Mountain Bike Tours
SUMMER MOUNTAIN BIKE TOURS (May 26th to July 1st) - (Aug. 26th to Oct. 6th)
PRESCOTT
Prescott Arizona AZ State Map Average Temperatures
The historical town of Prescott, which was once the state's capital, offers great mountain biking opportunities. The landscape here is a combination of high desert, grasslands and ponderosa forest. Prescott gives the opportunity to enjoy mountain biking during the day and go out to spend a night on the town. It has great cowboy-style bars, old-style cafes and beautiful Victorian architecture. The weather here is almost perfect year-round, one of the reasons why this town has become quite popular with transplants from Phoenix and California. However, December through February can be quite nippy there with frequent snowfalls. Summer temperatures are pleasantly warm and rarely get to be unbearable. Day-time highs are in the 80's (27-30C) in the afternoons but it will cool off quite nicely at night, making morning rides very pleasant. We can accommodate other activities while you visit Prescott. For example, you can spend an afternoon kayaking in Watson Lake with its moonscape-like surroundings known as Granite Dells. Most of the trails in this area are located at a short distance from downtown Prescott.
- Granite Basin - This park has several interconnecting trails. You can spend the whole day riding here going from one trail to the next. The trails are overall smooth and they can get fast and furious with berms, quick turns and jumps. This area will be enjoyed by all type of riders from beginner to advanced. A couple of trails are more technically inclined but not severe by any means. There's a small fishing lake at the heart of the park.
Distance: 10-20 miles - Trail 305 - This trail can be ridden in one morning or afternoon. There are a couple of trails that interconnect to make it a little longer. This trail is fast in some areas but peppered with some tight turns and switchbacks which will slow you down considerably but add to the flavor of this trail. You will be riding most of the time under a canopy of ponderosa trees. The trail passes near a large lake which may be used for RV camping. Kayaking and fishing available here.
Distance: 10-15 miles
FLAGSTAFF
Flagstaff Arizona AZ State Map Average Temperatures
This historic town is famous for having one of the major strips of the famous Route 66. Flagstaff is likely the most popular summer escape for Phoenicians along with San Diego. This layback town is quaint with "turn of the century" architecture and beautiful plazas & parks. Very close to downtown is Northern Arizona University which adds a very young population to the town. So, this town has a year-round groovy atmosphere with breweries, cool restaurants and lots of outdoor activities both in the winter and summer.
- Soldier Trail - We highly recommend this trail to get a good workout before riding Mt. Elden the next day. It's perfect to getting your lungs used to the 7,000 ft. (2,100 Mts.) altitude. There's a bicycle route that starts from the city itself. Once at the trailhead, you'll be riding under trees the whole time. The basic mileage is about 10 miles but there are other connecting trails in the park that can bring your total mileage closer to 15 miles.
- Sunrise Trail on Mt. Elden - This trail is sure not to be missed! The first 7 miles, you'll be riding on a very scenic fire road to the top of the mountain close to 9,000 ft. From the bottom, it looks quite intimidating. However, if you're in good cardio shape this road is very doable with a few breaks here and there, especially on the very steep sections. We highly recommend you ride this fire road because the experience of conquering the mountain is so rewarding and it will get you "in flow." However, if you'd like us to shuttle you to the top, no problem! This trail connects seamlessly to Schultz Creek Trail. The first mile on this singletrack is a little technical for a beginner and he/she will be walking a few sections. After that it becomes a very fun trail. The whole loop is the crown jewel of mountain biking in the Flagstaff area and one of the top trails in the entire state. They say pictures say 1,000 words. Well, we have a video that shows what it's like riding this trail. The actual riding is, obviously, a lot more fun. If you have a high speed connection, the downloading shouldn't take long.
Total distance: 16 miles
NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON
Grand Canyon National Park AZ State Map Average Temperatures
The South Rim gets all the major traffic and publicity. However, Grand Canyon connoisseurs head to the North Rim. It just kicks ass compared to the South Rim! The vegetation, the rich scenery and the exposure to wildlife is second to none. In a recent tour to this area, one of our guests said "he felt he was in a safari in Arizona." Very little resources are available in this area and sometimes campgrounds get full. We may do "dry camping" here or stay in one of the campgrounds on Jacob Lake. Also, the only mountain bike trail available in the Grand Canyon is found on the North Rim. We, mountain bikers, feel so happy that the Forest Service decided to build it at this location.
- Rainbow Trail - This may be one of the most scenic mountain bike trails in the entire country. It was completed approx. in 2000, so it has now aged quite nicely. This 18 mile trail is a snake shape. The outer sections face the edge of the Grand Canyon bringing you into fabulous views. The inner sections are deep in the forest with a rich forest (ponderosa, aspens.) You'll will be "ooohing and aaahing" everytime you come around to one of the G.C. views. This trail is suitable for beginners to advanced. The most important factor here is having a good cardio base as the trail is close to 8,000 ft. (2,400 Mts.) elevation. For Summer 2007, we're looking into bringing the RV as close as we can to the trail (dry camping), so you can enjoy a sunrise or sunset at the Grand Canyon.
