Bike trail Review

Fantasy island Trail System, Tucson, AZ!

Now that we're done with the graduation rally, rv show and desert boondocking, time to get back to some biking! Quartzsite and Yuma were both pretty much a bust for any quality mountain biking. Since we are back in Tucson for RV repairs, I decided to head back over to the Fantasy Island Trail system to check out the loops that I missed on our previous visit!


The fantasy Island Trail system is listed as a beginner trail, and it is if you do only the 'main' Lone Cactus loop. However, when you combine the outer loops you can create just about any mileage you wish between 6 to 13 miles. When you add in the Christmas tree loop, Bo's Loop and Burro Pit, you still have a beginner friendly trail that keeps anyone from the racer to the freerider coming back for more!

All of the stunts have 'chicken trails' around them and are all very well built (those that I did anyway!). The trail is mostly flat, but goes in and out of a dry creek bed and a small valley, so any climbs are short but pretty steep. The terrain changes a couple times from loose sandy gravel to baby head rocks mixed in. If your not running Stan's or Slime, you are guaranteed to get flat as there are goat heads and dead cactus throughout the trail!

Bring plenty of water, the trail is DRY and you will suck up the dust! Also plan on giving your bike a bath afterward and the sand is this talcum powder fine and works its way into every crevice on you bike.

The trail system is conveintly located between a residential area and an army base, so it is currently under attack by developers. The local bikers are in serious danger of losing this fine trail. You can check out www.savefantasyisland.org for more information on what is being done to save the trail system!

Here is my photo adventure of the trail system, enjoy!

One of the first things you see here is the 'monuments' to dead inner tubes. If not prepared, you ARE going to get a flat

Next you come across this sign reminding you that you are next to an Air Force base, on one visit here, I could hear the target practice!

I was really surprised just how large the cacti were. I put bike next to this one to give some perspective on the size!

Speaking of cacti, its time for the 'open to interpretation' picture of the day!

Here is the entrance to the Dead cow loop, basically a sub loop of Burro pit. In the pic, you can see the cow head mounted on the tree and the working cow bell hung above the trail. I thought this was a fun and creative 'entrance' to the loop!

Now, because it was called the 'dead' cow loop, I never expected to see a 'live' cow here! It was really strange because the trail system is gated in, and I never saw another cow for the entire 13 miles?

As you finish up Bo's loop, you come to this cool over under feature. However, on the under part they only left about 5 feet of clearance, so better duck! The entrance into the under is also a 2 foot drop that you can't really see as you approach so it really catches you off guard!

As you finish up the trail, you come across this marker which really does sum it all up!

-Rich-