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Desert Classic
21 reviews
4.24 of 5
Technical Desert singletrack with little elevation gain
From I-10, take the Elliot exit and head west to 48th street. Take a right on 48th for approximately 1.5 miles and then a left to the south mountain park entrance. the trailhead is to the far left of the gazebos.
Summary: This is a great trail for beginners to work on technical skills. When I first got my bike I was out there once a week. Once I figured out the momentum thing, I was able to let off the brakes and fly through roller coaster washes. I still grin through that section. Like previous reviews have said, after you pass Flinstone's Bench, the trail does get rocky and some washes are technical. No shame in hiking the washes down to find the best line to ride the bike down. In some places, I still have to hike a bike. It is best to ride the trail during the week, because it gets very crowded with hikers, dogs, horses, and neon posers. As Cosmic Ray says, "You can't swing a dead cat without hitting some neon poser."
Recommended Route: Enter trail from the ramands on the south side of the park. Once I get to the top of the first hill, I take a the second left down a short hill to a flat section of the trail. This avoids most of the traffic on the first third of the trail and is an excellent warm-up for climbs later on the trail.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Papago Park, Pemberton loop, and Trail 100 are all excellent for beginners that are learning the sport.
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Summary: the trail starts out easy enough, but before you know it your knees are shaking and your grip is stinging. not too technical but it definately hones your cornering, and line finding skills. great trail to get good on before you try national. P.S. dont do national with telegraph pass on a hardtail in two hours with no sunscreen, pain to say the least. the classic is perfect if you are getting into the sport or if you need a jumpstart. or if you jusdt want to test the limits of your bike, just watch out for wrong turns, as some spots are tough to figure out.
Recommended Route: the other reviews are great for this, but the best way to describe how to get there, is to get on guadaloupe road take it ALL THE WAY west. and take a left, then your first right, then your first left, easy enough huh, some of the reviews confused me and i figured this would help some of the locals who want to go there but havent a clue.
Other recommended trails in the same area: national, if you have brass tacks, telegraph pass, if your grip and brakes can handle it, and mormon if your feelin' froggy.
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Review Date February 6, 2004
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty 5 of 5
Technical Difficulty 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a week
Reviewed by: writing_guy
,
Cross Country Rider
Summary: I'm a bit of an old fart (58) with a lot of ultramarathon road cycling experience and fairly limited off-road riding experience in the North-East. I moved to Ahwatukee in the heat of summer. Then, Desert Classic seemed a baking hell. Now I'm loving this trail. It starts easy from the Pima Canyon end with easy trails and fun swoops down across the washes, but it becomes a lot more rocky and technical for about the last third. However, it's all rideable for a low intermediate rider like myself. Desert Classic has me liking Phoenix a lot more these days. I ride a hard-tail with my tires fairly firm (45-50 psi) and even carrying 200+ lbs. I've had no problem with rock cuts. Puncture resistant tubes or Slime is pretty much a prerequisite, though, because of thorns and burrs. Desert Classic has made me like Phoenix a whole lot more. However, I have ot admit to missing muddy winter trails and splashing down stream beds.
Recommended Route: Heading west on E. Elliot just past I-10 turn right onto 48th St. Left turn located on curve just before Guadelupe Rd takes you to park entrance.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Papago Park for beginners
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Review Date January 25, 2004
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty 4 of 5
Technical Difficulty 3 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: jimmcw
,
Weekend Warrior
Summary: We went to Phoenix to escape the San Joaquin Valley fog and 40° chill in January - what a pleasant surprise - 80° and sunny! I (Trek Chick) am an intermediate, not-too-technical, big fat flat fireroad lover. Hubby is an expert downhiller. We both loved the Desert Classic Trail, even though Hubby blew out his front forks on one of those rocky tech sections (I was hike-a-biking - no dammage). The jagged, flat rocks are easy to ride (Is there ANY dirt in AZ, or just rocks, crushed rocks, and finely crushed rocks??). The trail was a LOT of fun: steep, fast drops into the washes, and up the other side; a few sections of gritty-sand fast rollers with fast turns (mini-roller coaster). The portion that was rockier and more technical, Hubby LOVED IT!! I walked it. (oh well). Overall, I'd definately do it again.
Recommended Route: We started at the Pima Canyon trailhead, near 48th Street and Guadalupe. There are bathrooms and fresh water at this trailhead, also shaded picnic tables. Seems to be the big starting point for a number of hiking, horsey and MTB trails. The Desert Classic is 9-mi out and 9-mi back from this point.
Other recommended trails in the same area: South Mountain Park is comprised of a TON of trails. We hiked a few, which would have been way too technical for me. Hubby was just drooling to partake in some more technical trail riding (maybe next time with the boys!)
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Review Date January 20, 2004
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty 3 of 5
Technical Difficulty 3 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a week
Reviewed by: superduty
,
Weekend Warrior
Summary: This trail I like, can be as tech as you wish because of the speed you can gain on downhills. Also can be a cruise ride if thats what your into, some places in the last 5 miles can be rocky but I like that but if you take it slow anybody could ride this trail. There are different ways to go one in general about half past the tank you can make it easy or hard, right makes it easy left is uphill with lots of rocks but could be done by most but what goes up must come DOWN.Another burner is in the same area where I just said look to the far south and you will see a trail that goes up up up take it just for the burn but if you park in the parking lot it would be best to turn around that trail takes you out to ray road you would have to take pavement back and nobody needs that.
Recommended Route: I 10 to elloit/guadeloupe off ramp head west to 48th right to where it curves and goes into point perserve take a right there thats guadeloupe will take back up again then another quick right into the park you golf course on both sides of that road. up to the ramadas then look south trail bigins there BRING WATER
Other recommended trails in the same area: morman/up fire road to beverly canyon theres a sigh go right and down to parking lot then back up or head east to get back to parking lot
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4.24 of 5
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