Reviewed by: Jason , from Phoenix

Summary:
Good work out ride! You basically climb a meandering uphill for 4-5 miles with interspersed "wooptie-do" rollers. Real fun! A copule of short challenging technical sections. Once you get to the top it starts to get fun as hell! Get ready for a steep, off-camber rocky super fun section...chest-on-seat type descent for a bit....totally ridable but if you screw up you may be super hurt! after about 700 yards of super steep it lets up and then its more or less just a down hill...still very fun! once at the bottom you kindof meandor up to where you started for a mile or two. Do it twice to get your legs going! Gets crowded with hikers on weekends...Please be nice to them :)

Recommended Route:
Clockwise

Other recommended trails in the same area:
South mountain, estrella, mcdowells

Reviewed by: ML CARPENTER , from GILBERT, AZ USA

Summary:
First time I did this trial, I did it counter-clockwise. That sucked for two miles. THE best way to ride this awesome trial is clockwise to the summit, then ride down to the baby head hell, and ride back up and down.

Recommended Route:
CLOCKWISE

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Hawes, national,

Reviewed by: NEF , from Flagstaff

Summary:
Start at the horse area and climb the washes and babyheads for a couple of miles. Then the last half of the climb smooths out for a big ring stomp up to the top of the pass. Pause for a breather and listen to the guns from the nearby shooting range before flying down the other side. It's all smooth, but watch out for the occasional off-camber corner with loose crushed granite, tempting you bike to cruise off the mountainside. Jump some waterbars on the way down and watch for stutterbumps from everyone slamming on the brakes heading into tight corners. Jump some more waterbars, hit 35 mph while watching out for hikers impressed as you roll over a 3" rock, before you know it your back to go. Not a good ride for a first-time clipless pedal user. Beginners could do this as an out and back on the easy side, you can even start by the wind cave trail.

Recommended Route:
Counterclockwise. Get the nasty stuff out of the way first.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Hawes.

Reviewed by: Byron Capone , from Mesa

Summary:
I've ridden this trail for 15 years and it is special, wonderful views, great single track on the upper section, super fun jumps on the lower section on the downhill. After "The King" (a.k.a. National in South Mountain) became overrun and since Pemberton was trashed by the Parks, this is now my local numero uno. It's a technical trail for intermediate to advanced riders. Best trail to take an out of town quest, you feel like your in the Superstition wilderness.

Recommended Route:
My favorite is an out-and-back from the lower parking lot of Usery park off Ellsworth, fee is minimal. I go clockwise up to the pass and turn around to return. For added training I do the Ellsworth road ride to the river and back. This route is about 8 miles trail and 8 miles road.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
"The King"