Review Date
April 17, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: teelow ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I'm here vacationing and decided to get out for a ride. I demo'd an Ibis Mojo (great bike!) and rode the Competitive Loops at McDowell Mountain Park after talking to the guy in the bike shop. I started on the Sport Loop, which was a blast. Fairly smooth single track, very rolling with short climbs and descents. High speed turns which were nicely banked and not too many loose rocks or gravel spots. As other reviewers have said, it's best to ride this at a fast pace. I'm 48 and not in great shape, but could still keep up a pretty good pace on this trail.

Next, I tried the Long Loop. I expected this to be easier terrain than the Sport Loop, but it wasn't. The climbs were longer (still not bad though) and the terrain was definitely much rockier. I could ride all of it except getting up over one ledge on a short climb, but some of the downhills over rocks were pretty sphincter-tightening for me. Both trails were serious fun and I rank them among some of the top single track rides I've done.

I ran out of time before I could try the Technical Loop, but will definitely come back and try it on my next visit!

Review Date
January 5, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: _Lac_Man_ ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I rode the 'Long Loop' today, which is part of the Competitive Track, for the first time in a little while. I forgot how much fun that ride is, nice climbs, nothing too intense, some fun downhills sections, twisty rocky areas, it's an all-around fun lap. The final third of the 'Long Loop' is filled with short downhills which will give your legs a break if you aren't use to 10+ mile rides. It's great for intermediate riders, or someone who is sick of simple trails like Papago. The other two laps - Sport and Technical are great as well, I've only ridden technical once, I'll return once I've honed my skills a little more. But Long Loop and Sport are fantastic! If you head down the path a little further is Pemberton and a couple of other novice trails.

Recommended Route:
One way for the Competitive Track trails.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Any of the Competitive Track trails. About a 20 minute drive west is the Pima/Dynamite trails, they are alright, but the McDowell Mtn. trails are nicer in my opinion. If you start early, you can hit the McDowell Mtn. trails, then head north on McDowell Mtn. Road, head west on Rio Verde Drive which turns into Dynamite, and you're at Pima in about 15 minutes.

Review Date
October 24, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: garbagemanlande ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I used to ride this area all the time about 5-6 years ago and can't wait to get back to it. Great routes to challenge ones abilities and a good way to train by redoing the same route multiple times.

Recommended Route:
The sport route is the fastest and funnest, the tech route is too short, yet fun still. Watch out for the rattlers, those little buggers nipped at my tires.

Review Date
April 3, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: ROAD WARRIOR ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This Review is for the competive track. There are 3 one way loops that can be ridden seperatley or combined. These are not your normal scenic trails but great high speed single track. If you like to push yourself you'll love these. these tracks require 100% of your attention 100% of the time. The tech. loop has some serious drops and the longest climb. The sport loop is the fastest with some suprises thrown in (take it easy the 1st time). The long loop is the rockiest. All can be ridden by the average rider, but are more fun the faster you go. Also the very large rattle snakes are used to people and not agressive, but they WILL NOT yield the trail. get off and go around.

Recommended Route:
Get map at park entrance. go to parking area. have a great ride.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
only trail ridden in this area. but if you are in the Las Cruces NM area , go over to Dona Ana, NM. exit 9 off I-25. the new trails are simular in layout and the ride back down the rollacoster. will remind you why you MTB

Review Date
February 11, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Ridgewood Fatty 5 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This must be a professionally designed cross country single track course. Not just a nicely mapped out course, it's more like a top ranked golf course. If you like getting out and grinding that big chain ring, going through twists and turns at top handling speeds, down short steep drops and up short power climbs this is the place. The large loose rocks will get to you after a while and the course can get monotonous, even mixing up all three loops. Just go fast!

Recommended Route:
Any combination of all three loops will do.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
McDowell Mountain, it's totally different.