Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Mountain bike Trail Guide comparison






I enjoy planing my next trip almost as much as taking it. So, I spend a lot of time reading trail descriptions, looking at maps etc, both online as well as the traditional 'book' reading. I love trail guides and four of my favorite mountain bike guides for this region are shown in the photos.

The guides have also had a big impact on my site Fat-Tire.net. Cosmic Rays rating systems and vernacular are commonly utilized by Arizona Mountain bikes.

The guides I read most to least are:

1."Fat Tire trails and tales" by Cosmic Ray. This book is the mountain bikers bible for the state of Arizona. Everyone has an edition. The maps are hand drawn, and the writing is as colorful as the cartoons on the cover.  I have given copies of all Cosmic Ray's books to my Nephew as presents. The kids love the cartoons and maps as much as the adults. The crew at the Slippery Pig bike shop said they like the glossary section the best. Ray changes the book about every other year. I asked him why he doesn't just include all the trails in one big edition. Ray said that he likes to keep it small enough to be a true trail guide. I guess he has a point, look at how well worn this book is in relation to my other guides.

2. "Mountain Bike America - Arizona" by Paul Beakley. Paul's done a great job with this book.  However, I have heard complaints by those about it's large size. No problem for me, as I will take a map and compass or gps instead of any of these books when on a new trail.

3. "The Mountain Bikers Guide to Arizona" by Sarah Bennett. This book was already outdated when I bought it back in 2000. It reads as much like a journal than a trail guide. A different perspective. A young woman discovering the trails for the first time on a fully ridged bike. Some of the trails no longer exist. Still, it's fun trying to find the remnants of a lost trail like 'Goldfield' trail in the McDowell mountain park.

4. "Mountain Biking Phoenix" by Bruce Grubs. This one is a true pocket guide. Look at the size. No fluff, just facts. I own hiking books by this author and you can tell he made an effort to edit himself. Still, how can this be a Phoenix guide without any reference to the Hawes - Red Mountain trail? A lot of Payson trails listed. No trails other than  Trail 100 are listed from the Phoenix mountain preserve.


October trails in season


October is one of the two months where all trails in the entire state are considered prime season for mountain biking.


Trail
Area
State
Effort
skill
Primo
Verde Hot Springs
Camp Verde
Arizona
Long Ride
Advanced

Pinery Canyon Loop
Chiracahua
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Silver Peak Loop
Chiracahua
Arizona
Easy
Beginner

WhiteTail Creek
Chiracahua
Arizona
Tough
intermediate

Thumper Trail Loop (dead horse park)
Cottonwood
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Mingus Mountain
Cottonwood - Jerome
Arizona
All Downhill
XX Expert

Around the Peaks (cosmic soulstice race loop)
Flagstaff
Arizona
Fairly Tough
Beginner

AZ trail to Walnut Canyon
Flagstaff
Arizona
Hard Ride
advanced

Dry lake hills loop
Flagstaff
Arizona
Hard Work
Expert

Elden Loop
Flagstaff
Arizona
Biblical
Expert

Fisher Point
Flagstaff
Arizona
Comfortable
Beginner

Lava Cave and Wing Mtn
Flagstaff
Arizona
Easy
Intermediate

Little Bear Loop
Flagstaff
Arizona
Serious Climb
Advanced

Lower Oldham trails
Flagstaff
Arizona
No Sweat
Beginner

Nordic Center
Flagstaff
Arizona
Easy to Medium
Beginner

Observatory Mesa
Flagstaff
Arizona
Weenie ride
Beginner

Rocky Ridge Trail
Flagstaff
Arizona
Hard fun work
Expert

Soldiers Trail Loop
Flagstaff
Arizona
Easy
Beginner

Sunset Trail Loop
Flagstaff
Arizona
Long Climb
Expert

Upper Oldham trails
Flagstaff
Arizona
Heinous climb
Expert

Waterline Road
Flagstaff
Arizona
Long Climb
Advanced

Flag to Grand Canyon
Flagstaff - Grand Canyon
Arizona
Long Easy Ride
Beginner

Flagstaff to Sedona
Flagstaff - Sedona
Arizona
long ride
Advanced

Six Shooter Canyon
Globe
Arizona
no whiners
XX Expert

Crazy Jug Point
Grand Canyon
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Pt. Sublime
Grand Canyon
Arizona
Very Long Ride
Beginner

Rainbow Rim
Grand Canyon
Arizona
hard work
Beginner

Tiyo Point
Grand Canyon
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Greene Haven Slickrock
Greene Haven
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Arizona Trail
Jacob Lake to Patagonia
Arizona
Long ride
Expert

Badger Trail
Kingman
Arizona
difficult
Advanced

Camp Beale Loop
Kingman
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Moss Wash Mines
Kingman
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Slaughterhouse Canyon
Kingman
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Valley Drive
Monument Valley
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Page rimview trail
Page
Arizona
Easy
Beginner

Patagonia Ghost towns loop
Patagonia
Arizona
long ride
Novice

260 loop - HiLine Trail
Payson
Arizona
tough
Advanced

Cypress Thicket
Payson
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Doll Baby Ranch
Payson
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

El Oso rd
Payson
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

Houston Mesa
Payson
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Little Pine Flat
Payson
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

mt peely road
Payson
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

Rock Creek
Payson
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Slate Creek Divide
Payson
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

Willow Springs Lake
Payson - Heber
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Strawberry Mtn
Payson - Pine
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Alta trail - Soutn Mountain
Phoenix
Arizona
Tough
Expert

Black Canyon Trail System
Phoenix
Arizona
Long ride
Advanced

Bulldog Canyon - Goldfield mtns
Phoenix
Arizona
moderate
intermediate

Coast to Coast - South Mountain
Phoenix
Arizona
Very Tough
xxx expert

DESERT CLASSIC - South Mountain
Phoenix
Arizona
Moderate
Advanced

Double Bypass - McDowell mtn preserve
Phoenix
Arizona
tough
Advanced

FINS (Fantasy Island North Singletrack)
Phoenix
Arizona
Moderate
Advanced

Helipad tt
Phoenix
Arizona
tough
climb

National Trail - south mountain
Phoenix
Arizona
severe
Expert

Papago Park
Phoenix
Arizona
Easy
Beginner

Phoenix Canals
Phoenix
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Phoenix Mtns Secret Trails
Phoenix
Arizona
All
All

Phoenix mtns trail 100
Phoenix
Arizona
very hard work
expert

Phoenix Mtns Trail 1A
Phoenix
Arizona
Tough
Expert

Phoenix mtns trail 8
Phoenix
Arizona
moderate
Advanced

Ridgeline Loops - South Mountain
Phoenix
Arizona
tough
Expert

Apache Trail
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

Lost Duchman trail loops
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Lost Goldmine Trail
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
Moderate
Advanced

Queen Creek
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Silly Mtn
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

White Canyon
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
Tough
Intermediate

Woodbury Rd
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
Tough
Intermediate

Devils Hole
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

hombolt mtn
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
difficult
Intermediate

new River Headwaters
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

New River Mesa
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
easy
Beginner

New River West
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
moderate
advanced

Sheep Bridge
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Trail 4 - cave creek trail - Seven Springs
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
Difficult
Expert

Casa Grande Mtn
Phoenix - Casa Grande
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Area 52
Phoenix - Florence
Arizona
tough
Advanced

Thunderbird park h1 - h5
Phoenix - Glendale
Arizona
easy
intermediate

Estrella Mtn Park (race loops)
Phoenix - Goodyear
Arizona
Good Workout
Advanced

Margies Cove
Phoenix - Goodyear
Arizona
Easy
Beginner

Blevins Loop - Usery park
Phoenix - Mesa
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Cottonwood Camp
Phoenix - Mesa
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

four peaks
Phoenix - Mesa
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

Hawes rd - red mountain
Phoenix - Mesa
Arizona
tough
advanced

Moon Rock Loop - Usery park
Phoenix - Mesa
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Usery Pass
Phoenix - Mesa
Arizona
No Sweat
Advanced

White Tank Mountains Goat Camp Loop
Phoenix - Peoria
Arizona
Tough
Expert

White Tank Mountains Sonoran Loop
Phoenix - Peoria
Arizona
Easy
Beginner

San Tan Loops
Phoenix - Queen Creek
Arizona
moderate
Beginner

Cave Creek
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
Heap O work
Advanced

Dynamite and Pima
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
Not too tough
Intermediate

McDowell mts Pemberton Trail
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
moderate
Beginner

McDowell mts Race Loops
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
race pace
Advanced

Sonoran Mtn Preserve
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
Tough
Intermediate

Toms Thumb
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
Tough
Advanced

Union Hills Loop
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
Long Ride
Beginner

Granite Basin Loops
Prescott
Arizona
easy to difficult
Advanced

Lynx Lake Loop
Prescott
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Peavine trail
Prescott
Arizona
Easy
Beginner

Spruce Mtn
Prescott
Arizona
what goes up
Advanced

Thumb Butte Loops
Prescott
Arizona
nothing too tough
All levels

White Rock loop trails
Prescott
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Wolf Creek Loop
Prescott
Arizona
Fairly Easy
Beginner

Yankee Doodle trail
Prescott
Arizona
Tough
Advanced

Cunningham and Grant Hill Loops
Safford - Mt. Graham
Arizona
High Altitude work
Intermediate

Airport Mesa Loop
Sedona
Arizona
Pretty tough
XXX Expert

Bell Rock Loops
Sedona
Arizona
fairly easy
Beginner

Boyton Pass
Sedona
Arizona
Long easy roll
Beginner

Cathederal Rock Loop
Sedona
Arizona
Moderate
Advanced

CocksCOMB LOOP
Sedona
Arizona
medium work
Beginner

Deadmans Pass Loop
Sedona
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Dry Creek
Sedona
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Huckaby Loop
Sedona
Arizona
Hard
Expert

Llama Trail Loop
Sedona
Arizona
Hard
Expert

Robbers Roost
Sedona
Arizona
easy as pie
Beginner

schnebly hill trails
Sedona
Arizona
a good sweat
Intermediate

Secret Trails
Sedona
Arizona
tough
Advanced

Submarine Rock Loop
Sedona
Arizona
hard work
Expert

Brown Canyon Loop
Sierra Vista
Arizona
moderate
Beginner

Carr Canyon Loop
Sierra Vista
Arizona
Fairly tough
Advanced

50 Year trail (the chutes)
Tucson
Arizona
A good sweat
Advanced

Butterfly Trail
Tucson
Arizona
hard work
Expert

Chiva Falls
Tucson
Arizona
tough
Expert

Cobre Ridge
Tucson
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Crystal Spring Trail
Tucson
Arizona
fairly hard
Advanced

Elephant Head
Tucson
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

Fantasy Island
Tucson
Arizona
easy
all levels

La Milagrosa
Tucson
Arizona
tough
xxx expert

Molino Basin
Tucson
Arizona
tough
Advanced

Peppersauce Loop
Tucson
Arizona
severe
Expert

Saguaro National Monument East
Tucson
Arizona
Fairly Easy
Beginner

Samaniego Ridge
Tucson
Arizona
Long Hard Ride
Advanced

Starr Pass - Yetman wash
Tucson
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Sweetwater Preserve
Tucson
Arizona
Fairly Easy
Beginner

the Tortolitas
Tucson
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Tucson Mnts
Tucson
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Kentucky Camp Ghost Town
Tucson - Sonoita
Arizona
High Altitude work
Advanced

Blue Ridge Trail #107
White Mtns
Arizona
Advanced
Advanced

Country Club Trail #632
White Mtns
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Country Club/Los Burros Connector Trail #631A
White Mtns
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Hannigan Meadow
White Mtns
Arizona
Easy
Beginner

Ice Cave Trail #608 ( Blue Ridge Cave Trail)
White Mtns
Arizona
moderate
advanced

Panorama Trail #635 ( Porter Mountain Trail)
White Mtns
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

South Fork Trail
White Mtns
Arizona
Tough
Advanced

Timber Mesa Trail #636
White Mtns
Arizona
moderate
Advanced

Luna Lake Upper Loop
White Mtns - Alpine
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Terry Flat Loop
White Mtns - Alpine
Arizona
Moderate
Beginner

Los Burros loop 631
White Mtns - Show Low
Arizona
not too tough
intermdiate

Bill Williams Mountain
Williams
Arizona
Not too tough
Intermediate

Sucamore Rim Loop
Williams
Arizona
not for wimps
Intermediate

Gila Mountain
Yuma
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Martys Ridge to Liberty Bell
Yuma
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Lower Rock Creek Trail
Bishop
California
Moderate
Advanced

Gabrielino Trail
Los Angeles
California
moderate
Advanced

Borrego dessert state park
San Diego
California
moderate
intermediate

Florida Canyon
San Diego
California
Easy
Beginner

Miners Ridge Trail
San Diego
California
Good Workout
Intermediate

Sun Devil way
San Diego
California
good workout
all levels

Anderson truck trail
San Diego - Alpine
California
Tough
Expert

Marys Loop
Fruita
Colorado
Moderate
Intermediate

Munro trail
Lanai
Hawaii
tough
intermediate

Secret Trails
Maui
Hawaii
moderate
Intermediate

Mt Haleakala
Maui - Kula Forrest preserve
Hawaii
Tough
Expert

Kaaawa Valley
Oahu
Hawaii
Moderate
Beginner

Canfield mtn
Coeur d alene
Idaho
Fairly Easy
Intermediate

Fischer Creek Trail
Stanley
Idaho
Fairly Tough
Intermediate

Bad Tom / Cranky Gulch
Wallace
Idaho
?
?

Upper Glidden Lake
Wallace
Idaho
?
?

B & A trail
Baltimore - Annapolis
MD
Easy
Beginner

Lake Tahoe Rim Trail - Flume trail section
Lake Tahoe
Nevada
tough
Advanced

Windsor Trail;
Sante Fe
New Mexico



Amole Canyon
Taos
New Mexico
Easy
Beginner

Thun trail
Birdsboro - Pottstown
Penns
Easy
Beginner

French Creek st park
Philidelphia - Reading
Penns
moderate
Intermediate

Marsh Creek St park
Philidelphia -Exton
Penns
Tough
Intermediate

Springton Manor Farms
Philidelphia -W Chester
Penns
Easy
Beginner

Mickelson Trail
Deadwood
SDakota
Long ride
Beginner

Lambert park
Alpine
Utah
moderate
all levels

Thunder mtn
Bryce Canyon
Utah
moderate
advanced

Baby steps
Moab
Utah
moderate
Advanced

Porcupine Rim
Moab
Utah
Tough
Advanced

Slickrock trail
Moab
Utah
difficult
Expert

Sovereign Trail
Moab
Utah
intermediate
intermediate

BST - Bonneville Shoreline Trail
Salt Lake City
Utah
Tough
Intermediate

Gooseberry Mesa
Zion
Utah
Moderat
Intermediate

Little Creek
Zion - St. George -Hurricane
Utah
tough
Advanced

Galbraith Mtn
Bellingham
Washington
all levels
All levels

Greenline #6
Olympia
Washington
Tough
Expert

Cranberry Lake
Seattle - Anacortes
Washington
moderate
Intermediate

Whistle Lake
Seattle - Anacortes
Washington
Difficult
Expert

Japanese Gulch
Seattle - Mukilteo
Washington
moderate
Intermediate


2 comments:

  1. Also check out some of the hiking trail books. They have alot of awesome trails that are not in the bike trail books. Also check out The Arizona State Trails Guide is a geographically comprehensive set of trails in Arizona that provide trail descriptions and locations to 550 trails in the state. These are trails that have been accepted into the Arizona State Trails System,
    http://www.pr.state.az.us/Giftshop/09_trailguide.html
    See you on the trails Darren........

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mountain bike clubs and associations are now formed so all the mountain bikers can be updated with their rides. Also, mountain biking trails in different states have been developed to meet the demands of mountain biking enthusiasts.

    Biking in Zion Canyon

    ReplyDelete