A Mountain Trail

The review of 75% average, 25% gnarly is spot on. Highly rocky, this trail will test endurance and perseverance more than anything - but the downhill sections have lots of high-speed high risk sections that advanced riders will enjoy.

I rode this trail after hitting Sedona so I found it quite easy, but I think there's enough there to make it a good training ground for working on technical skills.

Rocky singletrack that deserves the "expert" rating. Plenty of technical stuff for the best of riders....gravel, rocks, ledges, drop offs, ....you name it. Bring your big boy pants.

First off, the directions are out of date. Geothermal Dr now has a gate across it, so if you go that way, you'll be riding on a dirt road for a few miles to get to the trails.
Instead, take University East. The trailhead will be obvious.

As far as the riding, the loop is about 75% not-too-exciting singletrack, and 25% pretty interesting, technical riding. Most of it has a lot of loose rocks, but I've learned to like this type of riding, living in New Mexico. There were some not-very-obvious side loops that I didn't ride.

From the trailhead go straight up the hill for 50 feet or so, then go right, or you'll miss some of the best rocky sections.

I had to check out the top of the mtn., so I started hiking up a very steep wash, only to run into the road 1/2-way. Rode the rest of the way up on the road. Either way you do it, it's a slog. The road is so steep, my front wheel was just floating for a lot of it! There is a gnarly DH trail that comes down. I took the more Northern trail of the two that come off the top near the observatory, on a friend's recommendation. I have to say I walked most of it. There is some serious stuff on there, and if you take a digger, it won't turn out well. It's not even worth trying unless you can do everything around the base loop easily.

After that humbling experience, I went back to the rocky section with the hairpins that starts a bit South of where the DH trail hits the main loop. This is on the West side, on the Northern half of the loops. It was fun working this section up and down, and I got some of my confidence back after a bad crash a couple weeks ago.

Overall, good trails, with some stuff to work on. I'll definitely hit them up next time I'm in town.

First time out on the loop part of the trail and I must say it was a nice trail. Some of the opptional parts are not well marked but nothing a second time around won't fix.Overall a fun trail that will give advansed riders a good workout , and beginners something to work on.

I used to ride this trail every day on my way to Gold's Gym....kind of an indirect route to get into shape...Some singletrack in the foothills, but it gets pretty washed out up near the hill. Watch out for snakes! You can ride a loop around the entire mountain or drop down onto University (or is it dripping springs road) and head back to town. Good trail for some quick sprints