A Monster at Tortolita Preserve

Trails that can realistically be run, are kind of rare around here.  Most trails have billions of rocks or boulders imbedded and it is easy to lose focus or fail to lift a leg high enough and bam, down you go.  Falling out here would usually have a very nasty outcome.  Imagine throwing your hand up to absorb the impact of a Saguaro.  I shudder to think of it but today, I checked out a new trail and what a revelation!

The trail runs the perimeter of the Tortolita Preserve and is accessed from West Moore Road off Dove Mountain Blvd.  There is a gate at the end of the road so you either park outside the gate or open the gate and drive in.  It's a popular destination for mountain bikers.  The Preserve is.....

…..well maintained and as indicated, the trails are free of debris in about 80% of the 9.9 mile route.  A nice, firm sandy bottom so the impact of running is minimized too.  Note that signage states the route is 9.2 miles but my device had it at 9.9 miles.

Hundreds of Saguaros dot the landscape including the above monster.  Don't think I've seen one more impressive then that.

Some of the Saguaros are funky looking too.  The Preserve is very flat so I only had 530' of climbing but some days, that is desired.  The trail is well defined although there is one junction that bikers have created that is not on the map.  Just bear right at that and you stay on the official trail.