Sasabe, Arivaca, Green Valley Ride
September 12, 2010

Description

The ride through the Altar Valley and the town of Arivaca southwest of Tucson is one of my favorites, so I decided to take my camera this time and get some pictures along the way. The route heads west from Tucson along Ajo Highway (Rte. 86) then takes Rte. 286 south from the town of Three Points. Rte. 286 goes through the Altar Valley and Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge, with great views of Kitt Peak, Baboquivari Peak, and many other hills, mountains, and desert grasslands. The turn-off to the town of Arivaca is ~10 miles north of the US/Mexico border, but you can also head all the way to the town of Sasabe on the border, then turn around and head to Arivaca, which is what I did here. From Arivaca, it's on to the small town of Amado on the I-19 frontage road, through Green Valley, and back to Tucson via Nogales Highway.

The total distance is about 260 km (160 mi), or 225 km (140 mi) if you skip the Sasabe leg. An approximate map of the route is here, and an elevation profile is here

Photos

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Large		 Sunrise behind me over Tucson just before reaching Three Points. I left Tucson at about 4 am.
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Large		 Approaching Three Points, with Kitt Peak rising in the background
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Large		 Starting the ride south on Rte. 286
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Large		 Kitt Peak, with numerous telescopes visible
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Large		 Baboquivari Peak, which is the most sacred place of the Tohono O'odham people, and is the home of their creator god I'itoi
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Large		 Panorama of the mountains west of Rte. 286, including (from the left) Baboquivari, Kitt Peak, and the Coyote Mountains
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Large		 Entering the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge
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Large		 The final stretch towards Sasabe, on the US/Mexico border
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Large		 Little church just outside of Sasabe
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Large		 The Sasabe Store
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Large		 Border checkpoint. I didn't have my passport so I didn't actually cross over.
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Large		 Border wall
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Large		 Heading north, with Baboquivari prominently on the horizon
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Large		 Heading east towards Arivaca
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Large		 Arivaca
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Large		 Proof that at the very least, my bike made it this far
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Large		 Coffee shop at the east end of Arivaca
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Large		 Sweet!
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Large		 Continuing east, with random mountains in the distance
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Large		 The Santa Ritas come into view
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Large		 The small town of Amado, which seems to have a very beef-centered economy
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Large		 The final stretch back towards Tucson on Nogales Highway