Reviewed by: Frog Werks ,  Cross Country Rider , from Mesa

Summary:
Every few Mnts. we ride this as a way to get out of the heat or just mix it up with out driving for hrs. It's so worth the trip. The single track is great; the faster you go the smoother it gets. Don't let the downed trees or the off camber get you.

Recommended Route:
Climb the 17 miles of fire rd. (ugh)! and fly down the single track. (woo hoo)! Bring sqishy with disc and both types of plastic. (your likely to break a thing or 2).

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Can't say YET.

Reviewed by: mike j , from scottsdale

Summary:
I spun a 40+ pd bike with a 10pd pack to the trailhead. The long climb to the top is very gradual and serves up some great scenery. I suggest going early in the morning to avoid the tourists driving to the top and the heat. The singletrack is very fast with plenty of water bars. There is a short climb in the middle portion of the descent along with about 8 downed trees. Even with all the portages over the trees this trail is the cat's meow! There are several switchbacks and a few creek crossings. The rock gardens did not seem as challenging as Icehouse, but they are still technical. The lower section after you cross over the road has some nice small drops that you can launch at speed. This ride offers up very diverse trail and scenery due to the shear vert. If you loop this trail take plenty of water and supplies. I totally bonked during the last few paved miles back to my vehicle. . . spinning granny gear on level pavement with a fork out my ass.

Recommended Route:
I parked on Kelner Canyon Rd where the pavement ends and climbed. You will make three left turns on the dirt road before reaching the trail head. I took the trail to the bottom past the ranger station and back to the truck . . . one helluva loop.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Icehouse Canyon, Squaw Springs

Reviewed by: pedalAZ , from Phoenix

Summary:
The views from the forest road on the way up are unbelievable once you get past the halfway point. Pinal Peak is a true sky island. The singletrack down was a blast. Our leaders rode is at lighting speed, while some of us exercised more caution. The upper sections have nice, fat logs embedded in the trail as water bars, all suitable for launching jumps. There are narrow bench cut sections to test your urge to speed across the side slope past menacing tree trunks close to the bar ends. There are some tight switchbacks. There are some downed trees that you must portage. There are some short transition climbs, which are not most welcome after you thought you had done all the climbing already! The midddle to lower half of the ride will challenge even the best riders with some terrific rock gardens. Some are in switchbacks; some are in streambeds; some are straightaway jumbled stairsteps. The lower section has a good long stretch punctuated with "check dams" across a wide trail that the faster riders flew off of, while the slower ones rolled off the 1 to 2 ft drop faces. We rode this on December 8, 2002. It was "warm" at the bottom, but a lot colder on top, perhaps in the low 40's, so be aware of the temperature change as you go up. We passed numerous other trailheads along the road at the top, most notably the Icehouse Canyon Trail, that looked worth exploring on return trips. We also are trying to work out a shorter loop route at the bottom to avoid the vehicle shuttle. Round trip to the shuttle vehicle was almost 6 hours, including rest stops and lunch. This ride is for competent, self supported, technical riders in good shape, not beginners or intermediates. Don't be a wuss, climb the hill on your bike!

Recommended Route:
Drove 3-4 mi up Kellner Canyon Rd from Six Shooter Canyon Rd and parked. Road the bikes the rest of the way up the mountain on Kellner Canyon Rd 11 miles until reaching the left fork marked Ferndell. Continuing right would have been the last mile to the summit of Pinal Peak. This grind up the forest road is a workout, but makes the singletrack an earned effort. I think the elevation where we started riding was around 4,000 MSL, and the turnoff to Ferndell is about 7,600 MSL. So, you have almost a 7% grade for 11 miles.