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Mountain Biking Around Flagstaff

story and photos by Bruce Grubbs

Found in: | Outside | Biking | Mountain Biking |

Riders visiting Flagstaff will quickly discover the wide variety of mountain biking in the surrounding Coconino National Forest. From easy, rolling doubletrack on the forest road system, to technical singletrack on the Mount Elden Trail System - all coupled with great mountain scenery, Flag has it all.
The Little Bear Loop is a primo ride without too much technical difficulty. This ride uses the Sunset and Little Bear Trails to loop over the Dry Lake Hills and Mount Elden. From downtown Flagstaff at the junction of US 180 and Route 66, drive 3.2 miles north on US 180, then turn right on Schultz Pass Road. After 5 miles, park at the Sunset Trailhead, on the right. Ride east on the Sunset Trail, passing Schultz Tank and the Little Elden Spring Trail. After the junction, follow the Sunset Trail up a drainage through a fine stand of ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and quaking aspen. You'll have a great view from the top of a ridge, 1.5 miles from the trailhead. From here, the Sunset Trail descends 0.2 miles to the Brookbank Trail. Hang a sharp left here to stay on the Sunset Trail After another 0.3 miles you'll roll into a fine alpine meadow in the saddle between the Dry Lake Hills and Mount Elden. Go left onto the Little Bear Trail and descend the northeast slopes of the mountain in several switchbacks. At the bottom of the descent, turn left on the Little Elden Spring Trail, and ride 2.8 miles up a gentle climb to the Sunset Trail. Turn right and ride 0.3 miles to the Sunset Trailhead.
Other great singletrack rides in the Mount Elden Trail System include the more technical Rocky Ridge Trail and the steep Brookbank Trail. If you want something less challenging, check out the section of the Arizona Trail along the rim of Walnut Canyon. And a forest map will show you hundreds of miles of doubletrack. A classic doubletrack ride is the old stage road from Flagstaff to Grand Canyon, a distance of 80 miles. Even in 1890, Flagstaff cyclists were beating the stagecoaches!
All of the trails are shared with hikers and equestrians. Remember to ride with courtesy, warn hikers of your approach, and yield the right of way, especially to horses.

Bruce Grubbs he is an active outdoor writer and and photographer with 20 books in print. His "day job" is flying air charters. His web site is brucegrubbs.com.