• Boondocking Map
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Road Pickle
Menu
  • Boondocking Map
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Home  /  Arizona • Roads  /  Gates Pass, Tucson Motorcycle Ride
05 April 2015

Gates Pass, Tucson Motorcycle Ride

Written by Steve Johnson
Arizona, Roads Leave a Comment

Gates Pass is a popular destination for motorcycle riders local to Tucson, AZ. It’s relatively short distance from the city, moderate speeds, and handful of tight curves, make it a perfect compliment to the gorgeous views of Arizona’s southern valleys.

It was in 1883 that Thomas Gates, a local pioneer, saloon keeper and rancher was looking for a shorter route to his mine in the Avra Valley. While exploring these mountains, he found this canyon, marked by bubbling streams, hot springs, and lush growth. He paid $1,000.00 for a team of men to clear a path and grade a road that today bears his name. A few years later, Gates went on to become superintendent of Yuma Territorial Prison.

During the depression era, Gates Pass was improved by workers through the Works Projects Administration. Throughout the decades, Gates Pass Road would become one of the dangerous roads in Arizona due to a slope that occurs midway through the route. Despite safety improvements, cars continue to veer off road and careen down the side.

I rode through Gates Pass during the Spring, when plants reach their full green color and flowers splatter their yellow, purple, red, and orange hues across the mountains. Temperatures are ideal for a motorcycle ride.

Gate Pass Overlook offers restrooms and hiking trails. There are even a few stone-cabins with picnic tables inside if you’re willing to take a short hike or climb.

Gates Pass is also the destination for some of the most gorgeous sunsets in the United States. I didn’t get the opportunity to capture any of them on camera. But it’s said by locals that Gates Pass is the best place to your glimpse of an Arizona sunset.

If you ride out to Gates Pass, bring a six-pack of beer and a lunch, make the short hike into one of the stone cabins, and enjoy yourselves for an hour or two.

Steve Johnson
Connect on Facebook Connect on Twitter Connect on Linkedin

Having first started riding in 1985 on a Kawasaki KZ400, Steve has ridden all across the United States and Canada. He currently travels full time on his Honda ST1300, living wherever he can find a friendly roof. Follow him on, "Motorcycle Philosophy".

 Previous Article Calle Tepa, Tucson, AZ | Best Street Tacos
Next Article   Tucson to Bakersfield: March 30, 2015

Related Posts

  • Wagon Wheel Rest Area – Kayenta, Arizona

    May 5, 2019
  • Cedar Pocket Road, Arizona – Free RV Boondocking

    April 8, 2019
  • WalMart, Marana, AZ: Free RV Parking

    May 16, 2017

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

road pickle

I'm a "Man in Black", one of those guys who goes around dressed in black suits, looking for people who were abducted by UFOs so that we can keep them quiet. Sash and I travel around in this trailer awaiting orders from headquarters for my next assignment. I can't show you the details of my work, but I can show you how I live.

Follow us here on Road Pickle...

how to camp for free

Topics

  • Blog (37)
  • Camping (58)
  • Central (21)
    • Illinois (6)
    • Indiana (5)
    • Iowa (6)
    • Minnesota (3)
    • Missouri (1)
  • Destinations (32)
    • Hikes (3)
    • Museums (7)
    • Parks (9)
    • Roadside Attractions (16)
    • Towns (2)
  • Lodgings (2)
  • Northeast (2)
    • Pennsylvania (2)
  • Pacific (53)
    • California (38)
    • Oregon (11)
    • Washington (4)
  • Restaurants (24)
  • Roads (9)
  • Towns (1)
  • Uncategorized (6)
  • Vlog (6)
  • West (71)
    • Arizona (23)
    • Colorado (6)
    • Idaho (4)
    • Kansas (2)
    • Montana (5)
    • Nebraska (2)
    • Nevada (6)
    • New Mexico (3)
    • North Dakota (2)
    • Oklahoma (1)
    • South Dakota (6)
    • Texas (1)
    • Utah (11)

Recent Comments

  • Steve Johnson on Setting Up a 4G LTE Antenna in our RV
  • David Johnson on Setting Up a 4G LTE Antenna in our RV
  • Cori Mills on Free RV Boondocking in Idaho – Shoshone Falls Road
  • Teresa on Sheep Bridge Road, Utah – Free RV Boondocking
  • LARRY PUTNAM on California Highway 25 (Airline Highway)
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Us

Social Media

  • Connect on Facebook
  • Connect on Instagram
  • Connect on RSS
  • Connect on YouTube
© Copyright 2014. Theme by BloomPixel.