Butterfly

Butterfly is a mountain biking route in the Santa Catalina Ranger District of Coronado National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 4.8 miles long, and the climb from the start at 8,258 feet to the high point at 8,273 feet is only a few feet, so the route is essentially a descent. The total elevation gain is 1,776 feet, and the total loss is 2,815 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 2.5 miles in, where the grade reaches 33 percent. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to ride. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt Lemmon Willow Canyon show May highs around 71°F and October highs around 68°F, while winter highs sit near 50°F with lows in the low 30s. The route starts close to several other destinations. Bigelow Trail #520 and the Kellogg trail are both within a quarter mile, and the Bigelow hike is about 0.3 miles away. Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin, a campground, is about 0.4 miles off.