HikeArizona.COM

Picked up my bike from the shop and obtained a map of the Metro Phoenix Area, Bike Ways. I would appreciate any suggestions for recommended trails. I live east of Apache Junction and planning on a weekly ride in the Phoenix Metro area.

Just about anywhere on Trail 100 in the Phx Mtn Precerve. If you havent been on the bike in a while start at the 40th st and Shea (approx) trailhead. Or ride east out of Dreamy Draw Park. Anywhere along the canal would be good for straters too. I guess it depends on how long it's been since you were riding.

GTG

Thanks for the info, I have a street bike and a trail bike. I have been riding, just planning to do more because of the closures. Thought I check out the bike paths in the Phx. area.

Trail Rides -
McDowell Mtns has great trails. The Pemberton is long, but has many side trails that can shorten (or lengthen) your ride. Plus, there are 3 competative loops just past the park entrance...they are almost empty during the week. One loop is for speed, another for technical riding (rocky) and a third that is longer with a combination of both. I enjoy riding at McDowell.

Usery's trails are open to bikes...some are very easy, others (Pass Mtn) are more difficult.

White Tanks has a few mtn bike trails as well.

Staying in the east, the area just West of Usery Mtn (<-- Phoenix sign) is the area at the Northern terminus of Hawes road, here you will find some amazing riding! PM me for more specific info.

For trails, there are several books, in fact, there is a new one out that is HUGE and uses the Nat. Geo. topo software for trail profiles...very informative....the book I use the most is by Cosmic Ray (HAZ member) who is based out of Flag and has a rather off-beat approach to trail descriptions...Cosmic Ray's Fat Tire Tales and Trails Arizona Mountain Trail Guide..it's a fun read also.

I know of some cool areas in the Payson area, but most are closed I believe....I also enjoy just riding down forest roads, but again...closed.

For road riding...I try to avoid anything that does not have a bike lane...Arizona motorists are not very receptive to cyclists. Let me restate that...18-28 year old white males wearing wife beaters and mulletts driving Ford and Chevy pick-ups with oversized tires (are we compensating for something?) while chewing tobacco and reloading are not too receptive to cyclists...that being said, there is a great loop that runs down Power to where it becomes Bush, then turn right on Usery Pass Road/Ellsworth and start climbing!

A great place to spin is in the Los Sendas (sp) neighborhood on North Power...hilly...wide roads...desert...enourmous houses!

Two popular road rides for weekday rides is out Apache Trail to where the pavement ends (Tortilla Flat) or out Power to Bush to Apache Lake and back....but again...avoid these areas afterwork or on the weekend, as the aforementioned Arizona motorists are abundent, and towing huge boats!

let me know if you would like some more suggestions....

ck1 wrote:Staying in the east, the area just West of Usery Mtn (<-- Phoenix sign) is the area at the Northern terminus of Hawes road, here you will find some amazing riding! PM me for more specific info.

Yup, that's a good spot and you can continue across Power to connect to the TRW trails as well.

-Nealz

rather than start a new post, thought i'd resurrect this ancient one
just bought a trek 7.3 fx a couple weeks ago and love riding it
it's good on the canals and any bike path; i rarely ride in the street
anyway, thought i'd share a few things i've found recently, and see if those of you who bike have additional updates

1. the piece of the greenbelt on the west side of hayden between chapparal and jackrabbit is finished, and the tunnel under chapparel is finished but wasn't open a week ago - eliminates three stoplights

2. there is a new tunnel under 70th street on the arizona canal (south side of canal along indian school)

3. there is a new bike path almost finished (i poached it this afternoon) between the NE corner of curry and mill by the frisbee golf course and canal park - very nice

I was riding the area about a month ago was wondering when it would be completed, enjoy your bike.

If I ever end up spending time at my place in Flagstaff when it's actually warm, I am going to ride around on all the urban trails. I keep thinking about moving to Cottonwood, though. I am SO TIRED of high country winters. To heck with skiing! I would rather be hiking and biking. That notion is heresy in Flagstaff, though, where the #1 topic of conversation in winter is skiing. And you can tell how many really poor people live there, too, since they ride their bikes all winter. Ugh. Been there, done that. To heck with being green, and to heck with skiing.

Have some friends riding out of Flag this weekend, road bike riding to Mormon Lake in the morning and afternoon ride depending on the weather. Working this weekend otherwise I would join them. If I went I would road bike in the morning, mtn. bike in the afternoon followed by a evening/night hike. I have stayed in Cottonwood and road biked and mtn biked the area. The mtn bike trails were ok.