My first excursions to Arizona were to play golf—and man, there are some great places to swing the sticks in the Grand Canyon State. But when I eventually put down the clubs in favor of unspoiled walks, Arizona called to me again. There’s something peaceful and meditative about wandering among the saguaros, those towering sentinels the Tohono O’odham people consider living relatives and guardians of the desert.
Eventually, I tucked my hiking boots into the closet beside my golf clubs and discovered my favorite way yet to experience Arizona—by bike.
And what a cycling mecca it is. Professional riders flock here for the reliable sunshine, endless blue skies and an almost nonexistent threat of rain. But you don’t need to be a pro to enjoy the sense of freedom that comes with riding through this landscape. Quiet roads, dramatic vistas and a warm, welcoming vibe make Arizona a cyclist’s dream.
Where I once imagined the state to be nothing but flat desert, I’ve discovered a surprisingly diverse landscape: cactus-studded Sonoran plains, cool forested highlands and fiery red rock canyons. Ride long enough and it feels like you’re rolling through a giant outdoor art gallery.
Put it all together, and Arizona is a top-notch spot to get in the saddle and explore. Here are five great places to ride.
1 of 3
Bright Angel Bicycles
Cycling at the Grand Canyon
2 of 3
Bright Angel Bicycles
Cycling at the Grand Canyon
3 of 3
Bright Angel Bicycles
Grand Canyon National Park: View from Hermits Rest 4235
Hermit Road is a scenic route along the west end of Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim which follows the rim for 7 miles (11 km) out to Hermits Rest. This extremely popular route is accessed by free park shuttle bus, foot, bicycle, or commercial bus tour most of the year, with private vehicles allowed only during winter months. NPS photo by Kristen M. Caldon. Along the rim are nine designated viewpoints where the free Hermits Rest Route shuttle bus stops. The Rim Trail also follows the rim of the canyon for 7.8 miles (12.6 km) along Hermit Road and offers the opportunity for short or long walks between viewpoints on both paved and dirt trails. Learn more about the scenic and historic Hermit Road: http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/hermit-road.htm The Hermits Rest building was originally constructed in 1914 by architect Mary Colter, as a rest stop for the short stage line that ran from El Tovar Hotel to this location, is a stone building placed several feet back from the rim edge, and is tucked into a small man-made earthen mound, built around and atop the building to blend it in with its setting. Hermit's Rest was designed to resemble a dwelling constructed by an untrained mountain man using the natural timber and boulders of the area.
Grand Canyon South Rim – Hermit Road
This is one of the most scenic rides I’ve ever done.
In mid-March, with temps around 55F and barely a breeze, my partner Kelly and I pedaled the full Hermit Road route—a 21-mile ride from Grand Canyon Village out to Hermit’s Rest and back. The road is paved, mostly smooth and hugs the canyon’s edge nearly the whole way. What amazed me most was the sheer number of lookout points—it’s not just one epic view but a continuous reel of them.
The ride had about 1,515 feet of elevation gain. That’s not flat but not brutal either—enough to get the heart rate up in places, especially with some short climbs out of the viewpoints. We stopped regularly—to catch our breath from the ride and because the views kept taking it away.
Private vehicle traffic is restricted from March through November, so aside from the occasional shuttle bus, it felt like we had the entire rim to ourselves. The ride turns around at Hermit’s Rest, a rustic stone building designed by Mary Colter in 1914 to blend into the canyon’s edge. It’s a cozy spot with a gift shop, restrooms and a place to grab a beverage or snack. From there, you can catch a shuttle back with your bike or turn around and pedal the full route. Either way, this is the Grand Canyon from a whole different vantage point.
We had our own bikes but Canyon Adventures, located right at the Visitor Center, offers e-bikes as well as hybrids, kid bikes, trailers and guided tours.
1 of 4
Cliff Creek Outfitters
Biking Mcdowell Sonoran Preserve
2 of 4
Lonna Tucker for Experience Scottsdale
Mcdowell Sonoran Preserve
McDowell Sonoran Land Trust Scottsdale, Arizona ©2012 Lonna Tucker
3 of 4
Dalton Johnson for Experience Scottsdale
Mcdowell Sonoran Preserve
Landscape of McDowell Preserve in Scottsdale, AZ
4 of 4
Cliff Creek Outfitters
Mountain Bikes
McDowell Sonoran Preserve – Scottsdale
Funny to think that when I used to write about golf travel, there was nowhere I liked hitting the links more than Scottsdale. These days, with my clubs gathering dust, it’s become one of my favorite places to roll on two wheels instead.
Spanning more than 30,000 acres, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve is the largest urban preserve in the United States.
It's a protected stretch of Sonoran Desert that locals fought hard to save from development in the early 1990s.
I’ve ridden from a few different trailheads, but I tend to return to Brown’s Ranch and Gateway, both of which offer well-marked routes for all levels. The trails are mostly hard-packed desert singletrack and gravel, with a bit of climbing—more flow than fight. What I always notice most about the preserve is the quiet. It’s just so darn still out there. And I love stopping to admire the different kinds of cacti—fuzzy chollas, clusters of prickly pear—and I still hope to time a visit just right to see the saguaros in bloom, which typically happens in May and early June.
You can rent a bike or book a guided tour at Cliff Creek Outfitters. They have a broad selection of road, mountain and gravel bikes. Currently, e-bikes are not allowed on the trails.
1 of 4
Visit Tucson
Chuck Huckelberry Loop Rd
ov, oro valley, santa, catalina, mountain, mountains, pusch ridge, run, runner, walk, walking, walker, bike, bicycle, hosre, equestrian The Loop runs along the Cañada del Oro River Park into Oro Valley, and crosses over the CDO wash.
2 of 4
Visit Tucson
Chuck Huckelberry Loop Rd
3 of 4
Visit Tucson
Chuck Huckelberry Loop Rd
4 of 4
Visit Tucson
Chuck Huckelberry Loop Rd
A Mountain, All Souls Procession, Climbing, Tucson, Vanlife, hiking
Chuck Huckelberry Loop – Tucson, Arizona
Better known locally as The Loop, this 137-mile network of paved pathways connects parks, neighborhoods, desert corridors and more than 50 public art installations—like an open-air gallery on two wheels.
It also happens to be the longest public recreation multi-use path in the United States.
On a recent visit, I spun through sections including the Rillito River Park Trail and Santa Cruz River Park, which follows the path of the historic Juan Bautista de Anza Trail—a route used in the 1770s by Spanish commander Juan Bautista de Anza during his expedition from southern Arizona to establish a settlement in San Francisco.
Much of The Loop runs through urban Tucson—convenient for coffee stops and cold drinks—but large portions feel surprisingly rural, flanked by desert scrub and mountain views.
Tucson is also a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, and the post-ride food scene lives up to the title. Try El Charro Café, founded in 1922 and said to be the birthplace of the chimichanga—or grab a flight of inventive tacos at BOCA. Either way, you won’t ride hungry.
There are plenty of great bike rental shops in Tucson, including the family-owned Roadrunner Bicycles, which has road, gravel and e-bikes.
1 of 3
Julia Hiebaum - Alamy
Cyclists on the Red Rock Scenic Byway
3BJ7N92 State Route 179 scenic route in Sedona, Arizona
2 of 3
Public Domain
Kiosk at Bell Rock
3 of 3
Public Domain
Red Rock Chapel of the holy Cross
Red Rock Scenic Byway – Sedona, Arizona
Arizona has more than its fair share of jaw-dropping landscapes, but if there’s one place that can go toe-to-toe with the Grand Canyon, it’s Sedona.
Towering red rock formations, vibrant desert colors and surreal vistas make it one of the most visually striking towns in the Southwest—and one of the most inspiring to explore on two wheels.
The Red Rock Scenic Byway (Highway 179) runs about 14 miles between the Village of Oak Creek and Sedona, winding past iconic landmarks like Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock and Courthouse Butte. It’s a designated All-American Road with frequent pullouts and trailheads if you want to hike or just stop and soak it in.
While it’s technically a highway, the shoulder is wide and smooth and local cyclists ride it regularly. Expect some climbing, but nothing punishing—and the views are worth the extra effort.
If you need wheels, Sedona Bike & Bean pairs high-quality rentals with strong Italian espresso in a friendly shop atmosphere. They rent everything from cruisers to high-end models and light e-MTBs.
1 of 2
Ian Poellet; CC BY-SA 4.0
Montezuma Pass View
Coronado National Memorial, Arizona
2 of 2
City of Sierra Vista
Sierra Vista Biking
A little known cycling gem – Sierra Vista
Tucked into the southeast corner of the state, Sierra Vista—Spanish for “mountain view” — is a low-key haven for cyclists who like their rides with a sense of solitude and a whole lot of scenery.
The town is surrounded by mountain ranges and crisscrossed with a mix of road, gravel and trail routes.
Roadies can take on a 56-mile out-and-back to the historic Wild West town of Tombstone, while gravel grinders might opt for the tougher 37-mile climb—it’s a doozy—up Montezuma Pass in the Coronado National Forest, a remote, rugged route that pays off with sweeping views. A more relaxed alternative is the 24-mile Cochise Vista Trail, which loops around town with plenty of spots to stop for snacks.
Sierra Vista is also next to Fort Huachuca, and like many military towns, it has a surprisingly global flavor. Soldiers stationed here over the decades brought spouses and culture from all over—and the food scene reflects that. I had a perfect apple-maple streusel tart at The Angry German that was worthy of any Munich bakery.
Sun & Spokes Bicycle Shop has a wide selection of rentals and is the go-to place to chat with locals about the wide variety of routes in the area.
Cycling Outfitters
Canyon Adventures Bike Tours and Cafe
Cliff Creek Outfitters
Roadrunner Bicycles
Sedona Bike & Bean
Sun & Spokes
When You Go
Find more information about Arizona travel at visitarizona.com.