Patagonia Gravel
Patagonia, Arizona
Gravel
51 miles | 3,500 ft elevation | 84% gravel
ride date: Nov 2025 | publication date: Mar 2026
The small town of Patagonia is located in Southern Arizona, sitting at 4,000 feet and nestled between the Santa Rita and Patagonia Mountains. With its network of unpaved roads and surrounding hills, it is a popular destination for those seeking off-road adventures.
By combining three popular out-and-back routes, you can experience the diverse terrain the area has to offer all in one day.
Starting in town near the Patagonia Lumber Co., head east on Harshaw Road. The first few miles are on pavement and you’ll share the road with vehicles making their way to and from the nearby mine, but soon the road turns to gravel and the real fun begins. The road follows Harshaw Creek through the shaded canyon past interesting rock formations and creek crossings as you climb up San Rafael Valley Road. Around mile 11, you’ll reach the top and be rewarded with a stunning view of vast grasslands. Be sure to take some pictures before turning around and making the descent back down.
Once back in town, take 3rd Avenue through the residential area and make your way up 1st Ave, which quickly turns into Temporal Road. You’ll climb for a couple miles along the ridge of the mountain before swooping down around a few twists and turns. Then it's another mile and a half climb and another twisty descent with sweeping views of the mountains. Around mile 29 is the Temporal Gulch Trailhead, which is the turn-around spot to head back. The views as you climb and descend in reverse are as equally stunning as before.
At mile 36, it’s back through town and along Blue Haven Road, a gentle 4-mile stretch. Soon you’ll reach Salero Canyon Road and the punchy, half mile climb up towards the unique rocky hills. After a short descent, the next 4 miles is a gradual climb along Squaw Gulch Road, which is exposed and offers beautiful views. Once you reach the turnaround point (around mile 43.5), it’s a fun descent back before the final climb past those interesting rocks and then back into town.
Strava Route:
To shorten this route and cut out the paved road portion, skip the Ride to the Boom section of the route (the first 22 miles).
You can also break up this route into three separate rides:
Ride to the Boom (22 miles | 1,300 ft elevation)
Temporal Canyon (15 miles | 1,350 ft elevation)
Salero Canyon (14 miles | 980 ft elevation)
Hotel Recommendation
The Gravel House Hotel - this unique property is located in the heart of town and is a 9-bedroom house with private bathrooms within each room and a shared kitchen and living space. It was very clean and super comfortable. I stayed here while attending a women’s gravel camp, and this was the perfect place for a group, as we each had our own space but could socialize in the common areas.
The Gravel House also consists of The Straw Bale (2-bedroom home) and The Raven’s Nest (guesthouse), located on the same property a few blocks from The Hotel.
Another lodging option is to stay in Tucson, which is about an hour away, and make Patagonia a day trip. See Tucson hotel recommendations on the Mt Lemmon and Saguaro National Park East pages.
Notes
Patagonia is a very small town, with only a couple restaurants, one mini-market and the taproom, so although there are places to find food/water, the options are limited. It is a cute town and very popular destination for not only cyclists, but for Arizonans out on a weekend drive or motorcycle ride. The Patagonia Lumber Co. is a great spot for a post-ride beverage.
The roads along this route are very rough with a lot of washboard due to heavy ATV and Border Patrol vehicle use. Follow the rules of the road and anticipate oncoming traffic around blind corners.
There are no services and cell phone coverage is limited when out on this route, so plan accordingly.
Pay attention to weather forecasts and impacts the elements might have on your ride. Summers are very hot and this route has many long, exposed sections with very little shade. If it has rained recently, be aware that there can be swift water crossings and thick, muddy roads.
The nearby Hermosa Project mine is active with mining trucks along Harshaw Road, which is part of the Ride to the Boom section of the route. Be mindful and yield to trucks, or cut out this section of the route if you don’t feel comfortable.
Keep an eye out for wildlife. We spotted javelinas, tarantulas, hummingbirds and more!
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