Now and then, you might want to get out of the fast lane, off the pavement and onto some slow road to nowhere.
It's a way to change pace — to focus on the journey rather than the destination.
Redington Road could be your place.
The winding, dusty, bumpy route extends 27 miles from the eastern edge of Tucson to a dot on the map called Redington.
Along the way, you'll cross Redington Pass and get a mix of scenery — from saguaro-and-mesquite desert to grassy rangelands and rocky ridges studded with oak and juniper trees. The forested, blue-green heights of the Rincon Mountains form the southern horizon.
Because of the bumpy road, you'll be traveling slowly enough to savor the sights. On that matter of bumps: Careful drivers manage to travel the Redington Road in passenger cars, but a high-clearance vehicle makes for an easier trip.
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The route is a favorite destination of four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, who turn off Redington Road to tackle challenging side roads along the way.
"I like the changing scenery out there — from the desert to oaks and all the rock formations," says Mike McDonald, who leads trips in the area for the Arizona Land Rover Owners club.
Reaching remote and scenic destinations off the main route is the goal on four-wheel-drive outings for McDonald and other club members.
"But I think the Redington Road itself is a great drive," McDonald says. "Coming back down from the pass, the view of Tucson is just spectacular, especially at sunset."
Something not very spectacular about the drive is the litter and environmental degradation at sites along the road used by target shooters and others.
"It's a beautiful area, but some of those sites are getting ugly," McDonald observes.
To take the drive, go east on Tanque Verde Road, which becomes Redington Road. The pavement ends 7.6 miles east of the intersection of Tanque Verde Road and the Catalina Highway.
Drive up the unpaved road 0.8 of a mile to reach a trailhead for the Lower Tanque Verde Canyon Trail. After driving 7.2 miles from the end of the pavement, you'll come to a staging area for four-wheel-drive and all-terrain vehicles.
Some drivers reach the pass and turn around. Others descend the other side before returning. It's also possible to continue to the towns of San Manuel and Oracle, and loop back to Tucson from there.
Next week: Climb a rock wall.
