The Boulders

Tough uphill Climbs

The Boulders is a spur trail off the Chutes which might satisfy even the most advanced rider. It’s a short, but technically challenging trail with a tough uphill and a really fun downhill section. And, it’s got lots of boulders to play on, but I guess you probably figured that out from the name. Finally, you get awesome views when you reach the top of the trail. It’s just a great ride all around.

The information from this blog has been moved to the Experience Arizona website at: http://www.experience-az.com/adventures/bike/theboulders/theboulders.html

The Experience Arizona website has a lot more than the adventures contained in this blog:
- Interactive maps
- Weather
- To Do List
- Updated information
- Information on Arizona wildlife, plantlife and history
- Online magazine
- All for FREE!

Take a look, you'll be glad you did!

The Chutes

Riding the 50-year trail


This is an awesome trail just north of Tucson. It’s part of the 50-year trail system and gets its name from a portion of the trail which is shaped like a chute or bobsled track.


The information from this blog has been moved to the Experience Arizona website at: http://www.experience-az.com/adventures/bike/thechutes/thechutes.html

The Experience Arizona website has a lot more than the adventures contained in this blog:
- Interactive maps
- Weather
- To Do List
- Updated information
- Information on Arizona wildlife, plantlife and history
- Online magazine
- All for FREE!

Take a look, you'll be glad you did!

The 24-hour Trail

This is one of my favorite bike trails around Tucson. It’s located north of Tucson between Catalina and Oracle and gets its name from a big race that’s held there every mid-February. These INSANE mountain bikers race for 24 hours. Some do it alone, some with a team.

The information from this blog has been moved to the Experience Arizona website at: http://www.experience-az.com/adventures/bike/24hr/twentyfourhourtrail.html

The Experience Arizona website has a lot more than the adventures contained in this blog:
- Interactive maps
- Weather
- To Do List
- Updated information
- Information on Arizona wildlife, plantlife and history
- Online magazine
- All for FREE!

Take a look, you'll be glad you did!

Arizona Adventurer’s Mountain Biking Rating System

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.