Tucson · Oro Valley · Marana · The bike guide

Bike Tucson,
the calm way.

The Loop runs more than 130 miles of paved paths along the Rillito and Santa Cruz rivers and the Julian Wash, and the city's bike boulevards run between them. The hard part is the wide, fast roads in between — Trazo plans a low-stress route that connects them, or a distance loop from your door.

Open the Tucson map → Explore the guide
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⚑ 7.0 mi loop98% off busy roads
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The guide

Riding Tucson

Tucson has one of the best paved path systems in the country — The Loop, along the riverbeds and washes — and a set of bike boulevards on quiet streets. The catch is getting to them: the main roads are wide and fast. Here's the backbone, and Trazo finds the calm connections between the pieces.

130+ MI

The Loop

Paved paths along the Rillito and Santa Cruz rivers, the Pantano and the Julian Wash; the main circuit around the city is about 54 miles.

~13 MI

Santa Cruz River Path

The west side's north–south leg of The Loop, along the Santa Cruz River.

~10 MI

Rillito River Path

East–west across the north side along the Rillito, part of The Loop.

~12 MI

Julian Wash Greenway

The south side's leg of The Loop.

~6 MI

Aviation Bikeway

A path southeast from downtown along Aviation Parkway.

~5 MI

3rd Street Bicycle Boulevard

A calm east–west street route past the University of Arizona.

Trazos We Love

Calm loops that start and end in the same place, from short rides with kids to longer trail days. All loops →

Christopher Columbus Park on The Loop on a mapChristopher Columbus Park on The Loop4.3 mi · 100% off busy roads · ↑ 52 ftWith kidsReid Park and the Arroyo Chico Greenway on a mapReid Park and the Arroyo Chico Greenway2.7 mi · 100% off busy roads · ↑ 82 ftWith kidsColumbus Park south on the Santa Cruz River Path on a mapColumbus Park south on the Santa Cruz River Path8.8 mi · 100% off busy roads · ↑ 161 ftEasy and pavedBrandi Fenton Park and the Rillito River Path on a mapBrandi Fenton Park and the Rillito River Path6.9 mi · 99% off busy roads · ↑ 223 ftEasy and pavedMercado San Agustín and the Santa Cruz on a mapMercado San Agustín and the Santa Cruz7.2 mi · 100% off busy roads · ↑ 305 ftEasy and pavedNorth from Columbus Park on The Loop on a mapNorth from Columbus Park on The Loop18.1 mi · 100% off busy roads · ↑ 308 ftLonger rides

Maps © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

Calm bike routes in Tucson

Rides between places people go, mostly off busy roads. Each opens in the planner with one tap. All routes →

University of Arizona to 4th Avenue
University of Arizona to Reid Park
4th Avenue to Reid Park
4th Avenue to Himmel Park
Reid Park to Himmel Park
4th Avenue to Christopher Columbus Park
Mercado San Agustín to Christopher Columbus Park
Brandi Fenton Park to Rillito Park

Biking in Tucson: common questions

What is The Loop in Tucson?

The Chuck Huckelberry Loop is more than 130 miles of paved paths along the Rillito and Santa Cruz rivers, the Pantano and the Julian Wash, shared by people biking, walking and running. Joined up, the main circuit around the city is about 54 miles. Pima County has an official page and map.

What are some good bike rides in Tucson?

Try a loop that ends where it began, almost entirely off busy roads, from a short park loop to a long ride on The Loop. All six are on Trazos We Love.

Columbus Park south on the Santa Cruz River Path on a mapColumbus Park south on the Santa Cruz River Path8.8 mi · 100% off busy roadsBrandi Fenton Park and the Rillito River Path on a mapBrandi Fenton Park and the Rillito River Path6.9 mi · 99% off busy roadsMercado San Agustín and the Santa Cruz on a mapMercado San Agustín and the Santa Cruz7.2 mi · 100% off busy roadsNorth from Columbus Park on The Loop on a mapNorth from Columbus Park on The Loop18.1 mi · 100% off busy roads

Where can I bike with kids in Tucson?

These short loops stay on paths and quiet streets, with no busy road to cross without a light. In the Trazo map, choose "With kids" and any route you plan sticks to trails and avoids busy roads almost entirely.

Christopher Columbus Park on The Loop on a mapChristopher Columbus Park on The Loop4.3 mi · 100% off busy roadsReid Park and the Arroyo Chico Greenway on a mapReid Park and the Arroyo Chico Greenway2.7 mi · 100% off busy roads

Is Tucson good for biking?

Tucson has The Loop and a set of bike boulevards on quiet streets, like 3rd Street past the University of Arizona. The catch is getting to them: many main roads are wide and fast. Trazo plans routes that use the calm pieces and marks the crossings without a light.

How do I bike around the University of Arizona, 4th Avenue and Reid Park without busy roads?

These rides between places people go are almost entirely off busy roads, and each opens in Trazo with one tap. For any other start or finish, plan it in the map.

University of Arizona to 4th Avenue on a mapUniversity of Arizona to 4th Avenue1.3 mi · 100% off busy roadsUniversity of Arizona to Reid Park on a mapUniversity of Arizona to Reid Park3.6 mi · 100% off busy roads4th Avenue to Reid Park on a map4th Avenue to Reid Park4.3 mi · 100% off busy roadsMercado San Agustín to Christopher Columbus Park on a mapMercado San Agustín to Christopher Columbus Park7.2 mi · 100% off busy roads

Does Trazo cover Oro Valley and Marana?

Yes. The Tucson map runs from Marana and Oro Valley in the north to the south side of Tucson, and from the Tucson Mountains east to Sabino Canyon, so a ride on The Loop between them plans as one trip.

Is Trazo free? Do I need to download an app?

Trazo is free, with no account and no ads. It runs in your phone's browser, and you can add it to your home screen like an app. It covers Tucson, Oro Valley and Marana, plus other areas in Colorado, Utah and the Carolinas.

Why Trazo

Built for riders who'd rather not gamble on traffic

Every street and path is graded for how calm and connected it really is — so the route you get is one you'll actually enjoy.

See what's protected

Trails, lanes, and quiet streets are color-graded by stress level — cool means calm, red means watch out.

Loops by distance

Want a 12-mile ride? Get loops that hit your target and bring you back home, not an out-and-back you have to reverse.

Busy-crossing alerts

The map flags uncontrolled crossings — busy roads with no signal — so nothing catches you off guard.

Elevation-aware

See the climb before you commit, and flip on “prefer flat” when you (or the kids) aren't in the mood for hills.

How it works

From “where do I even ride?” to rolling in three steps

Set your start & destination

Search an address, drop a pin, or use your location. Or pick “Loop ride” and just set a distance.

Pick your comfort level

Kid-friendly, relaxed, or anything-goes. Trazo biases the route toward protected paths to match — and you can drag the line to add a stop.

Ride it

Follow turn-by-turn with voice cues, see your elevation profile, find pit stops along the way, or export a GPX.

Try it now — it's free →