Owl Head Buttes Gravel

February 15, 2025

After all the city riding we've done lately I want to get back to someplace quiet in the desert. This gravel route in Marana was posted on Dirty FreeHub, described as a flat, ripping fast ride. Let's give it a go.

From San Lucas Community Park we pedal out to the trailhead and follow the CAP canal trail for five miles. The trail is firm, flat and elevated above the canal. It points northwest at Picacho Peak, giving us a great landmark to study as we ride this section. So far this is awesome.

Good views of the CAP canal from the elevated trail

Picacho Peak to the left, Newman Peak to the right

A gate marks the Pima County line where the trail crosses into Pinal County and turns soft. When we can steer around the softer spots it's rideable, slowly, until we hit the first deep sand trap and have to walk.

I walk at least a half-dozen of these traps, filling up my shoes with sand. One of them takes Barry out when he can't unclip in time. At least it's a soft landing.

We're delivered from the slog at Missile Base Road, site of a deactivated Titan missile bunker from the Cold War era. At this point we're fully invested in the venture and looking forward to those owl heads.

After we're clear of the sandy trail, the course turns east on a nice firm dirt road and we start down the prettiest part of the route yet. This is what I was hoping for, a reward for the work to get here.

We're all alone on a flat easy road, surrounded by saguaros, mesquite trees and cholla cactus. There are no cars to contend with, no noise other than the birds. It's a good place to stop for lunch and soak in our surroundings before we continue on down this road.

Close to the nine mile mark we turn north onto Cattle Tank Road, which is flat and paved. The next six miles go by quickly as we pass by cattle ranches and RVs boondocking by the roadside.

A shady place with a seat, as good as it gets for a picnic spot today

Close to the halfway point at mile 15 we turn east on a narrow dirt road in a BLM camping area. The road is just wide enough for one car and it's tricky, filled with ruts, ravines and sand. You really get the feel of the desert here as some of the cholla cactus branches stretch out towards us.

I'm getting better at reading the track to find the firmer spots, and powering through the soft stuff. The cleat tension on my pedals is set really loose so I can clip out at the last second before I tip over. Barry falls again on this road. He's not amused, but thankfully not hurt.

After I let some air out of my tires I get more traction on the sand. This road is a good challenge, and fun when I can hack it. It's a good opportunity for experience on different terrain.

At 3:00 with 14 miles to go I'm wondering how long it will take to finish this ride. I was hoping to pick up my mountain bike at Fair Wheel before the shop closes at 5. Might have to let go of that plan.

Some pointy bits on the edges of this narrow road

There's some kind of hose running down the track here. I'm trying to stay out of the sandy middle.

Turning south on Owl Ranch Road we are past the halfway point. The dirt surface here is mostly firm with soft spots here and there. It's fun to pick up the pace again. Quick peeks at the Owl Head Buttes pop up here and there through the desert scrub. Then the road turns east, straight towards the buttes and we get a better view.

We're less than a mile from the Owl Heads. The closest paved road is at least six miles away.

The road still has soft spots and one of them takes Barry out again. At this point he stops to loosen the tension on his pedals. Now that he can clip out easily when needed, he is good to go.

The last part of the ride on Carpenter Ranch Road is hard packed, downhill and fast, but very bumpy with rocks and washboard everywhere. The rough road shakes all my joints, making for an exhausting end to the ride.

I read some comments on this route suggesting that people ride it in the other direction, counterclockwise. That makes sense to me. The grade on Carpenter Ranch is not that steep. It would be fine to ride uphill at a slower pace, and then this part would be out of the way early on.

I doubt we'll repeat it though. I'm glad we got to see this area, but between the sand and the washboard, we're one and done on riding it.

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Today's ride: 32 miles (51 km)
Total: 576 miles (927 km)

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