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Ride Summary:
Good place to work on your mountain bike skills and get them to the next level.
Trail Description:
This is a lovely ride in the moderate to advanced category. The route is an out and back along a jeep trail to Chiva Falls. a waterfall which is usually flowing year round, with the best times to see it being mid-fall and early spring.
Plan for between two and four hours of ride time (about 12 miles round-trip) and make sure to bring two water bottles and a snack to eat at the waterfall (and have some water in the car for when you get back).
Driving time to the ride start is around half an hour and also note that since the last 7 miles are on dirt I'd recommend some kind of truck or utility vehicle for the drive. I've driven there in a CRX, but I'm not saying it was good for the car.
Also bear in mind that Chiva Falls is in sunlight in late morning to shortly past noon, which is more conducive to a quick wade in the pool and drying on the rocks afterwards.
The start is located at the north side of this parking lot.
2. Head down the jeep trail.
3. You will encounter a technical downhill portion.
4. After 2.3 miles you will see Chiva Tank on your left. Continue.
5. Soon after you will come to a junction in the road, stay right.
6. After another mile, you will come to a junction with another road, turn left over the cattle guard.
7. You will immediately see a corral on your right and come to another junction. Stay right at this junction.
8. You will soon cross a wash, stay right on the road.
9. In another half of a mile you will come to a Y junction in the road. Turn left here to end up at Chiva Falls.
10. At the falls turn around and head out.
11. You will again cross the wash, stay left on the road.
12. Stay right at the next junction.
13. At the next Y junction turn right. (This is the beginning of the loop back. If you want to go straight back to your vehicle, go left here and trace back the same way you came.)
14. Follow this trail until you hit Redington Road.
15. Turn left onto Redington and ride downhill to the parking lot on the left.
How to get there:
To get there, follow Tanque Verde Road out to its end which turns into Redington Road. Drive 4.5 miles up Redington Road to the parking area on the right, just after the cattle guard. Across the road will be cattle corrals. This is the start of the ride.
Additional Notes:
This ride is located in the Rincon Mountains, a hot bed for mountain biking.
| Posted by: Kidcuster on 3/2/2009 |
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This is definitely not a beginner trail. I went after a big rainstorm a few weeks ago and it was awesome, muddle puddles galore. I had couple good wrecks going down the steep and very rocky hills. Riding across the river and getting to the falls made the whole day - take a camera and a lunch to relax at the falls. I can't wait to go back.
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| Posted by: Rolandstoan on 10/5/2006 |
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This trail is definitely not for beginners. The Forest Service has installed about 100 miles of new dirt trails for off roading in the Rincon area in the last few years as well as several special trails for motorized dirt bikes and ATV's only. These tend to be safer than ones like the Chiva trail where the larger 4WD vehicles go.
Any time there have been good ongoing rains for a month, you'll find the whole area very plush with lots of running water, full ponds and "tanks".
However, lots of rain can mean lots of new ruts and loose rocks so be aware potential hazards just around the bends just waiting to send you in for a few stiches. Early mornings are the best times to start out while avoiding the weekend shooters that occasionally wait for afternoons or evenings to do their guns, bullets and beer act. Plus, you'll get a much needed treat of stopping at some water fall or creek to enjoy a cooling off break along with some muchies. Most of the trails are clearly marked an
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| Posted by: DBRBKR on 5/22/2006 |
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Once again locals are ignorant... It seems like anyone from AZ doesn't know what XC riding is. Beginer trail my rear! Take a friend with you, preferably one with medical training, cause if you loose grip you could be done for. Message to locals... Be extreme if you want to, and talk trash about riding back east all you want, I'd prefer fun, and fast XC... Not goat trail riding. Thanks... I'll take the Pisgah trails anyday. At least I come back from a hard, and fun ride without anger at why someone decided to ride a bike on some of these trails. This one is ok... I'm just venting about some of the rides/trails that I've been told "You have to try" out here. If I wanted to ride All mountain... then I would.
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| Posted by: Spatman on 4/28/2006 |
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This is a great trail, not for beginners though.
Watch out for motorcycles, atv's and other vehicles.
Lots of loose stuff to deal with. Do yourself a favor
and park at the bottom of Reddington rode (where
it turns to dirt) and ride up the 4.5 miles to the trail
head, makes it about a 20 mile (3-4 hour) ride and
the ride down is a blast!
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| Posted by: rideon on 1/30/2006 |
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This is NOT a trail for beginners. Great place if you
want fun technical and fast descents...and catching
air. You could come away with blood....but hopfully
big ole grins as well.
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| Posted by: don on 12/28/2003 |
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the trail right now at chiva is way different but it can ne a challenge for some people but i would advise the u wear protection cause once to fall and the rock ur in deep #$%^&
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| Posted by: Zoid on 1/27/2001 |
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Please be advised-This trail is deceptively dangerous. I'veknown many people that have returned from this area quite scarred for life. Used to be a race here, a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. I think it was ended after too many riders bloodied the boulders. Just be careful! If you want beginners rock lessons, try Starr pass.
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| Posted by: Pat (pharr77@hotmail.co on 8/15/2000 |
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Don't expect any water in the falls right now, there hasn't been a very good monsoon season in Tucson.
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