19.7
PDI
23.1 mi
DISTANCE
4,634 ft
GAINED
3.2 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Rochelle Cook, CA
INTRO
Climb directly through an active copper mine for the first half, then ride high into the red rocks and pines of the Apache National Forest during the second.
Watch enormous mining trucks haul tons of rocks around the mine, as well as gravel "waterfalls" - free in-ride entertainment!
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
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Parking:
You can park at Riverside Park on Frisco Ave. at the start of the climb
Roadway:
There is a well paved (but often gravelly) wide shoulder until you pass the town of Morenci and head into the mine, but at that point, there's virtually no traffic. It's a safe ride- no large mining trucks are permitted to drive on this road, or even cross it.
Gas stations and small restaurants in the towns of Clifton and Morenci, once entering the mine, the climb is unsupported.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Tucson is the cycling hub of Southern Arizona, with Mt. Lemmon, Kitt Peak, and Mt. Graham within close proximity. Here's a list of Hotels or Rental options in Tucson.
Food & Local Brews (☕️+🍻): There isn't much around Clifton or Morenci, but Tucson's Mexican food is unparalleled anywhere else in the US. Presta Coffee Roasters is the best cafe in the region. A short drive south is our favorite Arizona brewery, Tombstone Brewing Co., next to the historic site of the 1881 gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
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NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY
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Bruce
Also known as the Coronado Trail, or Devil's Highway (previously Route 666). Going through the mine is a surreal experience. Once you clear that, it's a beatiful and quiet climb. Strava activity with a few pics: https://www.strava.com/activities/4505938732
