50-year Trail / Golder Ranch

Decent ride with slight elevation change. Has a lot of different trail options from tech to more flowy sections. Big draw back was lack of marking, if I go again will have to find a good map, going out blind was not fun, did manage to ride 11.5 but would want to make sure I hit the fun trails. Pretty sure I did the chutes. Since I'm coming up from Sierra Vista I would rather hit Sweetwater or McKenzie.

There ARE a few sandy sections, but, it IS the desert. The trail is fun and the views are beautiful.

The trail is getting some loose, sandy areas developing as the dry time of fall increases. Mesquite and catclaw have some of the 'annual suckers' growing from the bases and get a bit scratchy in areas. Heading further up into the National Forest, growth is close, but the trails maintain the challenge.

50 Year Trail/Golder Ranch is the more technical version of the 24 hour and Honebee Canyon Trail. You get a much better ride on a trail like this with a front shock or a rigid bike. If you are coming into town. Tucson Bike Rentals drops does pick up and delivery to Oro Valley trails. BikeTucson.com.

Foliage is thick, trails have some new ruts and there are some unexpected sandy spots due to recent weather. Watch for snakes during night rides as the trail is open and warm, a good spot for them to hunt.

Monsoon rains have left the desert lush, but have also created some new conditions on the trail. IF you hven't been out here for a bit, make sure to look around every corner as there are new unexpected ruts and sandy sections created from the intense storms of the last week.

South of Rollins Road could use a LOT more tires on it as horse chop is starting to make it rough.

"Second Spring" is happening and the desert is greening. Get out into it!

great trails up there
Golder Ranch rules!!

The 50 Year Trail is in excellent condition, right now. Intermittent rains have kept a lot of the trail from becoming deep sand. There *is* some destruction of tread due to excessive horse usage during wet times ("horsers" don't care about trail conditions). The trail north of Golder Ranch Road has less horse damage than the passages to the south towards Catalina State Park.

The rain has come at frequent intervals and the desert floor is starting to be covered in green. IF rains continue in the current pattern, we could be seeing a beautiful spring with wildflowers festooning the trail.

This is a moderately technical trail. I always take my hardtail bike on it. The Chutes can be steep and I miss my dropper post there. Great scenery. Check out this site for more info..
http://tucsonbikerentals.org/mountain-bike-trails/golder-ranch-trail/

Great ride. Highly recommended for the views. Intermediate trail seems fair in terms of difficulty. Don't pass up the Chutes!

More brush work has been completed on the 50. The return from the Chutes (Rollercoaser), from the bottom, all the way up to the chutes has been completed. Last week, from Rollins road south to the carsonite sign. Yesterday, from the chutes south for 1.5 miles to just before the climb to the Forest Road #736 junction. More to be done this week!

The 50 is getting loose sand in the typical drainage crossings, but, for September, is in excellent condition.

More brush work is planned for the week. Feel free to join us, come teach or come learn.

We have started trail maintenance due to overgrowth in many areas with little ants that get on you and sting. With twenty years of habitat resoraton experience, we didn't just 'lop & drop' but properly pruned for future growth. All old stubs were removed. We have completed from the Miraval gate up Rollercoaster (Chutes return) to the top of the Chutes. Then, continued down the main 50 south, completing brush work to the Saguaro S (SDMB reroute section). Much more to be done on the main 50.

South, towards the Catalina State Park, we've trimmed from the 'Rollins Road mini-chute' south to the first carsonite sign.

We intend on doing more this week, Feel free to join us come teach or come learn...

The 50 has some sandy sections, in the usual places, headed out to the Chutes or south to the Park, if starting from Golder Ranch Road.

The foliage is starting to overgrow some of the trail, BUT, that isn't the hazard. The mesquite and catclaw have tiny ants, the size of course-ground pepper, all over them. When one rides under or through, the tiny ones get on you AND THEY ARE NASTY! They have a vesicant they use as a deterrent and it can be quite painful. The burning dissapates after about half an hour, unlike the bigger ants on the ground, that hurt for days. So, be aware of where you stop, sit and the foliage against which you brush.

Trail: 50 Year Trail
Date: August 26, 2015 midday

Trail is starting to dry after all of the rain. IF it doesn't rain today, the next few days should be excellent. Many species of wildflower are in bloom.

There is some 'horse chop' through the Chutes and the return (Rollercoaster) as well as moderate horse chop between Rollins Road and the last part before the Catalina State Park gate. Some tires on it before it dries would really be beneficial.

The rock on which I was standing to shoot the video has a new bee swarm underneath it and WAS NOT there yesterday. They weren't aggressive YET as they were just establishing themselves. It is within about 30 meters of the trail and could potentially 'bee' an issue for trail users in the near future and needs monitoring.

https://www.facebook.com/cjchris.vincent/videos/10207025412411498/

LOTS OF RAIN has left the trail area lush and verdant. Today, two major storms passed over the trail and it will be slow and 'soul-sucking' for a couple of days. Cacti and bushes are growing rapidly due to monsoon and overhang in many areas. Keep your eyes open as the water has changed the character of the trail making it sooooo much more interesting!

Absolutely beautiful landscape, as well as great trail conditions on the 50. Ride early this week, as temperatures are forecast to climb. Wildflowers are blooming and the mule deer are frequent in the low areas.

Excellent conditions on the trail and some of the barrel cacti are in full bloom. The landscape has the 'monsoon green'...get out there and ride!

Time to ride!

Trail conditions are excellent and the whole desert is alive.

After a huge storm two days ago, the trails are glorious! Enough decomposed granite has been moved around to make the trail interesting. Barrel cacti are blooming and the desert floor is green. The trails aren't at 'hero dirt' stage quite, yet. Still so much moisture that you feel them compact and suck some of your forward energy. That tiny factor is TOTALLY negated by how beautiful it is right now!