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mxhay

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Will be in PHX in a couple of weeks to visit family and am able to get in 3 days of riding with a friend.
RIde #1: BCT. Would like to ride a section of the BCT other than the Little Pan Loop which we have done several times (and love!). Looks like the two best options are Big Bug to Bumble Bee or Bumble Bee to Rock Springs? Which one would you all recommend? Or is there a better option?
Ride #2: Hawes which neither of us have done. I went through Trailforks and this forum and came up with this route:
Wild Horse to Alpe to Iron Goat to either Dirt Therapy or Pure O back up Alpe to RMR to Twisted Sister to Big Sister. If we still have legs maybe back up to hit Mine. Does this route sound good?
Ride #3: AZT Picketpost out and back. Thinking about 20 or so total miles. Is there a specific point to most go to before turning around? Looks like Picketpost is very similar to BCT? Should we just do two sections of BCT instead?
FYI: Been to Sedona many times and have done PMP, Gold Canyon and South Mtn. Also we will have two trucks to allow shuttling. Thanks!
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#2 ·
Regarding picket post. There is a logical turnaround point at around 10 or 11 miles. I can't remember exactly. I would have to look at an old GPS file. You'll know it because when you get to a section with a 360° view that's probably it.

Never ridden BCT but doesn't it pretty much follow the interstate the entire time. PP is completely different in that aspect It is pure back country riding. Go prepared, every pedal stroke you take takes you further away from the main highway. Not trying to be an alarmist, but you'll likely be the only people out there after a few miles. The ability to fix your bike and carry enough water is a prerequisite even if you're only going 10 mi out.

It's a gorgeous ride by the way. Highly recommend.
 
#3 ·
If you do Alpe twice and Saguaro to Twisted Sister/Big Sister and still have the legs to do Mine and get back to your vehicle, I commend you. :) Parking in the right spot is going to be your number one consideration for any routing you do there. I'd recommend the Bush Highway side so that you don't have to deal with the soul sucking ride back on Wild Horse after riding down either RMR or a different routing. RMR is great, no doubt but if you want way more downhill I would suggest Lower Girdo to Mid Hawes to Saddle to Saguaro to Twisted Sister. There is a less fun climb at the end of Saguaro but it isn't too bad. If I'm beat though, I'd probably just take Mine to the highway and ride back that way.

If you want to end with Iron Goat to Pure O or Dirt Therapy then park on the Usery Pass side.

If you want more challenge you can always do Boulderdash (doable for a confident blue/black rider if you do a bit of stopping and checking) or Sunset Ridge which I hear is more difficult but I haven't tried.
 
#4 ·
#1: The ride that terminates at Rock Springs has kick ass pie, if that is a factor (which it always should be). Their Ruben tends to hit the spot as well.

#2. That loop is doable, but I wouldn't count on having the legs for Mine. I'd recommend parking at the bottom of the Sisters. For my money a run down Dirt Therapy or Pure O followed by a climb up Alpe and a run down RMR would be a good day, but parking on Bush allows for teh option of an additional loop of the Sisters to finish you off.
 
#7 ·
Picket Post turnaround point is 10 miles out. 7 miles out is another option. 14 miles out is another.

For BCT I like Hidden treasure and Antelope Creek out and back. Climb to the high point at the top of AC for a great view.

For Hawes, yeah, start at where Scorpion hits Bush hwy. Climb alp and go down whatever, then climb alp and go down RMR. Looping the sisters from the bottom of RMR adds 30 mins. Go down Stinger, Scorpion Alley, Scorpion.
 
#8 ·
Lots of good options for the east side of Hawes already mentioned here. I like parking off of Bush Highway near the Scorpion trailhead. Take Bush Lite East to Bush Lite West to Twisted Sister to Big Sister to Wild Horse to the junction with Red Mountain Rush. I'll stop here for a moment to mention that the gradual climb you're now facing up Wild Horse does indeed suck, and you'll be doing it twice. So, an option is to take High Noon on the first lap. It's just a parallel to Wild Horse with more twists, and ups and downs in and out of washes. It's more work, but less mind numbingly boring. Back to the route, take Wild Horse or High Noon back to Wild Horse to Lance's to Alp D' Huez to Goat to Red Mountain Rush to Wild Horse. Again, take Wild Horse or High Noon to Wild Horse to Lance's to the Usery Pass Road parking lot. From there, finish on Maricopa Madness to Wild Horse to Scorpion back to where you parked. This makes the ride finish with a fourish-mile, fun, flowy descent. Stats: 22.5 miles with around 2,500 feet of climbing. Just over 2.5 hours based on my stats. You can add on more by doing another short loop or two up Alp D' Huez to Iron Goat and/or High Ridge. Well worth checking out the west side of Hawes, particularly if you like more old school tech type stuff. I would do it as a separate ride if time allows, otherwise, there are good suggestions in this thread for doing a little bit of both in one ride.
 
#9 ·
I was on here reading about people doing "laps" up Alp and down whatever about 6 months ago thinking those people were simply nuts! I could do 1 lap and that was enough for me, until I bumped into a person who encouraged me and led the way to ultimately us 2 doing 3 laps. It was exhausting, but the dude was right that every next climb it gets easier. You bet my beer was supersized that night! What a place to ride!
 
#10 ·
Keep in mind, if you end up riding Hawes on a weekend morning, parking will be very limited at the bottom of Twisted Sister. Much larger lot over at Bulldog OHV (top of Maricopa Madness). If you park there, start with a quick rip down MM, come back on the road, climb Alpe to RMR, then do a Big Sister lap or two. If your legs are good, do the triangle: Twisted Sister, Mine & Riverview, then take Wild Horse to High Noon, drop down for a Stinger Loop back to High Noon and out via Lance's Trail.

If you can do the above and the 20 mile OnB at Picketpost (Highly recommended - maybe also consider an OnB through Arnett Canyon by the Picketpost trailhead - about 6 more miles with minimal climbing). I'd recommend doing the full Big Bug to Rock Springs segment on the BCT. Why debate it? Do it all.
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Thanks for all the helpful responses. We ended up riding the BCT from the top of Antelope Creek to Rock Springs. It was great! Also ended up at Hawes for two days. What a fantastic trail system! Also rode 30 miles at Browns Ranch. Not my favorite but great for families or beginners. Picket Post just didn't work into our schedule so will have to wait until next year.
 
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mxhay
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