack starts in town and takes you out to the AZT crossing of Highway 83. When the new AZT is finished, riders will be able to stay off the highway entirely, but for now, you’ll ride four miles north on a fairly quiet road with a wide shoulder to Hog Canyon. There is a private land easement through Hog Canyon, be sure to sign in at the start and not camp until back on Forest land. 
• AZT. After climbing Hog Canyon to join the AZT, enjoy a well-balanced mix of trail and dirt roads to Kentucky Camp and beyond. Most of this is rideable. If you need to cut your ride short, you can drop back to the western side of the Santa Ritas on Box Canyon Road. 
• Lopez Pass and Sycamore Canyon. After departing the AZT at Rosemont Junction, you’ll travel through the Rosemont Ranch and climb towards Lopez Pass. Follow signs towards Sycamore Canyon to a pass below the mine workings of the Rosemont Mine. The descent down Sycamore is variable, with sections of smooth dirt, sandy wash riding, and loose and chunky rocks. The views towards Tucson are outstanding. At the bottom, you’ll pass by an abandoned ranch. Stay to the left of the buildings and on public land.
• Santa Rita Experimental Range. The difficulties of the route are done once down Sycamore Canyon. Enjoy smooth, if sometimes sandy, dirt roads to intersect Madera Canyon Road. Here, you will have to pay the piper and climb about 3.5 miles on pavement back to Proctor Trailhead. Most of the traffic on the road is made up of birders and hikers, and most people are considerate.

Elephant Head Hike