5.6 miles
Distance
519 ft
Climb
-486 ft
Descent
00:52:06
Avg time
Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of AZT - Colossal Cave Trail

  • Maintainer

AZT - Colossal Cave Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Rincon Valley
    Vail, Arizona
  • Ref Number
    P8b
  • AKA
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue rate
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical Rating
    Easy
  • Season
    Oct-April
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • Global Ranking
    #10662 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #84614 in Trail Running
    • #54679 in Hiking
  • Local Popularity
    85 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 85 in Trail Running
    • 85 in Hiking
    • 85 in Horseback
  • Land Owner
    Pima County

Passage 8 of the AZT begins at the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead and ends at the boundary of East Saguaro NP north of the Pistol Hills trailhead. This section, Passage 8b, is in the Pima Country Colossal Cave Park.

The Pistol Hill Segment is usually ridden as an out-n-back from North to South starting at the Pistol Hill parking lot and turning around at the railroad tracks or as everyone calls them 3 Bridges. Is very nice mellow singletrack with a few technical sections thrown in here and there. There is also a very tough climb in what would be the middle before the turn around point.

Access Info

Head East out of Tucson on 22nd Street, and hang a right on Old Spanish Trail just past Houghton. Follow this road for about 13-miles following the signs to Colossal Cave Park. About two-miles out from the Park, you’ll come to the Pistol Hill intersection which will be dirt on your left and paved on your right. Hang a left onto the well-graded dirt road and follow this about 1.5-miles. You will cross a cattle-guard and see the parking on the right with a large wooden signboard. The trailhead is about 20-yards back up the road past the cattle guard.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for AZT - Colossal Cave multi-use trail trail
  • Altitude change
    33 ft
  • Altitude min
    3,416 ft
  • Altitude max
    3,669 ft
  • Altitude start
    3,456 ft
  • Altitude end
    3,488 ft
  • Grade
    0.1%
  • Grade max
    -38%
  • Grade min
    23.7%
  • Distance climb
    2 miles
  • Distance down
    3 miles
  • Distance flat
    4,944 ft
  • Avg time
    00:52:06
  • Avg reverse time
    01:26:35
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Jan 11, 2025
Dry
Avg: 4.37 (13 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to azt-colossal-cave trailhead (32.048490, -110.636960)
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      AZT - Colossal Cave Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Jan 11, 2025 @ 10:42am
      Jan 11, 2025
      Nov 30, 2024 @ 8:55am
      Nov 30, 2024
      		 Burned out RV at the north parking area. Trail is running normal aside from that!
      Jun 29, 2024 @ 10:56pm
      Jun 29, 2024
      		 Trails are in great shape.
      Aug 26, 2023 @ 11:20pm
      Aug 26, 2023
      		 Great trail conditions after recent rains, no mud, no dust, no standing water
      Jun 18, 2023 @ 11:28pm
      Jun 18, 2023
      		 More loose rock has added to the techy feel of the upper portion of this trail. Still nearly perfect conditions.
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 0 rides
      •  
      6 Months
      • 20 rides
      • 20 miles avg distance
      All
      • 195 rides
      • Last: Jan 10, 2025

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Photos

      more »
      4 |
      Dec 21, 2024 @ 2:53pm
      Dec 21, 2024
      7 |
      Nov 28, 2024 @ 9:33am
      Nov 28, 2024
      2 |
      Nov 28, 2024 @ 9:33am
      Nov 28, 2024
      21 |
      Apr 3, 2024 @ 6:23pm
      Apr 3, 2024

      Trail Lists

      • Arizona Trail
        Arizona Trail
        83 trails
        National Scenic Trail or Official Route

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      titledistance
      AZT Jamboree38 miles
      Arizona Trail: Complete Route 2022784 miles
      SDMB Featured Ride - Arizona Trail - Gabe Zimmerman TH to Pistol Hill Rd featured19 miles
      Arizona Trail: Passage 8 - Rincon Valley14 miles

      3 Reviews & Comments


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      Videos

      more »
      Arizona Trail Passage 8 Mountain Biking and...
      11:36 | 664 | Feb 28, 2021 , Vail
      Arizona Tucson AZ Trail - Pistol Hill to 3 Bridges
      1105 | Feb 6, 2017 , Vail

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