Review Date
March 17, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Reviewed by: Brian of Burbank ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This area has blown up with a bunch of new trails. Best of all, you can do most of it on singletrack now. It is also well marked with trail signs. The best of the new trails is the Sunset Trail, which can be accessed from any of the trailheads, most immediately from the top of 128th street. There is also a new trailhead in development at the eastern-most end of Via Linda. The Sunset Trail has the best singletrack climb I've found in the area and some steep descents on the eastern side.

Review Date
January 9, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: PerformanceDude ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Hello there, I have actually been riding this trail and others in the area for years. Being from N scottsdale it is one of the few destianations in riding distance. You can actually pick up this trail right off of Thompson Peak Parkway just past the bridge. East of 100th street, if you go right of thompson peak onto the Sanctuary Golf course trail you can spot a dirt path on your left hand side. this hooks in to the same trail system that everyone is talking about. Explained well too, nice burning climbs but it makes it all worth it on the way down. another trail in the area that hooks up with these all is north of Cactus and South of sweetwater on frank lloyd wright. Closer to cactus on the east side of the road you will notice a sighn that says trail. You have to go up a gravel covered hill but cross the bridge and there is some great rides back there. Take it easy folks happy ridin. contact me jurassicchive@yahoo.com if you want to share trails or go for a ride

Recommended Route:
See above

Other recommended trails in the same area:
McDowell Mtn Park, Pima Dynamite

Review Date
December 29, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: TC101 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I live in MMR and ride portions of this trail (a collection of trails, really) about 3 times a week. For me, the best part of it is that I can hit the trail within 1/4 mile of my house. I usually ride up the single track that goes uphill from 105th st, go up and play around the trails until I get tired (lots of different ways to go), then enjoy a long downhill all the way to my driveway. Something for everybody here, lots of single track. Some portions very rocky, some technical sections. Not too much air.

Recommended Route:
105th St. to the top, then explore as you please.

Review Date
June 10, 2002

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Reviewed by: sdbelt , from Scottsdale, AZ

Summary:
I live in McDowell Mtn Ranch, and ride this bit of trail at least once a week, often twice. From within MMR, the old Cactus Cup loop trail (4.5 miles round trip) provides a good ride, especially if done in the clockwise direction. There's a reasonably challenging hill climb in this direction that can be a lung burner. Counter-clockwise, it's definitely an easier segment, and faster track. Taking the technical (rocky and steep) saddle Jeep trail up to Taliesan Overlook, and over to the Southern side of the Mtn, provides some really excellent single track. It's a fun, fast 3 mile decent from the top of the Overlook to Cactus road, on well maintained single track. The trip back up is a workout, but nothing technical. What's good about this trail, is that the uphill sections are long. You are generally going up hill for 2-3 miles, and the relentless up hill provides a good workout. The trail is pretty narrow single track, has some really rocky sections and just regular rocky sections. It's also pretty twisty on the West side, so bombing down isn't possible, though high speeds are easily attainable on the East side. In total, there's enough trail here to keep you busy for a couple of hours (or less). If you live in the area, you should try it out. And don't opt out to run the pavement back to your starting point...that's for sissies.

Recommended Route:
105th St & McDowell Mtn Rd to 124th St & Cactus (SouthEast route)

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Pima & Dynamite are 25 minutes North, Trail 100 is 25 minutes SouthWest, McDowell Mtn Park is 25 minutes East...all 3 are better, but 25 minutes away.

Review Date
July 20, 2001

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Howie , from Scottsdale

Summary:
Great training trail, I ride here a couple times a week. There are a couple of ways to loop the trail around and there are no known trail maps, so you just have to find your way. Starting at westworld it's pretty easy to get in about a 15 mile ride without doubleing back on the same trails too much. Enjoy the ride

Recommended Route:
Start at Westworld, pick up some free golf balls through The Sanctuary and then up the flats and over the saddle.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Pima & Dynamite