Question 1

⚡️ Are e-bikes allowed?

Accepted Answer

Yes, e-bikes are allowed on National Trail.

Question 2

⏳ How long does it take to ride National?

Accepted Answer

I’d give yourself 2-3 hours to do the SoMo Rollingpin route I recommend above.

Question 3

📏 Can I make it shorter or easier?

Accepted Answer

Not really… Definitely not easier and if you try to make it shorter, you miss out on some of the best riding.

If you want to do an mellow ride at South Mountain, I recommend Desert Classic, which also starts from the Pima Canyon Trailhead.

Question 4

‼️ How hard is National Trail really?

Accepted Answer

It’s definitely a solid black-rated trail. There are fast, flowy sections, but there are also expert features - and one really expert feature, the waterfall - that less experienced riders will need to walk.

The climb to the top is also relatively steep and takes more than a little effort and skill, so keep that in mind before setting off as well.

All that being said, if you like a challenge and you're up for a hefty climb, give National a go! A lot of people ride this trail knowing they will session features, which is how you get better :)

Question 5

💧 Is there water along the route?

Accepted Answer

There are water fountains at the Pima Canyon Trailhead.

Question 6

📅 When is the best time of year to ride the National?

Accepted Answer

National Trail is one of the most popular trails in the city for its views and great riding. It is multi-use meaning that hikers and runners utilize it as well. As such, National can get crazy on the weekends. If you have the option, try to hit it on a weekday when most of Phoenix is stuck behind a desk.

As for the best time of year to ride National, it’s optimal during the winter or shoulder months when temperatures are cool. Summer can get really hot and I don’t recommend attempting to climb up National at the peak of summer unless you start before daylight.

Question 7

🗺️ Is navigation easy?

Accepted Answer

Not really. I recommend having TrailForks or MTB Project downloaded to your phone.

Question 8

📱 Is there cell service?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there’s good cell service on South Mountain.

Question 9

🚲 What bike should I bring?

Accepted Answer

Any mid-travel full-suspension mountain bike is a great choice for National. I recommend something with 140-150mm of rear suspension travel.

Question 10

⛰️ What about the rest of National?

Accepted Answer

If you've looked at a map of National Trail, you've probably noticed that the full trail spans the length of South Mountain from west to east for 15 miles.

You might be thinking, "Cool! More fun!" But in actuality, it's really only the easternmost 3-mile section of National Trail that most mountain bikers ride. The rest of the trail is rocky, very technical, and better left to hikers unless you're up for an epically long day - mentally and physically.

Don't believe me? I rode a loop of National Trail by pedaling out Desert Classic, hike-a-biking up Telegraph Pass trail, and then riding National Trail east from the top of Telegraph Pass. It wasn't worth it. There was a lot of pushing my bike and cursing. The rest of National Trail South Mountain is a hiking trail, not a mountain biking trail.

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