Arizona Trail – “418 Section”

An excellent trail, perhaps one of the best for ORHC’s or MTBs
An excellent shuttle if you can arrange one, if not, parking on Snowball Road at “Aspen Corner” and doing an out & back.

My review starts at a white corral on FSR 151 “Hart Prairie Road” off of 89A which goes from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon, I would estimate it at around six mils from the pavement, there is a dirt parking lot  with a log fence around it on the W side of the road, parking here you go through a gate IN the corral, climbing up an old road grade until you cross the Arizona Trail (AZT) which goes from Utah to Mexico – you will go Left / North towards Utah.
Immediately you are in forest, then meadow, then forest, with sweeping views of the Coconino NF for up to 100 miles and the San Francisco Peaks loom to you right.
You will stick to this trail – in one aspen grove there is a rock slot which must be navigated going N by going around it to the R by a large log, if returning, you can navigate the slot.
Really pleasant riding!
You will continue onwards  / north, with you only turn marked “Bismark Lake” to the left, you stick to the AZT to the right – now, you get over four miles of some of the best ORHC downhill there is, ending at your shuttle vehicle parked on FSR 418

More Information

Trail Name: Arizona Trail – “418 Section”

Location: Flagstaff,  |  Map

Type: Narrow trail (< 30"), Start and end at different points

Rating: Adaptive Level 08

Length: 8 miles-ish

Steepest Section: Moderate – between 10-30º

Most Off-Camber Section: Moderate – between 10-30º

Terrain: Mostly hardpack, minimal loose sections

Obstacles: Root exposure, Baby heads and/or rock gardens, Drops, ledges, jumps, Numerous large boulders to navigate

Help Needed? Nope

Even more info: Coconino National forest

Directions to Trailhead

There are two ends to this ride – one at the white corral on Coconino NF FSR 151, the southern end, and 418, the northern one.
Both join Hwy 89A which runs from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon, and 151 runs north until it joins 418, where you would turn R/E to get to the other end.
Both parking areas are small and tucked into he aspens.
Keep your eyes open.
Excellent free camping.
If you do not have a shuttle, both trail heads or alternatively “Aspen Corner” on the way to Snow Bowl ski area are all great.

Map

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