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Estrella race loops
5 reviews
3.8 of 5
Two loops; long (8 or so mls.) and tech. (about 4 mls.). Tight twisty single track, some nasty washes, one long loose and sandy climb and a quick fire Rd. climb followed w/a fun DH. With out a doupt the most tech. demanding race place in AZ.(I did say race coarse)
I-10 to 115 ave. south. (signage for P.I.R.) At the end if the Phx. Int. Raceway parking lot take a left.(signage for the trail) This dirt Rd. raps around and ends in a dirt lot. Trail starts up hill to the south.
Summary: I ride this trail once or twice a week. There are two loops, the tech loop which is about 4.5 miles and the long loop which is about 9.5 miles. Tech loop takes about 35 minutes to complete riding at a fairly fast pace without stoping. Both the tech loop and long loop start out with a fairly easy climb. The two trails seperate about a mile into the ride. The tech loop takes you through a series of small washes then a small climb at the mid way point. This is a nice area to take a break. After the climb the desent begins, but be careful it is full of rocks/ boulders which keep your speed down. There are a couple more wash crossings and one more climb, but then you get to the fastest section of the ride with about 1 mile left. You can see the parking lot and the race way from here. Unless there is an up coming race or event I very rarely see any cars in the parking lot.
As stated earlier the long loop starts out the same as the tech loop. Hang a left about 1 mile into the trail for the long loop (make sure not to get it confused with the junior loop). This trail takes about one hour moving at a fast pace with out any stops. After you branch off from the tech loop You go through two washes. The first is pretty small, but the second has a rock garden on the bottom of it. When you emerge from the second wash, you begin a long extended climb crossing another wash or two riding through sand and a rock garden. You end up with a fairly steep climb to test your endurqnce at the half way point. This is a good place to take a break. As you start the desent be carefull as this is the most technical part of the trail. You will go through a series of washes and eventually hook back up with the tech loop. This loop is a litte misleading, it is still fairly technical, but not as much as the tech loop.
Recommended Route: Long loop if you have the time, endurance and like a sustainded climb with some technical elements in your ride. Tech loop if you are short on time and really want to test your technical skills.
Other recommended trails in the same area: White Tanks
FINS
South Mountain
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Summary: Just finished the Technical section of Estrella. I consider myself to be in marginal shape, marginally skilled, riding a marginal bike. I've ridden the "Technical" section of the McDowells without any problems and I can ride the technical section of the Whitetanks all day long. I met my match with this track.
First off, Its a slow, very loose track. Loose sand, loose gravel, loose rocks, and loose boulders. In addition, there seems to be a cholla cactus strategically placed at every corner. Take a turn wide, you're chowing cholla, take a turn tight, your gonna feel the pain. Riding too fast and end up off the trail....ouch! The first half or so of the trail has you zig zagging through a dry wash. You then start a pretty shallow climb. Once at the top, you think that maybe the fun is about to begin. A series of downhill drops are in your future. Unfortunately, the track is also very loose on this section. Not proud to say, but I ended up walking my bike down at least half of the drops. There are some parts where you would be able to establish a good pace but it is very rockie. Towards the end of the tech loop, you pick up the last portion of the long loop. In past years, this was the section to look forward too. The trail was in good shape and was very fast. Now its just like the rest of the tech section. Loose and quite a bit slower than it used to be. Not sure how the long loop compares this year, but if its in the same shape as the tech loop, its gonna be a challenging ride for only those in the best of shape.
Other recommended trails in the same area: White Tanks
South Mountain
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Review Date April 5, 2002
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Every few months
Reviewed by: Ben
, from Glendale, AZ
Summary: Trail starts out fairly timid, a mile and a half or so of riding around the flat desert. Then you pass through a few creek/river beds and begin a very long, shallow-angled ascent with lots of sand and rocks. If you aren't in great shape, this part will kill ya!After you complete that climb, there's a short, slow downhill followed by a medium-steep switchback climb. Once you get to the top, you'll realize why you spend all that time climbing. There is a long, sweet-ass downhill that snakes though the mountain valley with loose dirt and lots of rocks. After that, there's a few miles of short climbs and decents around the valley, then you are greeted by another long climb that flips a 180 halfway through and turns into the park access road (the steepest part of the climb). At the top of this climb, you can see back to the parking lot, and the most fun section of the course. Another great downhill with a few rollers to jump over, you can build up some serious speed on this one to cruise back to the parking lot. Trail is about 8 miles total. This trail is also great because it's NEVER busy!
Recommended Route: Start from the parking lot trailhead, until you get to the 'competitive loop' sign, and follow it.
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Review Date November 29, 2001
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: dc
, from Marlboro MA
Summary: I go out to AZ every February just to shake off the New England weather. This past Feb, I had spent 5 days riding in Sedona and was ending the week in Phoenix. Needless to say I was pretty beat and didn't have much left in the tank after Sedona (price you pay for being over 40 I guess ;-) I only did the 8 mile less technical loop, but the thing rocked. The second half had loads of quick up and downs with incredibly fast singletrack with blind corners. I'll be back this coming Feb and plan to do both at least twice. Although, as usual this depends on Sedona weather ;-)
Recommended Route: These two trails are both one-way. Start from the parking lot and head up and left.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Murphys trail in Scottsdale--great fast single track. Usery Park in Mesa for some nasty rock hoping
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Review Date October 23, 2001
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Every few months
Reviewed by: Rick
, from Mesa, AZ
Summary: This trail rocks! No traffic, not even other bikers! Twisty singltrack, a seemingly never ending sandy oh-so gradual cimb, a few little grunt climbs, rock gardens, washes, gravel, and instant wipe out at any point. And no matter how much it shakes you up you can't just do one of ea. lap; it's too much fun. A good race wk. end cleans the surface pretty good. That is most of the sand and loose rock get pushed aside and frame the trail in so the line is way tight. Traffic is prob. the best thing for this one trail. Out side any event happenings the only people you'll see out here work for the park.
Recommended Route: Only one way to go.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Go 60 Mls. east and do Pass Mnt. trail counter clockwise.
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3.8 of 5
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