Review Date
January 26, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: smachter ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I am a 60 year old rider self described advanced intermediate rider with moderate aerobic capacity and I love this trial. I have ridden most of the popular trails at South Mountain Park (National, Mormon, Javalina, etc.) and around the Central and East Valley (Hawes, Trail 100, McDowell, Usery, etc.) and I always come back to this trail. It consists of fairly flat terrain, however, as mentioned by most of the reviewers it roles thru dry washes and has some rocky sections particulary at the west end that make for more technical riding - nothing a beginning rider could not handle if they possess moderate bike handling skill. What I like most about this trail is for a person with moderate aerobic capacity and technical skill this trail provides good flow with the occasional technical section and if you pay attention opportunities to even catch some air off a small drop or two. You can also work your lungs by just going flat out.

Recommended Route:
The most popular trailhead is Pima Canyon near 48th Street and Guadalupe. This is OK during the week, but on weekends in the AM the parking lot fills up quickly. Recommend the Warpaint Trailhead on weekends. This is located just north of Knox on Warpaint. At this Trailhead take either trail – the one over the stone bridge or the one going down the railroad tie steps. Ride to the north for about a mile and you will intersect the Desert Classic at the trail posts, I believe marked either 45 or 47 depending on which trail you used from Warpaint. Go left if you want a more technical ride and right for a smoother ride back to the Pima Canyon Trailhead. Either way the riding is great. Enjoy life.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
National, Mormon, Javalina, Hawes, Usery-for gentle desert riding, Trail 100, and McDowell–all loops incluing Pemberton.

Review Date
August 4, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: SoMo Addict ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I love this trail!

Desert Classic runs along the base of South Mountain's south side (which is shaded in the evening). Its a great cross country out-and-back ride with no noteworthy elevation gain except for a small hill near the Telegraph Pass end of the trail. The trail passes through a number of quick down-and-up washes that make for a super fun ride, and even though there are no big climbs, the trail is not perfectly flat so at times you are pedaling hard and other times crusing downhill.

Riding the whole trail out-and-back is a decent physical challenge, but its not crazy strenuous. There is one somewhat technical section near the Telegraph Pass end of the trail but its short and definately ridable for beginner-intermediate riders.

This is a great trail for anyone looking for a nice cross country ride, and the mountain give the trail some beautiful scenery. Beginners can really get a lot of good experience on this trail while remaining close to civilization in case they run into trouble.

Recommended Route:
Start at either end and ride until you get tired, then turn around and ride back.

Review Date
January 13, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: Michele ,  Cross Country Rider

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.

Review Date
March 1, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: bikefit1981 ,  Cross Country Rider

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.

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