Santa Cruz River Bikeway, Tucson, Arizona

Map of the Santa Cruz River Bikeway

Doubleclick trail for name

Zoom for parking

Santa Cruz River Bikeway - Santa Cruz River Park Trail - Paseo de las Iglesias

The Santa Cruz River Bikeway follows alongside the bed of the Santa Cruz River on the west side of the city. The trail starts from a point 15 miles north of downtown to a point two miles south of Route 86 on the south side of town. There are several sections to this trail, one section passes through Santa Cruz River Park, another section is known as Paseo de las Iglesias. The Santa Cruz River is dry for most of the year, but may have water in the winter or spring or during rain storms during the summer. For most of the route their are pathways on both banks with underpasses and access paths for major roadway crossings.

The Santa Cruz River Bikeway is part of "The Loop" system of trails throughout Tucson. The continuous portion of this paved trail system extends over 20 miles through much of the Tucson urban area.

There is a separate 4-mile long paved section of the trail located in the community of Marana, north of Tucson and just west of Interstate 10. This portion of the trail extends from N. Sanders Road to a point just west of the intersection of W. Tangerine Road and N. Rialto Village Trail.

The north end of the main 20-mile plus continuous portion of the Santa Cruz River Bikeway is located at El Rio Park, a small neighborhood park situated 1.5-miles north of W. Twin Peaks Road. This spot is half a mile west of Interstate 10, north of the City of Tucson. The paved pathway for the trail heads south from here, runs down the west bank of the riverbed and travels adjacent to residential neighborhoods. The trail goes next to Coyote Trail Elementary School and Crossroads at Silverbelt District Park. In this area there is also a short section of trail on the east bank of the river be that extends form W. Twin Peaks Road to N. Cortaro Road.

At W. Ina Road, the Santa Cruz River Bikeway switches over the east bank of the riverbed and travels closer to the I-10 Frontage Road. In this area the trail passes close by to Mike Jacobs Sports Park. The Cañada del Oro Wash comes in from the east and the trail shares the bridge with the frontage road. At 0.7 of a mile south of the intersection of W. Orange Grove Road there is a junction with the Rillito River Park Trail that heads off to the southesast under the interstate to travel along the north edge of Tucson. The Rillito River Park Trail is also part of "The Loop" system of trails.

The Santa Cruz River Bikeway splits and travels south on both sides of the riverbed at Ruthrauff Road. At this point it goes through Christopher Columbus Park and Sweetwater Wetland Park. It then passes by Silverbell Golf Course. Farther south, the west bank trail goes past Juhan Park and then under W. Grant Road. Approaching Speedway Boulevard, the trail travels adjacent to Arizona State School.

The trail continues south on both sides of the riverbed and south of W. Silverlake Road travels through Santa Cruz River Park. This new section of the trail is referred to as "Paseo de las Iglesias". This Linear Parkway project was constructed in part for erosion control and ecosystem restoration. The portion of the trail that is located on the east bank of the riverbed allows you to connect to the Julian Wash Trail that heads off to the east and forms part of "The Loop" system.

The Santa Cruz River Bikeway travels south of W. Ajo Way for another 2 miles. The trails on each side of the riverbed stop at W. Drexel Road.