In contrast to the existing shared use paths, many of the Town’s 54.5 miles of trails are dirt trails. Some are “cultivated” trails; that is, they have been cleared “smooth” by man and may contain decomposed granite as a hiking surface. In general, these types of trails are those that run through or adjacent to subdivisions.
The Town’s “primitive” trails are mainly dirt trails which have been delineated by rock cairns or other natural barriers. Many of these trails feature steep slopes or other similar rough terrain. They are usually on the outer edge of the Town’s limits, or within areas that are considered “natural” or “open space” within subdivisions. Many of these primitive trails follow the course of a wash or run adjacent to it, which may mean that in times of heavy rains, these trails may be impassable or even dangerous. An example of this type of trail is the trail that is heavily used by equestrians, the trail that runs within the CDO wash itself.
It is the Town’s goal to provide an interconnected trail system that can be used by both recreational as well as more “serious” users. It is part of a trail system that has been delineated in such plans as the Town’s Oro Valley Trails Task Force Report, the Town's Parks, Open Space and Trails Reports, Eastern Pima County Master Trails Plan, and the CDO Linear Park Plan.