HONEYBEE CANYON

Level: Beginner to Intermediate (2-B)

Description: This is another close in, easy ride. It is relatively flat, some jeep trail, dirt road, asphalt, and single track. You will see petroglyphs, cattle, open range, windmills, and part of Rancho Vistoso. This is the canyon that caused a huge fight with developers. There is currently a proposal on the board to build an additional 34,000 homes on the land!

There are two hard to find turns. The first comes on Rain X road where you will turn onto the jeep (single track). It is marked with a white Arizona Trust Lands sign (see map). The second is in a large wash as you head back toward Rancho Vistoso Blvd. I suggest you get off your bike and walk south looking for the exit on your left. You will see a jeep trail or perhaps some other bike trails.

Once you get through the second gate you will be back on paved roads in Vistoso and will easily find your way back to the vehicles.

If you wish to see the petroglyphs, it is much easier to get there on foot then it is on bike. From the parking area you will see a well defined trail leading down into Honeybee Canyon. Take it and go north for about 1.5 miles. Very pretty hike and you will find the glyphs on your left (if you look hard enough).

Sorry about the blank section on the north end of the map. That is due to this ride covering two different CD's on the Maptech software. Take it from me that the round trip is 12 miles and the change in elevation is a small 500 ft. or so.

To give yourself a little perspective, it is 4.25 miles from the parking area to the intersection of Rail X and the Power line Road.

Directions: Take Oracle Rd. north from Ina about 7 miles to Rancho Vistoso Blvd., go left (west) 3.1 miles to a very nice parking area on your left (you will need to make a U turn around the median). When you get on your bike go to your right (east) out of the parking lot 0.6 miles to Quiet Rain (another U turn around the median) and go north about 200 yards to a short, paved, uphill section to the power line road. You are now on the trail.

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