Do a search for "Sedona" and you should find all the answers you need - plus a bit more on what to expect.
Good luck!
Good luck!
How long for a Sedona / AZ trip?
Hey. My girlfriend and I are thinking about coming down to Sedona and / or Arizona in general for a riding holiday and I'm wondering how much time we should budget.
I'm an advanced rider and am not afraid of long treks on the bike. She's intermediate, and is a good sport when it comes to longer rides (Gooseberry Mesa in Utah is one of her favourite loops).
We'll both be on 6" / 6" bikes and aren't afraid of drops but she's not a huge fan of super-technical rock gardens. We're from Vancouver, so most of our experience is on roots and dirt rather than rock, if that makes a difference.
Any suggestions on how much time we should spend in Sedona, or other must-ride locales in AZ, would be much appreciated, as would some guidelines on riding seasons. I'm guessing summer is out, but when does it start getting too hot to ride and when does it start to cool off (times of year)?
Thanks very much.
Stuart
I'm an advanced rider and am not afraid of long treks on the bike. She's intermediate, and is a good sport when it comes to longer rides (Gooseberry Mesa in Utah is one of her favourite loops).
We'll both be on 6" / 6" bikes and aren't afraid of drops but she's not a huge fan of super-technical rock gardens. We're from Vancouver, so most of our experience is on roots and dirt rather than rock, if that makes a difference.
Any suggestions on how much time we should spend in Sedona, or other must-ride locales in AZ, would be much appreciated, as would some guidelines on riding seasons. I'm guessing summer is out, but when does it start getting too hot to ride and when does it start to cool off (times of year)?
Thanks very much.
Stuart
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
I was hoping for a little more insight that this. 
Even a good (i.e. comprehensive) site for mountain biking in AZ would be useful - espeically since I was curious about more than just Sedona.
Thanks.
Even a good (i.e. comprehensive) site for mountain biking in AZ would be useful - espeically since I was curious about more than just Sedona.Thanks.
I am so biting my tongue right now.
p.
p.
It is a 12 month out of the year riding season. In the summer you start at 5-5:15am and ride until 8 or 9AM and carry a ton of water.
It is simply a very difficult thing to tell you how long a trip to plan. I ride more than 3,500 miles a year on Arizona Trails and I have dozens/hundreds of trails I haven't gotten to yet.
Oh yea, the guy biting his tongue above has written one of the best guides to MTB in Arizona, available in many bookstores and bike shops in the state.
The guy who suggested the "search" mode did so because we have talked about Sedona dozens of times here and it is all there for you to find if you look for it.
John W.
It is simply a very difficult thing to tell you how long a trip to plan. I ride more than 3,500 miles a year on Arizona Trails and I have dozens/hundreds of trails I haven't gotten to yet.
Oh yea, the guy biting his tongue above has written one of the best guides to MTB in Arizona, available in many bookstores and bike shops in the state.
The guy who suggested the "search" mode did so because we have talked about Sedona dozens of times here and it is all there for you to find if you look for it.
John W.
A must ride in Sedona
My personal fave in Sedona is a trail called Broken Arrow / Submarine Rock. Nice mix of Moab-like sticky rock, single-track, scenery followed by a screamin-fun downhill at the end. Don't go there and miss out on that one. The trail review section on mtbr has good instructions to get to the trailhead. Don't forget to stop off at a ranger station to pay for a parking permit.
My personal fave in Sedona is a trail called Broken Arrow / Submarine Rock. Nice mix of Moab-like sticky rock, single-track, scenery followed by a screamin-fun downhill at the end. Don't go there and miss out on that one. The trail review section on mtbr has good instructions to get to the trailhead. Don't forget to stop off at a ranger station to pay for a parking permit.
Or you can buy one at the Circle K just down the street from the trailhead.Fletch F. Fletch said:Don't forget to stop off at a ranger station to pay for a parking permit.
Paul vs. Ray
Not to step on anyone's toes (like some guy named Ray), but: I just checked out the link to your site. Beautiful! Not sure how I ended up with the "other" guide when I moved here 6 years ago, but I will make the switch next time I visit my LBS...Paul B said:I am so biting my tongue right now.
p.
Or you can pedal to the trailhead from a nearby parking lot that doesn't require the pass. Just sayin'.skinny-tire said:Or you can buy one at the Circle K just down the street from the trailhead.
p.
What are you biting your tongue about, Paul? I'm still in the planning stages, and was looking for some general info. I know that you've written a guide book, but I like to explore all the options available - especially on the Web.Paul B said:I am so biting my tongue right now.
p.
I did a Google search and wasn't able to find a comprehensive site on riding in Arizona that would answer all of my questions, hence my post here. And yes, I could have searched under Sedona but I was hoping for some general input. What I'm looking for, I guess, is the Arizona equivalent of UtahMountainBiking.com.
If I'm coming down from Vancouver and this will be my only major holiday for the year, I want to make the most of the trip - and I figure the people who know the most are either the locals or people who have done the same trip.
Because, week in and week out all year long, people come into this forum asking for what amounts to a lot of free legwork on the part of the locals. Where do I go? What are the best rides? How long do rides take? Are they hard? Where should I stay? Can you ride with me?painter said:What are you biting your tongue about, Paul? I'm still in the planning stages, and was looking for some general info. I know that you've written a guide book, but I like to explore all the options available - especially on the Web.
I did a Google search and wasn't able to find a comprehensive site on riding in Arizona that would answer all of my questions, hence my post here. And yes, I could have searched under Sedona but I was hoping for some general input. What I'm looking for, I guess, is the Arizona equivalent of UtahMountainBiking.com.
If I'm coming down from Vancouver and this will be my only major holiday for the year, I want to make the most of the trip - and I figure the people who know the most are either the locals or people who have done the same trip.
I'd suggest the forum write a FAQ because it's the same questions every single time. However, the FAQ would basically be what I spent two years of my life working on. And it isn't just the book I'm talking about -- these are also the same questions my guiding company is paid to answer.
So here I am venting. Mostly it's the entitlement mindset the Internet has created that makes me crazy. Maybe I was born a decade too late, and web freebies will ultimately overwhelm the value of individual experts' knowledge. Please don't take it personally.
p.
Stuart, first, I do suggest that you get Paul's book. Its excellent and will be a huge asset for your trip. Second, I think that the suggestion to do a "search" is obvious and does not need to be stated. If I was Stuart, I would rather have silence. I don't really understand why the " where can I ride" themes upset so many.painter said:Any suggestions on how much time we should spend in Sedona, or other must-ride locales in AZ, would be much appreciated, as would some guidelines on riding seasons. I'm guessing summer is out, but when does it start getting too hot to ride and when does it start to cool off (times of year)?
Q. "Any suggestions on how much time we should spend in Sedona, or other must-ride locales in AZ"
A: Sedona - 2 - 3 days max. Phoenix 2-3 days. Flagstaff - 3-4 days if you come during the riding season. Tucson - 2-3 days. You can incorporate other areas as well. I am no expert. Check out Paul's book for more info.
Q: Seasons
A. June - September - very hot in Phoenix and almost the same in Tucson. Riding at night or early morning only is a must. Sedona can get very hot too.
Flagstaff - rocks in the summer and warmer months. Too wet during winter time.
Octoberish is probably the time that you could ride all the locations. Again, I am no expert.
First of all, Paul, I'm not taking this personally. I've always seen MTBR as a community built on a shared love of adventure on dirt. This site is about the forums, with people asking questions, imparting knowledge, and whining. As such, I'm not sure how answering a few questions amounts to a lot of legwork.Paul B said:Because, week in and week out all year long, people come into this forum asking for what amounts to a lot of free legwork on the part of the locals. Where do I go? What are the best rides? How long do rides take? Are they hard? Where should I stay? Can you ride with me?
I'd suggest the forum write a FAQ because it's the same questions every single time. However, the FAQ would basically be what I spent two years of my life working on. And it isn't just the book I'm talking about -- these are also the same questions my guiding company is paid to answer.
So here I am venting. Mostly it's the entitlement mindset the Internet has created that makes me crazy. Maybe I was born a decade too late, and web freebies will ultimately overwhelm the value of individual experts' knowledge. Please don't take it personally.
p.
I know that when people have asked about travelling to my neck of the woods, I've told them trails to look for, what to expect, the type of bike to bring, the best time of the year to visit, and so on. And I was happy to share that information with people, because I'm proud of the riding around here.
Now, if you're unhappy because sharing this information on the Web is taking food out of your mouth, then that's another matter. But I - and likely most other people asking questions about roadtrip destinations - are looking for a starting point, not the whole show.
I did this kind of research in planning my trip for Moab, and then bought Rider Mel's Guide, as well as several local maps and topo guides. I'm not asking for someone to tell me where the best trails are, I'm just looking for some idea of how long I should plan to spend in AZ so I can enjoy the experience and ride what look like amazing trails.
So please don't take it personally.
Dirdir - thanks very much. That's exactly the type of info I was looking for.Dirdir said:Stuart, first, I do suggest that you get Paul's book. Its excellent and will be a huge asset for your trip. Second, I think that the suggestion to do a "search" is obvious and does not need to be stated. If I was Stuart, I would rather have silence. I don't really understand why the " where can I ride" themes upset so many.
Q. "Any suggestions on how much time we should spend in Sedona, or other must-ride locales in AZ"
A: Sedona - 2 - 3 days max. Phoenix 2-3 days. Flagstaff - 3-4 days if you come during the riding season. Tucson - 2-3 days. You can incorporate other areas as well. I am no expert. Check out Paul's book for more info.
Q: Seasons
A. June - September - very hot in Phoenix and almost the same in Tucson. Riding at night or early morning only is a must. Sedona can get very hot too.
Flagstaff - rocks in the summer and warmer months. Too wet during winter time.
Octoberish is probably the time that you could ride all the locations. Again, I am no expert.
Stuart
Looks like Geoff's got you covered. I'd modify his answer re seasons: It's still effing HOT in the Valley and Tucson into late October and sometimes as early as the end of April.
If you can ride early and the weather agrees, October/November or February/March are both good dates. You wouldn't know that from this year's weather, however. Lots of variation in altitudes between Flag (7200') and Phoenix (1200').
p.
If you can ride early and the weather agrees, October/November or February/March are both good dates. You wouldn't know that from this year's weather, however. Lots of variation in altitudes between Flag (7200') and Phoenix (1200').
p.
See, I am no expert. Paul is right. I should have added May as too fuqing hot in the Valley. Hell, its too fuqing hot right now.Paul B said:Looks like Geoff's got you covered. I'd modify his answer re seasons: It's still effing HOT in the Valley and Tucson into late October and sometimes as early as the end of April.
If you can ride early and the weather agrees, October/November or February/March are both good dates. You wouldn't know that from this year's weather, however. Lots of variation in altitudes between Flag (7200') and Phoenix (1200').
p.
Thanks, guys. With that short bit of info, I now know we've missed our pre-summer window of opportunity and we can start saving (for guide books ) for a late fall trip.
Appreciate the input.
Stuart
) for a late fall trip. Appreciate the input.
Stuart
Don't you guys have a name for a someone who shows up in Arizona looking for locals to guide 'em around ? Thought I heard something mentioned at one point on this board.
That said, I've been in the position of "the visitor" before and we were graciously led on a kick ass ride by two friendly locals at Kentucky Camp. The folks we met on the trail were very friendly & helpful too - even the hikers on South Mountain.
As for books: Get Cosmic Ray's book for entertainment value only, Paul B's for the actual rides. I also have a small thin book on Flagstaff and Sedona (a Falcon Guide), although there's nothing in it that isn't covered in either of the above. You should have no problem finding quality rides with these guide books.
I'm looking forward to another Arizona vacation next month. Hopefully, the snow will be melted on the North Rim, otherwise we'll keep on truckin to www.utahmountainbiking.com country !
Thought I heard something mentioned at one point on this board.That said, I've been in the position of "the visitor" before and we were graciously led on a kick ass ride by two friendly locals at Kentucky Camp. The folks we met on the trail were very friendly & helpful too - even the hikers on South Mountain.
As for books: Get Cosmic Ray's book for entertainment value only, Paul B's for the actual rides. I also have a small thin book on Flagstaff and Sedona (a Falcon Guide), although there's nothing in it that isn't covered in either of the above. You should have no problem finding quality rides with these guide books.
I'm looking forward to another Arizona vacation next month. Hopefully, the snow will be melted on the North Rim, otherwise we'll keep on truckin to www.utahmountainbiking.com country !
Either snowbirds, bad drivers, or freeloaders(Tom) said:Don't you guys have a name for a someone who shows up in Arizona looking for locals to guide 'em around ?
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
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