Chris_az
Wed 6/9/04, 10:55PM
Well, as ya'll can assume this thread is to be allllll about Arizona roads, the three i'll post today are in the southern Arizona region, but please, toss in what you've hit. <the paths i'm listing start in Sierra Vista>
Disclaimer: I'm using my mileage as a benchmark, calling for gas stops at around 100-125 miles. My advice, if you don't know the route, always gas up when you can, you never know Oh, and do us both a favor, before you take of on these trips, drop me an email or private message and we'll trade numbers, this way if you get lost i can help you home.
1: The Tombstone-Bisbee shuffle...
review: nothing hair raising, but lets you stretch your legs and get some speed
Gas stops: If you take the long way, gas up on your way out of bisbee <once you've transitioned from heading south to heading west there will be a Texaco <or whoever owns it now> on your right, before you leave the sparse town. If you take the short way, <highway 90 back to Sierra Vista,> Gas shouldn't be an issue, but there is a Chevron near the traffic circle <east of the big pit> if you want it.
Take Charleston road <the road that runs just south of Wal-Mart> to tombstone <17 miles>, when arriving in tombstone, you'll come to a T intersection, take a right onto Allen street. Take a left on 2nd street. You will come to a four lane road, Freemont, hook a right on this road, heading east, and take this road out of town. About 25 miles down this road you'll come to Bisbee, AZ.
I have yet to see a cop on this road, just keep in mind that when you get near the mountains the winds will pick up.
Be weary right out of Tombstone, wind can pick up a bit.. maybe 20-30 mph on a bad day.
There are two ways to head back to sierra vista. The first is backtracking to a three way turn you passed before the road to bisbee got hilly and curved. This is via Highway 90, which is to say get outta bisbee, head back up the mountain you crawled down, through the tunnel and take a left on highway 90, this way's about 30 miles and you'll come into Sierra Vista from the east. The other way to get out of Bisbee is to head east until you reach the traffic circle <past the copper mine (HYOOGE hole in the ground)> and then take the southern exit. Stay on this road for about 40 -50 miles. You'll come into sierra Vista from the south.
Trip time... roughly 2-5 hours, depending on your speed and stops..
For a quick sprint, take Charleston to Tombstone, flip a U-Turn and come on back. About a 30-45 minute trip, again, depending on your speed.
2: Tucson, scenic/fun route...
review: fun. Highway 82 lets you get some speed down and 83 lets you put the bike on it's ear.
Gas: Fill up at the gas station on Veil, and on the way back, hit up Sonoita's gas station.
Take highway 90 out towards Tucson, and take a left onto Highway 82 <the intersection with a Texaco on your right.> Take this road for maybe 20-25 miles (it's light on police, but when you reach Sonoita, do the speed limit. Take a right on highway 83, which is across the street from.. you guessed it, a gas station. You will be on this road for 25-30 miles and this road is *made* for the SV. beautiful curves.. watch out for the tar crack-sealer, however.. it does get heavy in some places. Again, policing is light, but expect cops at camp sites and watch out for cars over the double yellow.. not a big problem but still, keep an eye out.
From 83 you have two options, you can hop on I-10 and ride it to Tucson, or get off on Veil Road. There will be a gas station on your right and i'd advise a fill-up. Keep on this road for another five, maybe 10 miles until you see an intersection named "Old Spanish Trail." Take a Left. The first two maybe three miles will be crappy road, almost washboard, but 50-60 mph will do just fine. After these few miles you've got BEAUTIFULLY curvy road, and spurts of 80+ aren't too far off. This road will eventually take you into Tucson, changing it's name to Broadway.
To get back, first GET GAS, then head west to I-10 all the way to Highway 90, or head to KOLB (on the east side of town), head south, and this will lead you to I-10..
OOOOOOOOOOR you can retrace your stepsBroadway/old spanish trail-> veil -> I-10 -> highway 83 <sonoita/Patagonia exit> -> highway 82 -> highway 90 Sierra Vista
3: Arivaca road.
review: HOLY CRAP! Corners Galore.. HOLY Crap.. think fun... curvy.. open country... did i mention curves?
Gas stops: two. One in Nogales on the way up, and once when you head back to SV. (of course once you reach Arivaca, if you take it two or three times, you'll want to gas up in the actual town of Arivaca.. i don't know where it is, but the folks at the coffee shop @ the end of Arivaca road are VERY nice and i'm sure they'd point you in the right direction.)
Head out on Highway 90, taking a left at highway 82. Take 82 for 45 miles until it intersects with Highway 89. (I'm sure there are a few gas stations in Nogales, but the only one i've been to is a gas station on the right.. chevron i think.) Take 89 South until it intersects with I-19. Hop on I-19. You've got about 25 miles until you come up on Arivaca Exit. Arivaca road is actually a little unassuming road heading westish.
Arivaca road itself is about 23 miles long, and once you've done it, make sure to stop in at the coffee shop at the end of the trail. Great people.
Anywho, the best way back is just reversing the way you got there: Arivaca road -> I-19-> Highway 89 -> Highway 82 -> Highway 90.
(There are other ways back, but i haven't taken 'em.)
Anywho, please message or email me with any questions, or if you're feeling up for a ride..
Disclaimer: I'm using my mileage as a benchmark, calling for gas stops at around 100-125 miles. My advice, if you don't know the route, always gas up when you can, you never know Oh, and do us both a favor, before you take of on these trips, drop me an email or private message and we'll trade numbers, this way if you get lost i can help you home.
1: The Tombstone-Bisbee shuffle...
review: nothing hair raising, but lets you stretch your legs and get some speed
Gas stops: If you take the long way, gas up on your way out of bisbee <once you've transitioned from heading south to heading west there will be a Texaco <or whoever owns it now> on your right, before you leave the sparse town. If you take the short way, <highway 90 back to Sierra Vista,> Gas shouldn't be an issue, but there is a Chevron near the traffic circle <east of the big pit> if you want it.
Take Charleston road <the road that runs just south of Wal-Mart> to tombstone <17 miles>, when arriving in tombstone, you'll come to a T intersection, take a right onto Allen street. Take a left on 2nd street. You will come to a four lane road, Freemont, hook a right on this road, heading east, and take this road out of town. About 25 miles down this road you'll come to Bisbee, AZ.
I have yet to see a cop on this road, just keep in mind that when you get near the mountains the winds will pick up.
Be weary right out of Tombstone, wind can pick up a bit.. maybe 20-30 mph on a bad day.
There are two ways to head back to sierra vista. The first is backtracking to a three way turn you passed before the road to bisbee got hilly and curved. This is via Highway 90, which is to say get outta bisbee, head back up the mountain you crawled down, through the tunnel and take a left on highway 90, this way's about 30 miles and you'll come into Sierra Vista from the east. The other way to get out of Bisbee is to head east until you reach the traffic circle <past the copper mine (HYOOGE hole in the ground)> and then take the southern exit. Stay on this road for about 40 -50 miles. You'll come into sierra Vista from the south.
Trip time... roughly 2-5 hours, depending on your speed and stops..
For a quick sprint, take Charleston to Tombstone, flip a U-Turn and come on back. About a 30-45 minute trip, again, depending on your speed.
2: Tucson, scenic/fun route...
review: fun. Highway 82 lets you get some speed down and 83 lets you put the bike on it's ear.
Gas: Fill up at the gas station on Veil, and on the way back, hit up Sonoita's gas station.
Take highway 90 out towards Tucson, and take a left onto Highway 82 <the intersection with a Texaco on your right.> Take this road for maybe 20-25 miles (it's light on police, but when you reach Sonoita, do the speed limit. Take a right on highway 83, which is across the street from.. you guessed it, a gas station. You will be on this road for 25-30 miles and this road is *made* for the SV. beautiful curves.. watch out for the tar crack-sealer, however.. it does get heavy in some places. Again, policing is light, but expect cops at camp sites and watch out for cars over the double yellow.. not a big problem but still, keep an eye out.
From 83 you have two options, you can hop on I-10 and ride it to Tucson, or get off on Veil Road. There will be a gas station on your right and i'd advise a fill-up. Keep on this road for another five, maybe 10 miles until you see an intersection named "Old Spanish Trail." Take a Left. The first two maybe three miles will be crappy road, almost washboard, but 50-60 mph will do just fine. After these few miles you've got BEAUTIFULLY curvy road, and spurts of 80+ aren't too far off. This road will eventually take you into Tucson, changing it's name to Broadway.
To get back, first GET GAS, then head west to I-10 all the way to Highway 90, or head to KOLB (on the east side of town), head south, and this will lead you to I-10..
OOOOOOOOOOR you can retrace your stepsBroadway/old spanish trail-> veil -> I-10 -> highway 83 <sonoita/Patagonia exit> -> highway 82 -> highway 90 Sierra Vista
3: Arivaca road.
review: HOLY CRAP! Corners Galore.. HOLY Crap.. think fun... curvy.. open country... did i mention curves?
Gas stops: two. One in Nogales on the way up, and once when you head back to SV. (of course once you reach Arivaca, if you take it two or three times, you'll want to gas up in the actual town of Arivaca.. i don't know where it is, but the folks at the coffee shop @ the end of Arivaca road are VERY nice and i'm sure they'd point you in the right direction.)
Head out on Highway 90, taking a left at highway 82. Take 82 for 45 miles until it intersects with Highway 89. (I'm sure there are a few gas stations in Nogales, but the only one i've been to is a gas station on the right.. chevron i think.) Take 89 South until it intersects with I-19. Hop on I-19. You've got about 25 miles until you come up on Arivaca Exit. Arivaca road is actually a little unassuming road heading westish.
Arivaca road itself is about 23 miles long, and once you've done it, make sure to stop in at the coffee shop at the end of the trail. Great people.
Anywho, the best way back is just reversing the way you got there: Arivaca road -> I-19-> Highway 89 -> Highway 82 -> Highway 90.
(There are other ways back, but i haven't taken 'em.)
Anywho, please message or email me with any questions, or if you're feeling up for a ride..