Course Maps & Profiles
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Relive John's 40 Grinder Ride
Grinder Course Maps and Profiles:
The Mt Lemmon Gravel Grinder is concentrated on a 41-mile loop with an out-and-back section for the 50 & 60-mile courses. The routes take cyclists through the lush, semi-desert landscape that skirts the lower elevations of the Santa Catalina Mountains and leads the way to the main climb up the "backside" of Mt Lemmon. The course consists of a mix of gravel/dirt and paved roads that wind their way through sections of the Coronado National Forest and through the neighboring town of San Manuel. Along the way, you’ll pass through local cattle ranches and former mining operations while traveling across several cattle guards, over small narrow bridges, and through dry river beds known as washes. Incredible views of the San Pedro River Valley and Galiuro Mountain Range, a sky island mountain, can be seen from virtually anywhere along the course. The route can be done on a cross, gravel, or mountain bike. Three main Aid Stations will be located at Mt Lemmon “Control” Road & Forest Road 4450 “Haul Road” and Redington Road & Black Hills Mine Road and Webb Road. For the 60 mile, an Aid Station will be located at the summit turnaround checkpoint at Mt Lemmon Fire Station.
*60 Grind discontinued for 2021 due to Forest Service Closure Order for the Upper Control Road FR38 beyond the Oracle Ridge Mine.
*60 Grind discontinued for 2021 due to Forest Service Closure Order for the Upper Control Road FR38 beyond the Oracle Ridge Mine.
The 60 Grind course 2017-2019 (No event was held in 2020 due to COVID-19): 101 years ago, in 1920, the Mt Lemmon Control Road was the first road constructed to access the higher, cooler elevations of the Santa Catalina Mountains. For those seeking a true epic and memorable experience on one of the most iconic mountains in the sport of cycling, this will be the ultimate adventure! The 60 Grind course is concentrated on a 41.5-mile loop with an 18.5-mile out-and-back section for 60 miles of total riding that starts and finishes at the 3C Ranch and takes riders through sections of the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Catalina Mountains (Mt Lemmon) and through the neighboring town of San Manuel. The 18-mile out-and-back section comes at Aid #1 (12 miles) and offers riders an additional 2800 ft of climbing in 9 miles. There are 45 miles of gravel/dirt roads and 15 miles of paved roads. Expect little to no motor vehicle traffic. Conditions of gravel roads can vary from hard-pack to rutted or washboard depending on the last time the roads were graded and/or touched by monsoon downpours. Elevations along the course vary from 3000 ft to 8000 ft. At the lowest point of the course, average high temps are in the upper 70’s for this time of the year.
*50 Grind Course has been modified for 2021 due to Forest Service Closure Order for the Upper Control Road FR38 beyond the Oracle Ridge Mine.
The 50 Grind course 2016-2019 (No event was held in 2020 due to COVID-19): 101 years ago, in 1920, the Mt Lemmon Control Road was the first road constructed to access the higher, cooler elevations of the Santa Catalina Mountains. For those seeking a true epic and memorable experience on one of the most iconic mountains in the sport of cycling, this will be the ultimate adventure! The 50 Grind course is concentrated on a 41.5-mile loop with a 7.5-mile out-and-back section for 49 miles of total riding that starts and finishes at the 3C Ranch, takes riders through sections of the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Catalina Mountains (Mt Lemmon), and through the neighboring town of San Manuel. The 7-mile out-and-back section comes at Aid #1 (12 miles) and offers riders an additional 1000ft of climbing. There are 34 miles of gravel/dirt roads and 15 miles of paved roads. Expect little to no motor vehicle traffic. Conditions of gravel roads can vary from hard-pack to rutted or washboard depending on the last time the roads were graded and/or touched by monsoon downpours. Elevations along the course vary from 3000 ft to 6000 ft. At the lowest point of the course, average high temps are in the upper 70’s for this time of the year.
The 40 Grind course 2016-Present (No event was held in 2020 due to COVID-19): 101 years ago, in 1920, the Mt Lemmon Control Road was the first road constructed to access the higher, cooler elevations of the Santa Catalina Mountains. For those seeking a true epic and memorable experience on one of the most iconic mountains in the sport of cycling, this will be the ultimate adventure! The 40 Grind course is a 42-mile loop that starts and finishes at the 3C Ranch and takes riders through sections of the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Catalina Mountains (Mt Lemmon) and through the neighboring town of San Manuel. There are 27 miles of gravel/dirt roads and 15 miles of paved roads. Expect little to no motor vehicle traffic. Conditions of gravel roads can vary from hard-pack to rutted or washboard depending on the last time the roads were graded and/or touched by monsoon downpours. Elevations along the course vary from 3000 ft to 5000 ft. At the lowest point of the course, average high temps are in the upper 70’s for this time of the year.
