This is how I rate mountain biking trails. It may differ from other ratings you’ve seen, but it seems to work for me and you can keep it in mind as you’re reading posts on trails. I also use my ten-year-old daughter as a gauge. She is NOT a great bike rider.
I rate each trail for its technical elements, elevation gain, length and degree of danger. I will also put a + or – on some trails if they are between ratings. Each trail should have specifics on why it’s rated as such.
Trail Ratings: (rated 1 through 5):
1 = Easy. This is a wide, dedicated bike path (paved or hard packed dirt) without any significant obstacles or hills, is relatively short and not dangerous. My ten-year-old daughter can do this without any problems. Example: paved bike paths, smooth dirt paths around parks.
2 = Beginner. A fairly wide dirt trail with small obstacles (ruts, small rocks, tree roots). It can contain some hills that can cause you to breathe hard. It does not contain any dangerous portions. My ten-year-old daughter can do this, though she may have to walk her bike around
some obstacles and up some of the steeper grades. Example: Sedona’s Bell Rock Bike Path.
3 = Medium. A narrow dirt trail that precision steering is required to navigate through rocks and cacti. Most obstacles (medium rocks, hills, etc.) can be ridden by riders with some experience. Hills can be steep and elevation gain considerable (riders not in the best of shape may need frequent rests). A few “dangerous” spots (greater than five foot dropoffs near the trail) may be encountered. My ten-year-old will do considerable walking and be scared in a few sections. Examples: 24-hour trail, the Chutes.
4 = Difficult. A narrow trail littered with large obstacles, steep, long grades. Experience is required. May include some large portions of “hike-a-bike” except for those very advanced riders. High dropoffs where, if you fall, broken bones are likely can be encountered. I won’t take my ten-year-old on these. This is my limit. I walk my bike around the difficult sections of these trails. Examples: The boulders and parts of Templeton trail in Sedona.
5 = Very difficult. Crazy obstacles, vertical drops, steep grades, long distances, high-degree of danger. I don’t do these trails. Examples: I don’t even want to know. I’m a wuss.
