Hawes – The Best Mountain Biking in Phoenix?
“Epic views, a variety of terrain from fast desert flow to legit downhill double blacks, Hawes is the place to ride in Phoenix. “
Alright mountain bikers, listen up. If you haven’t checked out the Hawes mountain biking trails in Phoenix, Arizona you need to asap. They’re awesome! I’ve ridden at Hawes a handful of times now and every time I go, it’s a treat. The trails are super well-built (even the climbs) and the descents are even better. There’s no mediocracy here.
As an added bonus, Hawes isn’t ugly either. The views out over Red Mountain and the surrounding saguaro-studded desert are stunning (especially during golden hour) – they’re some of my favorite vistas in Phoenix.
I tell everyone who’s heading to Phoenix to ride to put the Hawes trails at the top of their list. It’s one of my favorite trail networks and I’m excited to share it with you!
Hawes Trail Map
Hawes sits on the east side of Phoenix at the base of the Usery mountains. The network covers several small peaks and ridge lines, so be prepared for some climbing! There are several parking areas that access different sides of Hawes, and depending on where you park and what you ride, you can get 2,000+ feet of climbing in. Use my route recommendations below to see where to park.
What to Expect
Before heading out to Hawes, here are a few tips and things to keep in mind:
The Highlights 😁
- THE best mountain biking in Phoenix.
- Most trails are purpose-built for mountain bikers.
- Great variety of trail from fast flow to the techiest of tech
- Beautiful desert landscape.
- The lower trails are great for beginners.
- Surprisingly a lot of vertical ascent/descent.
The Reality Check 🤨
- The main climb up Alpe d’Huez and is a lung-buster.
- Sunset and Boulderdash are legit expert-only trails.
- The upper trails have some exposure where it would not be good if you went over the edge.
- Not well-signed.
- Gets pretty busy on weekends.
Ride by the Rules 🫡
- e-bikes are… not allowed? But you’ll see them. I even saw Chris Cocalis – founder of Pivot Bikes – out there with his crew testing their new e-bike model.
- Watch out for hikers and practice good mountain biking etiquette.
- Control your speed so you don’t make brake bumps!
- Wear your helmet, obvs.
How to Ride Hawes
Hawes truly is the best place to mountain bike in Phoenix. Along with Brown’s Ranch, it’s the place I most look forward to riding when I’m there. It’s hard to go wrong with any of the trails and there’s a good mix of variety from fast desert flow to steep and technical DH lines.
My Route Recommendations
Hawes isn’t a huge trail network, but the trails are built on all sides of the mountain, so it’s worthwhile having a ride plan to make the most of your time there. Below are my two favorite rides to do at Hawes:
Trails not to miss
Most of the trails at Hawes are pretty fun. I haven’t ridden all of them, but I have ridden probably 90% of them. Here are what I consider to be the best trails for mountain biking at Hawes:
Tip: The only trail I don’t recommend riding at Hawes is Riverview. It’s annoying.
FAQs & Planning Tips
🚗 Getting there: The Hawes trail network is located east of Phoenix. It’s technically in the ‘city’ of Mesa which, like all big cities, is basically just an extension of Phoenix. Keep in mind that Phoenix is HUGE. It can take two hours to drive from the west side to east side, so choose where you’re going to stay wisely.
🅿️ Parking: There are several trailheads that you can park at depending on which trails you want to ride (see route recommendations above).
- The Wildhorse parking area is at the start of the Wildhorse climbing trail, which accesses the more downhill-focused trails
- The Bush Highway Parking area is on the west side of the trail network and is a good starting spot for the lower-down trails (that are still equally fun with plenty of descending!)
🗺️ Navigating the trails: The trails at Hawes are well-signed, but there are no maps. I recommend having a mountain bike trail app downloaded to your phone.
💧 Water: There is no water at the trailheads or on the trails. Bring all that you need with you and your pack essentials.
📅 How many days: I’d say budget at least two days at Hawes. It’s the best mtb trail network in Phoenix and you can easily do two awesome and different rides here.
☀️ When to go: Winter (November through March) is ideal for mountain biking in Phoenix.
🚲 What type of bike to bring: A short or mid-travel full-suspension bike would be best.
⚡️ E-bikes: Technically no… but yes? You’ll see them there.
🏕️ Camping: There isn’t any camping at Hawes, but there’s a great city park campground at nearby Usery Mountain Region Park. You can even pedal into Hawes from the campground. Learn more about fees and how to book on the Maricopa County Website.
🏨 Hotels: When I’m in Phoenix and not camping, I prefer to stay in Fountain Hills. It’s close to Brown’s Ranch, McDowell, and Hawes, and not too far of a drive from Gold Canyon. Check out these hotels and rentals around Fountain Hills.
Need gear recs?
Head over to my gear closet! I’m always testing out new pieces of bike gear and if I really like them, they earn a place on this page.
I hope this post gives you all the info and inspiration you need to head out to Hawes for some unforgettable mountain biking fun. It’s my favorite place to mountain bike in Phoenix and I think you’ll see why 🙂 Enjoy!
Have you ridden at Hawes? What did you think? Is it the best mountain biking in Phoenix? What are your favorite trails? Leave a comment!
2nd MTB day in Scottsdale and I’ve followed the recommandation going to Hawes. I’ve taken the proposed “Hawes Classic” and add “Big sisters”.
Quite a demanding trail with long climb in rough/rock track (requesting a good shape). But the descent is really worth it. Super flowy trail in a wonderfool landscape. Many thanks again for the recommendation
Hawes is so good – glad you enjoyed it there as well! That’s one of my favorite routes 🙂