Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Great Places to Ride Your Bike in Arizona

By Patricia J Williams

Arizona has a variety of terrains, but probably the most prominent is flat desert. While there are still some great rocky climbs, here in Arizona you can really fly on the smooth, flat sections. Its a great place to work on your speed and just enjoy nature too.

If you are looking for an easy trail that the whole family will love, then visit Buffalo Park near Flagstaff, Arizona. This is a two mile loop that is mostly flat and offers several cool down stations where the kids can rest and cool off. The trail is kept in good condition. It is popular though so be on watch for hikers, bikers and dogs.

If you are looking to bike for speed, head to the Dynamite trail by Scottsdale. This is one of the fastest trails in the state. It is 20 miles of smooth trail over rolling terrain. The area has several trails which added together actually offer way more than 20 miles. It's a good idea to bring along a map and plenty of water when biking this trail.

There is a trail for everyone at the Greaterville Trails. You can choose from trails of various difficulty and practice different types of biking. There is a lot of variation so you will never get bored. There's not much traffic either so you can have a rare chance at solitude and ride just for the fun of it.

Submarine Rock Trail is located near beautiful Sedona, Arizona. This desert trail will keep you on your toes. It offers plenty of dirt, sand, rocks and even some slickrock. The views along this trail are pretty awesome too.

The Sunset Trail is located near Flagstaff. This trail will give you a real workout. It covers a seven mile climb that increases your altitude by 2000 feet when you make it to the top. The real fun begins when you make the incredible descent back down to the bottom.

If you are an experienced rider, you will love the 345-347 loop near Prescott. This is a challenging ten mile loop with a steep climb and awesome descent. This trail puts boulders in your path and features technical sections that are curvy and rocky along with dry sandy washes and wet creek crossings. Be prepared to pay a $5 fee if you get on the trail at Granite Mountain recreation area. This is a beautiful area to go biking but it is especially pretty in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom.

Southern Arizona has some of the best and often overlooked bike trails in the state that run through its national forests. On these you will experience great biking and amazing scenic canyon views and just might even get a visit from local Arizona wildlife. It doesn't matter how well you ride or if you ride for fun or adventure, Arizona has a trail just for you. - 16887

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