Oro Valley has a fresh addition to its trail system! We’ve got a new half-mile multiuse path, part of The Chuck Huckelberry Loop, that offers a smooth and safe connection to the regional trail system. Thanks to a partnership with the Pima County Regional Flood Control District, this new segment, located just north of the Oro Valley Hospital, stretches further north to meet Rancho Vistoso Boulevard. Before this, folks had to use Rancho Vistoso Boulevard and venture through Big Wash, navigating some dirt paths to connect directly to The Loop. Now, this paved and striped path keeps users safely off the road.
Big Wash plays an important role as part of the Cañada del Oro Wash. It’s managed by both the Town and Pima County and serves as a vital floodplain, wildlife, and riparian habitat area. The new segment not only makes trail use safer but also provides direct access to Big Wash. This helps with floodplain management and monitoring, ensuring the area is protected from potential flood hazards.
The Town’s Community and Economic Development (CED) Department planned this section of The Loop under the Rancho Vistoso Planned Area Development. It’s even highlighted in the Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Trails Master Plan. Bringing this path to life took years of teamwork between Town staff and Pima County. Initially, Pima County constructed The Loop underpass connection at Tangerine Road up to the Oro Valley Hospital. In spring 2022, they built the next phase along Big Wash’s existing bank protection. CED worked with local homeowners associations to secure public rights-of-way for the trail, while Oro Valley Stormwater and the Pima County Regional Flood Control District handled the path’s construction. The new multiuse path segment was completed in early May 2023.
Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield shared his excitement, saying, “This new segment of The Loop is a direct result of regional collaboration. It improves the trail experience for cyclists and pedestrians, and—more importantly—this connection increases public safety. It keeps trail users off the roadway, which means they can focus on the scenic views instead of the traffic.”
Oro Valley’s trail system is a treasure for hikers, bikers, and runners, offering various surfaces from paved paths to more rustic dirt trails. The town’s Parks and Recreation Department oversees about 30 miles of trails within town limits. The paths along the Cañada del Oro Wash and Big Wash are part of the Pima County Huckelberry Loop system.
Kristy Diaz-Trahan, Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Director, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “The Town of Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Department’s mission is ‘Inspire Connection through Recreation.’ This mission is met, literally, with the new Loop connection to Rancho Vistoso Boulevard. This connectivity provides safe, non-vehicular access to and from the northern portion of our community, adding to the already coveted trail system in Oro Valley.”
The Chuck Huckelberry Loop is an extensive 137-mile network of paved pathways and bike lanes that stretch through unincorporated Pima County, Marana, Oro Valley, Tucson, and South Tucson. The Oro Valley section connects to the larger system with access points at Riverfront Park, Steam Pump Ranch, Honeybee Canyon Park, and Catalina State Park. The Loop was even voted “Best Recreational Trail” in the country by USA Today readers in 2021 and 2022.
For more on Oro Valley Parks and Recreation, check out their website. To learn more about The Chuck Huckelberry Loop, visit here.
Sources
– Oro Valley Parks and Recreation
– The Chuck Huckelberry Loop