Four Winter Mountain Bike Destinations For Adventurous Beginner Riders
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Four Winter Mountain Bike Destinations For Adventurous Beginner Riders
Does this scenario sound anything like you? You were introduced to mountain biking over the summer and instantly fell in love because it’s the best sport in the world. You spent every free hour exploring awesome singletrack in your backyard and you made significant strides in your skills and fitness over those glorious summer months. You were initiated into a group of rad mountain bike shredders and had more fun with them than you’ve ever had in your life. Life was amazing. But then winter hit and snow instantly covered your newfound playground. Tears were shed and you wondered how in the world you were going to get through the winter without being able to ride your mountain bike. Hopelessness set in.
Ok…. maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration (or not!), but if you’re new to mountain biking and not as enthralled with winter as all your snow-loving friends, don’t despair! There are actually a handful of mountain bike destinations in the southwest that are perfect for newbie mountain bikers. Whether you’re going solo, with a partner, or with a group of friends, these four beginner mountain bike destinations will cater to all. Who’s up for a road trip?
1. Phoenix, Arizona
McDowell Mountain Park & Brown’s Ranch
McDowell Mountain Park and nearby Brown’s Ranch in northeast Phoenix are the PERFECT destinations for beginner mountain bikers to keep their two wheels rolling during the winter and to work on honing skills and fitness. A good majority of the trails in both areas are rated green on TrailForks (easiest), but if you’re ready to branch out on slightly harder terrain that’s available too.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
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Wide singletrack and even doubletrack trails that are a combination of hard-packed buff and grippy rock rolls
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Horse and foot traffic. Both areas are very popular with outdoor enthusiasts, so be prepared to share the trails
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Open desert landscape. The terrain in Brown’s Ranch and McDowell Park is beautiful with lots of rolling hills and ridges, tall cacti, distant bluffs, and an epic golden hour. BUT it is the desert, so be prepared with lots of water, snacks, appropriate clothing, and sunscreen
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E-bikes allowed? Yes
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Temps in the 60’s-70’s during the winter months
Pedaling among the cacti in Brown’s Ranch
SUGGESTED ROUTES:
1. Pemberton Loop – a 18-mile loop on mostly smooth singletrack in McDowell Park. The loops passes through beautiful desert landscape with ample opportunity to see wildlife. You can also cut it short by taking any of the inside trails.
2. Sport Loop & Long Loop – a slightly more technical 10-mile loop that is popular with cross-country racers. If you head here on the weekend be prepared to see a ton of traffic. If you don’t want to take the descent down the Technical Trail (which really isn’t very technical) stay on the Sport Loop and then make your way over to the Long Loop near the pump track.
3. Latigo Hawksnest Loop – this is a great intro to Brown’s Ranch. The Latigo trail is beautiful and buffed with a gradual incline. Cloudburst is a new purpose-built trail that has some fun berms to practice cornering then it’s a super fun descent down Hawksnest back to the car!
2. Tucson, Arizona
Fantasy Island & Sweetwater Preserve
Fantasy Island in southeast Tucson is one big tangle of singletrack fun. It’s a purpose-built network (meaning it was built for mountain bikers) and is a great place for beginner riders to find their flow. Sweetwater Preserve in northwest Tucson is another great option. Both networks have very minimal tech, but are fun for all levels of riders!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
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Fantasy Island trails are all one-way. Don’t ride them in the opposite direction.
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Sweetwater Preserve is popular with hikers and equestrians. Share the trail and be courteous please!
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While these are beginner networks, there are still a few technical sections and features that may need to be walked
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E-bikes allowed? Yes in Fantasy Island, No in Sweetwater Preserve
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Temps in the 60’s-70’s during the winter months
SUGGESTED ROUTES:
1. Bunny Loop
Just south of Fantasy Island is a network with a very beginner-friendly loop called the Bunny Trail. There’s about 8 miles of trail in this zone and it’s a great intro to Fantasy Island.
2. Long Cactus Loop
Fantasy Island is super easy to navigate, especially if you have the TrailForks App, but this is a good loop if you’re looking for a moderate spin. If you’re feeling good you could add on the Christmas Tree Loop or head into the Burro Pit Loop. Again, Fantasy Island is very contained and very easy to navigate, so hit the trails and have fun!
3. 10-Mile Sweetwater Preserve Route
The best of Sweetwater Preserve. Basically keep following the outer trails to link-up a 10-mile loop. If you want to make it a bit shorter, cut out the Black Rock Loop.
3. Las Vegas, Nevada
Bear’s Best & Blue diamond
Las Vegas may be known for its glitz and glamour, but did you know that it is also home to some pretty rad singletrack? There’s literally mountain biking all around the city. The most beginner-friendly zone is Bear’s Best which is located directly west of town (not to be confused with the Bear’s Best Golf Course). Bear’s Best is a tangle of beginner and intermediate trails with a few blacks thrown into the mix. It’s a purpose-built zone (meaning that it was built for mountain bikers) and the trails are set up on a progression scale so you’ll be honing skills and fitness in no time.
Blue Diamond is a bit more old school than Bear’s Best, but still super fun and great for beginners. The Landmine Loop is probably the most well-known, but there’s also the Three-Mile Smile descent and Badger Pass, which are both super fun.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
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The Bear’s Best network is currently unsanctioned (meaning it’s not technically legal nor maintained), so ride at your own risk
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The network is primarily cross-country riding with smooth trails. There are a few rock gardens and technical features, but they’re few and far between on the blue and green trails
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E-bikes allowed? Yes
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Temps in the 60’s-70’s during the winter months
SUGGESTED ROUTES:
1. Zion March
This loop encompasses some of the easiest trails in Blue Diamond: Rusty Bucket, Upper Deck, and Stash. In total there’s about 1,283 ft of climbing which you will feel, so if you’re not into that, duck out on Goat or make Upper Deck and out-and-back.
2. Bears Best Quickie
A slight step up from Zion March, Bear’s Best is an 11-mile loop with 1,083 ft of climbing and – as its name suggest – encompasses some of the best trails in the neighborhood.
3. Blue Diamond Loop
For the adventurous beginner. Most of the trail is dirt and flat, but there are some techy rock gardens and a few features that might hang you up. There’s a climb at the start to get you warmed up, but then it’s rolling for a bit before you start the descent.
4. Hurricane, Utah
JEM Trails, Gooseberry Mesa, & Wire Mesa
Hurricane is the mini-Moab. While it doesn’t have the iconic red slickrock it is home to some amazing granite (I think? It’s gray rock and I am not a geologist…) slab rolls. And due to its location just outside of Zion, it’s a great place to visit pre- or post- National Parking. The riding in and around Hurricane can be as easy or insane as you’d like. You may recognize the area from the Red Bull Rampage, but there’s also mellow trails that are great for easy riding.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
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Epic views of Zion and the surrounding mesas
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Rock slab riding
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Temps in the 50’s-60’s during the winter months. It does get cold and snowy in Hurricane, so make sure you check the weather before heading out on a road trip
SUGGESTED ROUTES:
1. Mellow JEM
The JEM trails are the most beginner-friendly trails in Hurricane. They’re located below the upper mesas of Gooseberry and Wire, but the views are still awesome and the riding is super fun. Expect mellow climbs, gradual descents (with a few rock gardens), and mostly cross-country pedaling.
2. Gooseberry Mesa – N Rim
Gooseberry Mesa is the ride to do in Hurricane, but the main loop is a bit technical and probably stretching the limits of a beginner/intermediate rider. However, there are the North Rim Trail and White Trail that are perfect for mellower rides. I would definitely recommend hike-a-biking (or riding if you’re up for it!) out to the Gooseberry Mesa Lookout. It’s incredible. On the below map, Windmill is an optional out-and-back.
3. Wire Mesa Loop
This 7-mile loop has amazing views out over Zion and surrounding mesas, but there is some minor exposure so if you’re not into heights this might not be the trail for you. That being said, it’s pretty awesome! The riding is mostly flat and straightforward, but there are still some engaging features like rock rolls and slab riding. I like the description on TrailForks: “If Guacamole and JEM had a trail baby, this is what it would look like”
Gooseberry Mesa Viewpoint
Are you an adventurous beginner mountain biker? Where is your favorite place to ride?
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Still sandstone on gooseberry Mesa. Great recommendations!