Meet in the Phoenix area and hit the dirt
Our trip begins today in the Phoenix area. After introductions, we load into the van and head out to our desert camp where your guide team have set up your tents and prepped a home away from home for the next four days of adventure. Once in camp our guides conduct an orientation, basic bike fitting, and then we're off! We wind our way through granite boulders and cactus-covered hills into the vast desert below the McDowell Mountain Range. Today's ride is curated so that you get a chance to warm up your legs, adjust to your bike, and smile ear to ear as you wind through desert single track. At our private campsite, our guides prepare dinner while we freshen up and enjoy a colorful Arizona sunset behind Thompson Peak. Lunch and dinner included.
All Riders: Enjoy the day getting your legs beneath you and learning how to ride the trails of the Sonoran Desert: no slippery logs, no trees to dodge, no boulders to navigate; just sweet, smooth rollercoaster riding through the vast, open landscape. For beginners, use this time to brush up on some basic handling skills that you'll polish over the next few days.
Mountain Biking: 11.5 miles; Elevation Gain/Loss: +530' / -540'; Van Transfer: 1 hour
Mountain bike the spectacular Pemberton Trail
At sunrise, the smell of fresh-brewed coffee fills the air followed by a hearty breakfast. After fueling up, we ride from camp to explore McDowell Mountain Regional Park. Bordered by Tonto National Forest to the east and the McDowell Mountains to the west, the park allows for unobstructed views into several mountain ranges from our basecamp and trails. The Pemberton Loop is known for its cross-country flair, sprawling over 14 miles with quick, fun sections, and slower, more scenic sections. We'll complete a full loop today, enjoying famously smooth, compacted trails. Our guides will shuttle us to the main campground for showers before dinner. All meals included.
Beginner / Intermediate Rider: The Pemberton Trail is one of the most well-respected trails in the state, covering a wide variety of terrain including several washes, dips, short climbs, and curves to navigate. Those looking for some time in their boots, can spend the afternoon hiking directly from camp up nearby Lousley Hill, or exploring the park or the visitor's center's reptile display.
Mountain Biking: 19 miles; Elevation Gain/Loss: +1039' / -1039'
Advanced Rider: Challenge yourself on a spur trail that grinds up to Bell Pass for incredible views of Phoenix and a quick, ripping downhill to rejoin the group on the Pemberton Trail.
Mountain Biking: 26 miles; Elevation Gain/Loss: +2110' / -2110'
Rough granite boulders and smooth flowing singletrack
After waking in the cool desert stillness, we begin our day with a guide prepared breakfast before transferring to Brown's Ranch in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a true mountain biker's oasis. Today's trails are specifically designed for mountain bikers to create smooth, rolling twist and turns. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is filled with diversity and for many, today is the highlight of the trip. We'll ride as a group on groomed desert singletrack with gradual grades and fun, banked turns. Today will end with that desert grit in your teeth that can only come from mile-wide trail smiles. Along the way, we take in views of the "mini" mountains located in the preserve, including Brown's Mountain, Cholla Mountain, and Granite Mountain, all with very distinct geological characteristics. As we glide through the desert landscape, we savor the sun's warmth and the beauty of our surroundings. All meals included.
Beginner / Intermediate Rider: Today's mileage and difficulty is completely in your hands, with your guides there to advise and assist.
Mountain Biking: 11.8 miles; Elevation Gain/Loss: +570' / -568'; Van transfer: 1 hour
Advanced Rider: We'll ride the maze-like curves of Brown's Ranch together, with off-shoot options for those willing to hit some technical granite slab riding or some big ascents. Advanced riders can challenge themselves to technical features on the Diablo Loops or conquer their fitness goals by climbing Brown's Mountain and logging big miles.Mountain Biking: 21 miles; Elevation Gain/Loss: +995' / -999'; Van transfer: 1 hour
Ride famous unidirectional race loops at your own speed
We get an early start today, jumping back in the saddle for our final ride in the dirt. We'll ride as a group on velvety desert singletrack from camp to a unique set of trails called the Competition Loops. The trails are bordered with diverse desert flora and views of towering Saguaro cactus, giant sentries found only in the Sonoran Desert. Watch for the state bird, the Cactus Wren, or even a Red Tail Hawk while you carve out your final memories on the unforgettable trails of Arizona. After lunch, we load up and return to the Phoenix area where we bid farewell to the Saguaro, the dusty trail, and our newly found friends. Breakfast and lunch included.
Beginner / Intermediate Rider: These one-way singletrack trails were designed for beginner and immediate riders to fine-tune their skills at a level of their own choosing, while offering fun, intricate loops that can be customized to the rider. We'll also hit the Pump Track, where your guide can give you indispensable pointers to flowing with your bike and the trail.
Mountain Biking: 10 miles; Elevation Gain/Loss: +681' / -737'; Van transfer: 1 hour
Advanced Rider: Originally built to serve as the home for the Cactus Cup, bike manufacturers contributed resources to develop professionally hand-crafted one-way loop trails specifically for mountain bikers at the Competitive Track. Flowing through the Sport and Technical Loops, we'll have a blast fine-tuning our skills on the twisting trails, turning berms, dips, jumps, and straightaways that are sure to get our adrenaline pumping and spirits soaring.
Mountain Biking: 13 miles; Elevation Gain/Loss: +980' / -1037'; Van transfer: 1 hour