The Best Parks For Mountain Biking In Arizona

Arizona has plenty to offer for sports and outdoors enthusiasts, so it’s no wonder that it’s constantly among the most visited states in America.

The Copper State is one of the warmest regions in the world. Many folks who live in cold parts of Canada or the United States love traveling to Arizona during the winter, since the weather here is a lot calmer and warmer year round.

The state of Arizona offers plenty of beautiful golf courses to the public as well as many biking, climbing and hiking trails. This is simply one of the best states to visit if you enjoy spending much of your time in outdoor/fitness-related activities.

Sports fans visiting may also wish to check out one of the state’s many professional or college team events. Arizona has the NFL’s Cardinals, the NBA’s suns, the NHL’s Coyotes and MLB’s Diamondbacks as well as several prominent college programs.

Arizona sports betting launched in September, and customers have the option to place wagers on sporting events while also playing popular online casino games like blackjack, poker, slots and roulette.

New customers in Arizona can also take advantage of several special offers from the top sportsbooks.. For instance, Caesars is offering a risk-free bet of up to $1,500 to new users in Arizona, while BetMGM is offering up to $1,000. Fubo is offering a $1,000 risk-free bet plus one month of tree FuboTV.

Tying rounds of golf and spotting events into your Arizona trip is one way to have fun. But if you’re really into intense outdoor activities, you should definitely spend some time at the state’s wide range of parks.

Here is a look at some of the most popular and widely visited parks in Arizona for mountain biking.

Black Canyon Trail (Phoenix)

This trail is convenient to access if you’re staying in the downtown Phoenix area. The Black Canyon Trail is 80 miles long which stretches from the city’s Carefree Highway up to the Prescott National Forest.

The Black Canyon trail is just one of many biking trails inside the Prescott National Forest, which spans 1.25 million acres.

Mountain bikers who have the stamina to go on lengthy journeys will find it tough to top a place like the Black Canyon Trail. Even if you’re a beginner or simply less experienced than your riding companions, you can get a great experience by just doing a portion of the Black Canyon Trail. 

McDowell Sonoran Preserve (Scottsdale)

The McDowell Sonoran Preserve covers over 30,500 acres and offers outdoor enthusiasts 180 miles worth of trails.

Some of the many available bike  trails at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve include Brown’s Ranch, the Latigo Trail, Watershed Trail, Chuckwagon and the Cholla Mountain Loop. The difficulty levels for all of the bike trails vary, so if you’re traveling in a group, you can all split up and find a path that suits your skill level.

The McDowell Sonoran Preserve also has plenty of camping areas nearby, so this is an ideal location to visit if you plan to do plenty of mountain biking during your visit to Arizona.

Blackjack Loop (Goodyear)

There’s a lot to enjoy and explore in the Phoenix suburb of Goodyear, which is home to one of the nation’s most beautiful mountain biking trails.

The Blackjack Loop is a great trail for less-experienced mountain bikers who prefer to go at a gradual pace. It tends to be quieter and far less crowded than some of the more popular trails in the state.

And if you’re a tourist wanting to get a close-up look at the state’s well-known cactus plants, there is no shortage of these in the Blackjack loop.

Hangover Trail (Sedona)

It’s important to note that the Hangover Trail may not be safe or suitable for inexperienced mountain bikers. Only avid riders who can take extra precaution should be riding along the Hangover Trail.

If you are an expert and well-trained on intense mountain bike journeys, Hangover Trail may be the best place for you in Arizona —  especially if you love the steep downhill journeys.

The trail offers beautiful scenery and can take anywhere from two to five hours, depending on how fast you want to go and how many breaks you like taking. If you enjoy going at a slow and steady pace, the Hangover Trail is an ideal location to spend an entire day.