Mrs. Rockman and I are hoping to ride while our kids are at a swim camp at Yavapai College this upcoming Sat. (April 21). It's with great chagrin that I admit to not having ridden in Prescott since Spruce Mtn (trail 307) in 1994. I hope to rectify that.
While I like chunk, wifey hasn't been on the bike much this winter/spring so something fast and flowy with moderate climbing might be the order of the day. And it will be peak time on what looks to be a beautiful sat so lots of folks (and horses?) will be out. We've got a 4 hour window with drive time from the College so all things considered, does anyone have a good loop recommendation for a 2-3 hour ride.
Granite Basin is close and seems like the ticket but I presume it will also be busy on a Sat and all the trail #s are a bit overwhelming. Iron Springs Rd? Trail 40? Any info appreciated and if anyone wants to ride we're shooting for noon at the latest.
I would check out Trail 305. Fast, flowy, good climbing, and it's beautiful.
Wife and I rode there for the first time weekend before last and we both loved it.
Here's a video I made on the 305:
The Granite Dells are also pretty freaking sweet. We rode there the day after 305. It is chunky goodness for sure, but there was a LOT that my wife wouldn't ride and she's a good rider. There was even quite a bit that I couldn't ride, despite trying... and the trails are relatively short, separated by the rails-to-trails, but it's worth the trip if you ever make it out there.
My personal favorite is Granite Basin. It is fun, fast, and flowey. I feel that it is spouse friendly as well. The views are great, and there is a nice picturesque lake at the end.
Lot of hike-a bike on 62/299. Not that that's a bad thing, but for a "haven't ridden Prescott since 1994" ride, it wouldn't be my first choice. You could ride out 305 and up 297 and just turn around when you run out of time. I normally prefer loops to out/back rides but 305/297 is all good.
Or park at the lot where 332 crosses Iron Springs road. Get a short warm-up on the road & take 37 to 40 into Granite Basin. Pick whatever trails you want in GB and head back 332 when you're done.
Lots of options towards Thumb Butte too but it will probably be full of Whiskey pre-riders on Saturday.
If 345 and 347 are worthy of addition that would make a ~12 mile loop which would be about perfect. Thanks again for all the recommendations guys. Prescott has a lot more trails than I thought. I guess I'm just another Flagstaff snob that can't seem to make it further south than Sedona
My vote is for 332 starting from either Iron Springs Road or Granite Basin Road. Drop into the basin on this trail and choose your way out (they're all fun).
There's a ton of great riding and, in all honesty, not a lot of trail congestion, even on the weekend. Thumb Butte will be the busiest.
PointerD, thanks for the recommendation! I'm having a hard time locating 305 on the map link I posted above.
The Dells look tempting and unlike anything we normally ride in Flagstaff or Sedona. I had assumed much of it was general freeriding on granite but it appears there is an organized trail system with perhaps some offroute fun to be had?
My recommendation would be to save on gas and ride in Flagstaff or if the trails in the walnut Canyon area are still snow covered come down to Sedona and I will take your wife for a cool ride while you go ride Something Special.
I assure you she will have a great ride and she will put a smile on your face after our ride.
My recommendation would be to save on gas and ride in Flagstaff or if the trails in the walnut Canyon area are still snow covered come down to Sedona and I will take your wife for a cool ride while you go ride Something Special.
I assure you she will have a great ride and she will put a smile on your face after our ride.
TD
305 is a good choice and fairly close to the college but it is basically and out and back. You can extend it by crossing Walker Road at the top and hitting Smith Ravine. 396 is also a good choice and you can hit Wolverton across the street to add some more miles. Both have moderate climbing. Granite Basin is maybe a little easier when it comes to climbing. Lots of loops there.
I'm leaning toward Granite Basin based on the recommendations. Thanks all and especially regarding the HAB on 62. :thumbsup: We can't be late and have two kids hangout out at the College so whatever we do it's got to be done in less than 3 hours. That, and 305 appears to be a lot like the riding in Flagstaff. Lots of rolling trail in P-pine. So, something a bit different will be nice as well.
We might camp and bring the kid's bikes so I might be able to hit the Dells "trail system" on Sun but figuring out how to hit one of the DH trails on Munds might be interesting since I'll have a built-in shuttle.
I've been wanting to get to the Dells for a while now. Can someone post the directions or is anyone in Prescott willing to show a couple of 'Chunk Hacks' around? We would be coming up tomorrow morning.
I could do sunday AM. Ya I know that doesnt help. There are maps all over Ptown that shows all the trails in the Dells (depends on date of print). Have fun.
Everything went according to plan. Got in a little over two hours in Granite Basin and back with 10 min to spare. Encountered two other bikers, a boy scout troop, and one equestrian. I can't say I was too enamored with trail #37 but 40 sure is a fun payoff. Played around on some of the other trails and then back out on 332.
The Prescott map is appropriately priced at $1 because it's only good for one ride before it's in pieces.
One thing is for sure. AZ has an amazing diversity of trails. We'll be back to sample more and thanks again for the info:thumbsup:
And just to come full circle and put closure on this thread here's a pic of Arizona's own Misty Hyman talking about her gold medal swim in the 2000 Olympics to a bunch of future Olympians. In life or the pool. It was pretty cool to see the kids super psyched to meet two decorated swimmers of that calibre and then get to spend some time in the pool with them.
Glad it went well. I love me some Granite Mountain; I'm headed there tomorrow with the wife and her friend. Lots of hardtail and full-rigid 29'ers are ridden around here and that's what we'll all be riding tomorrow. Rockman, did you start 332 frrom Granite Basin Road or Iron Springs Road? They're both lots of fun. And, yes, those maps are definitely worth only a dollar. I've gone through 3 or 4 of those things.
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