Rainbow Valley/Estrella competitive and other questions

[ty666]

does anyone know anything about Rainbow Valley or the Estrella competitive track and if it is any good to hike?? no one has posted a summary of the trails yet... I am looking for some good hiking trails in the Phoenix Valley area or surrounding the Phoenix valley area that isnt too far away... I have heard that camelback mountain and piestewa peak are good mountains but hear that they are super busy and parking is limited... so I dont know about them yet... dont want to fight all of the people there unless there is a time my wife and I can go when there is few people! This would greatly help me out as weve never hiked in the Phoenix valley before!

Tyler

[joebartels]

The area is fair, personally I think it's better mountain biking then hiking terrain.
anyhow...

Rainbow area
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=577&EXT=T
or
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=105

Competitive Track
http://hikearizona.com/photocodeZOOM.php?ID=1154

[mtnbike480]

Joe, those picture look really cool. I was trying to follow your directions from the trailhead on the map you provided but it's a little difficult considering Rock Knob trail isn't listed on the Map. I'd like to try the try the trail you were on, could you please describe the route again using the mileage between each junction as well?

Thanks,
Matt

[joebartels]

Hey Matt,

I updated the page with another map
http://hikearizona.com/images/maps/phx/rockknob.jpg

[mtnbike480]

Thanks Joe, one more question...do you think Rock Knob then back on Rainbow could accomadate mountain biking. You mentioned there isn't much elevation gain so I was thinking of trying that.

[joebartels]

It's pretty easy rolling hills like Papago or the Charles M. Christiansen Trail #100 in the Phoenix Preserves. Nothing like the inclines on South Mountain.