When our kids were in second and third grade, my husband surprised all of us with mountain bikes for Christmas. Riding the trails changed my perception of Arizona from “Where is the greenery?” to “WOW! This place is amazing!” The enchanting beauty of the Sonoran Desert is more readily available on a mountain bike that allows one to get 10-15 miles on the trails in a couple of hours.
If you’ve never tried riding the trails, there are several groups that offer guided tours of some of the local trails including Wild Bunch Desert Guides, REI Co-op Adventures, Mad Desert Trekking, and Dukout Adventures. If you’re an experienced rider without a bike at the moment (they can be expensive), you can rent bikes locally from REI Co-op Adventures, Airpark Bike Co., or Bicycle Ranch, among others. Trails in the area are rocky, so padded bike shorts are strongly recommended! Helmets, plenty of water, food, and extra clothing are always a must.
If you’ve ridden before, but haven’t checked out the trails in this area, the MTB (mountain bike) Project provides great descriptions and reviews of the local Scottsdale and Phoenix area trails as well as trails around Arizona, the nation, and the world! Our favorite local trails are at Brown’s Ranch and Tom’s Thumb Trails in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve (free of charge) and at the McDowell Mountain Regional Park where the fees are nominal. (The park is well worth supporting.) In the MMRP, we particularly appreciate the Pemberton Trail Loop.
Experience the Grand Canyon this Holiday Season
