THANKS to our 2024 Sky Island Tour Sponsors

for their support!

A One-Day Bicycle Tour through Beautiful Cochise County, Arizona

PRESENTED BY the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Southeastern Arizona (NAMI SEAZ) 

HELD AT the Mall at Sierra Vista, 3800 El Mercado Loop, Sierra Vista, AZ

EVENT INFO

This scenic one-day bicycle tour in Cochise County, Arizona takes place on Saturday, October 5, 2024. The Sky Islands are known in the southwest as mountain ranges surrounded by radically different lowland environments.  All Sky Island Tour rides are a loop, beginning and ending at the Mall at Sierra Vista, 3800 El Mercado Loop, Sierra Vista, AZ.

REGISTRATION Click below next to each ride listing for the online registration links. Online registration CLOSES on Thursday, October 3, 2024 at midnight, 12:00am. You can register in person at packet pickup on Friday 5:30-8:30pm, October 4 at the Mall at Sierra Vista or on Saturday, October 5 starting at 6:00am. Be aware of the start times listed below for each event listed below and allow ample time if you plan to register in person. The event will occur, rain or shine! As 100% of event proceeds go to support NAMI SEAZ, a 501(3)c nonprofit, all sales are final and there will be no refunds. Register Here.

**All registered participants must wear a helmet. No bike trailers are allowed in the 62-miler and 44-miler events. No exceptions.**

**E-bikes and E-assist bikes are welcome in the Sky Island Tour, as are recumbents, hand cycles, trikes, and ellypti-gos.**

PACKET PICKUP – Friday, October 4, 2024, 5:30pm to 8:30pm and Saturday, October 5, 2024, starting at 6:00am at the Mall at Sierra Vista. Registered participants will receive a t-shirt, a route map, and a goodie bag. VeloVets Sierra Vista, a nonprofit that supports disabled veterans to ride bikes, will be selling cycling apparel at Packet Pickup on Friday evening only (everything for $10 each) with all proceeds going to support VeloVets.

HOTELS – The Sky Island Tour’s venue is at the Mall at Sierra Vista. The closest hotel is the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, which is in the mall parking lot. It can be reached at 520-439-5900. Other nearby hotels within a half mile are Townplace Suites by Marriott, 520-515-9900 and Holiday Inn Express, 520-439-8800. Located 8/10 of a mile from the mall is Hampton Inn, 520-439-5400.

AFTER THE RIDE / LUNCH – October 5, 2024 – Join us after the ride at the Mall at Sierra Vista and hang out with fellow cyclists for lunch! We’ll be playing your favorite tunes, and there will be a food truck offering delicious lunch. Rest tents with tables and chairs will be set up for cyclists to relax in the shade and eat lunch.

T-SHIRTS – Every registrant receives an event t-shirt as part of the registration cost.

REST STOPS – The 62-miler, 44-miler, 30-miler, 20-miler events, and the finish will have rest stops. The rest stops will have a porta-potty and will be stocked with water, sports drink, and snacks.

BICYCLE SUPPORTM&M Cycling at 1301 E. Fry Blvd in Sierra Vista will provide a free safety check on bicycles for Sky Island Tour participants in the shop the week prior to the event on October 5, 2024. M&M will be on site at the Mall at Sierra Vista for the early morning of the event to conduct safety checks on bicycles. They will also provide SAG support on the metric century route.

PHOTOS – Our photographer will be taking photos on the routes of riders and bikes, smiling faces, rest stops, and at the finish! Photos will be posted in a photo gallery on the “Photos” tab of this webpage after the event.

REGISTRATION COSTS

Early Bird (before July 13)Semi Early Bird (before Sep 5)Late Bird but not out! (up to Oct 5)
62-mile metric century$65$75$85
44-mile$55$65$75
30-mile$50$60$70
20-mile$25$35$45
5-mile$20$20$25

START TIMES

  • 62-miles metric century (steep) – 7:00am
  • 44-miles (hilly) – 7:30am
  • 30-miles (less hilly) – 8:00am
  • 20-miles (hilly) – 8:30am
  • 5-miles (flat) – 9:00am

Routes ⬇️

Metric Century

The metric century (62 miles/100 km) bicycle ride takes place on mostly rural roads with a sufficient shoulder width to provide a comfortable ride for the intermediate to advanced rider. It is not closed to traffic. The ride passes around historic Bisbee, Arizona and twice crosses over the San Pedro River. The route offers amazing scenery, and has 3200 feet of climbing through the Mule Mountains (see elevation profile). Four rest stops on the route provide water and snacks. Register here.

Metric Century Map and Elevation Files

Click thumbnail for larger image
Click thumbnail to view elevation
Click thumbnail for larger image

44-Mile Ride

This ride is an out-and-bike loop that starts at the Mall at Sierra Vista and goes south on Hwy 92 to the Hereford Rd stop light, with a left turn to the end of Hereford Rd (at Hwy 92) —one rest stop is at the turnaround point and another is at Palominas Rd—then back on the same route. This ride has a long, gradual uphill climb on the route back on Hereford Rd. From there, the route returns on the same route back to the Mall at Sierra Vista. Register here.

44-Mile Map

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30-Mile Ride

The 30-mile route is out-and-back on the same route as the 44-mile ride.  Starting at the Mall at Sierra Vista, the ride goes south on Hwy 92 to a left on Hereford Rd, with the turnaround point at Palominas Rd, where there is a rest stop. This ride has a few hills, including coming back up Hereford Rd on the route back to Sierra Vista. Register here.

30-Mile Map

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20-Mile Ride

The 20-mile bicycle ride is a scenic ride that goes travels to the Huachuca Mountains’ Ramsey Canyon.  This ride is for all levels of riders and takes place on multi-use paths. When not on a multi-use path, most roads are striped with a bike lane. There will be a rest stop after the end of Cherokee Ave along the multi-use path (at the end of E Pawnee Dr). This ride has a challenging hill going to the end of the Newman Trail on Ramsey Canyon Rd. Register here.

20-Map Map

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5-Mile Fun Ride

The 5-mile fun ride is in Sierra Vista on the Country Club Estates multi-use paths. This comfortable ride is all on flat roads. Register here.

5-Mile Map

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NAMI Southeastern Arizona

All proceeds of the Sky Island Tour directly benefit NAMI of Southeastern Arizona. The Sky Island Tour is put on by hardworking volunteers, sponsors, and donors.

This event raises much-needed funds to continue NAMI SEAZ’s programs for those affected by mental illness and to increase awareness of the advances that have been made in mental health. NAMI SEAZ provides FREE programs and workshops to educate, support, and advocate for those affected by mental illness.