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Arivaca Outback
Every year a bunch of us get together and ride around the mountains in Southeast Arizona, Eat BBQ and Sourdough Pancakes, Tell a lot of Stories,
Every year a bunch of us get together and ride around the mountains in Southeast Arizona, Eat BBQ and Sourdough Pancakes, Tell a lot of Stories,
and
Some of Us Sleep Under the Stars.
March 2026 will mark the fifteenth year of the Arivaca Outback
March 2026 will mark the fifteenth year of the Arivaca Outback
Yup, we've been doing this for a long time and it has been a great deal of fun every year.
The goal of this gathering is to enjoy each other
The goal of this gathering is to enjoy each other
and motorcycle riding in the Arivaca Area.
and motorcycle riding in the Arivaca Area.
The "mission" of the Outback has and is simply to offer a time and place where "Adventure" motorcycle riders can gather and enjoy the company of like minded riders and the excellent riding offered in the Arivaca and Southern Arizona. This is completely non-commercial except for perhaps "swap-and-trade "activities. We don't charge admission, we're not sponsored by anyone, we're not promoting anything, and we don't accept "free" product materials. This is a not an event, but rather, a gathering.
We are respectful of the environment and private property. We stay on the "beaten" path: no trail blazing. There are thousands of miles of roads and tracks here that offer any number of challenges for the adventure rider.
If you haven't been to Arivaca take a look at https://www.visitarivaca.com/ for an idea of what we are about.
When To Arrive
There are some folks who get here early and help set things up. Some even earlier. You will be pretty much on your own as far as food is concerned, unless you brought it, you are limited to Bar Food at the La Gitana and whatever's open (see: "Food and Accommodations"). They have a good burger and some other selections. There is also a mercantile here that has what you need, but little of what you want. You can also find food in Amado, Green Valley,Tubac,Tucson or the surrounding towns.
This is actually an "Adventure" rider gathering so you should bring what you normally would when you go "Adventure" riding and camping. Everything else is gravy. If you have some special drink you like or fresh king crab, you should bring that. If you are bringing a trailer, bring it all. We will do our best to accommodate you.
What to Bring
What we have is space, some firewood, potable water and food for Saturday night and Sunday morning. The Soul Kitchen and the Coffee Shop are closed, but if they open we'll let you know. You can bring up any snacks, chips n' dip or anything else you would like to share with a horde of like minded people. I know that it will be appreciated. Friday night I usually put together some chili and cornbread and plan for the next day. Saturday dinner and Sunday sourdough breakfast are provided at my place for free.
Like everything on this site (and the world), this information can change at any time.
Where We Are Located
Where We Are Located
Arivaca Outback
Arivaca Outback
18180 Arivaca/Sasabe Road
Arivaca, Arizona 85601
Look it up on you GPS or do it the old way with a map. Drive thought Arivaca and take the right fork heading towards Sasabe. The driveway is on the right just after the 10 mile marker on the Sasabe Road. There is a rock wall of sorts with a large, triangular rock that has a silver medallion from the Panama canal on it. Yeah, the Panama Canal.
Look it up on you GPS or do it the old way with a map. Drive thought Arivaca and take the right fork heading towards Sasabe. The driveway is on the right just after the 10 mile marker on the Sasabe Road. There is a rock wall of sorts with a large, triangular rock that has a silver medallion from the Panama canal on it. Yeah, the Panama Canal.
Camping
The AO will be centered at my place and those big rigs we can't accommodate here can set up at the nearby RV Parks.
They will handle all your needs. See:
La-Siesta-Campgrounds: https://www.visitarivaca.com/la-siesta-campgrounds
If you want to be off by yourselves we have hundreds of sites on the Coronado National Forest and the Buenos Aires National Wildlife refuge; many very close to my place.
Coronado: https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/coronado/recreation/camping-cabins
Buenos Aires: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/buenos-aires
Ray sets up his tent and enjoys the scenery.
Fire
Most of you are from places where fire is a real problem and it is no different here. Record rains have resulted in lots of plant growth: hence fuel for fires. However, we'll provide some fire pits and some wood. We will all need to be careful. This wood is what we use here so if you have some and are bringing a trailer, you might bring some along.
Alcohol
We will not provide any alcoholic beverages. If you bring your own that's OK, but Drinking and Driving Will not be Tolerated. Wine and beer can be purchased at the mercantile and there's always the La Gitana Cantina. When we can, transportation can be provided to the bar.
Medical/Safety
The bad news is that the new hospital in Green Valley is closed. I can tell you buckaroos, that it is a very long ride to Tucson in an ambulance which doesn't seem to have a suspension system. If you are injured we will do our best to get you what you need. If you are seriously injured, don't try to ride out like I did. It can kill you. Call the helicopter. The bottom line is of course, ride safely. If you have any apprehension about a section, don't do it. Get someone to get you over the hard spots. This is not a macho sport.
The Rides
I've posted some of the rides on Alltrails and there are a number of maps available for this area so as Adventure Riders you can explore and find lots of great places to go. However, some of our regulars have volunteered to lead some rides which will give you and idea of what's what and where. We are meeting in a couple days to try and refine some representative rides for you and to rate them in the same system used by Raven in her Dual Sport Desert Daze. (apparently now defunct).
We have added a little section to this site called "Some Rides We Have Taken". Check that out and perhaps download some GPX files for your information.
Weather
So far the outlook is pretty good and it has been *very warm* this winter.
BUT, of course, the wild card is always the weather. If it's bad, it's bad. Even "Adventure" riders have limits and rain is one of them. It can be cold and windy, but rain makes the roads muddy, and here we have a lot of clay which when wet, creates what potters call "slip" and that's just what you do when riding on it. Once you fall, out in the toolies, the ambulance get stuck trying to get you, then hypothermia and.... So, If you want to ride I do not recommend coming if it's raining. I'll understand.
If you are curious about Arivaca you can just look it up on the net and there's all sorts of misinformation. For a start try:
https://www.visitarizona.com/like-a-local/5-day-trips-from-tucson/
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