As a true patron of the Hawes trail system, ridge is a must for each ride. With rocky descents and…read moretough climbing, it brings something to the table for everyone. However, if you're new to the area or just new to mountain biking you may want to steer clear of this trail until you have had a bit of dirt under your tires. At 1.8 miles long, Ridge is one of the most difficult and exhilarating trails that the "Hawes" System has to offer. As most of Hawes is a cross country style of riding, many people decide to venture onto this trail without true knowledge of what they are getting them selves into. The start of Ridge gets into some slight downhill on the edge of the mountain with an open face to your right side. This adrenaline rushed ride can be bombed through, our picked at methodically, as there are many jagged rocks waiting toss you off the edge. While the red rock begins to disappear, the climb to the tip of Ridge Trail begins. At the peak, there are stunning views showing Red Mountain and all of the Salt River area. Personally, I enjoy riding this trail early in the morning or in the evening as the sun hitting the mountain is a stunning sight. However, enough of the scenic talk, back to the trail. As you tires begin to rotate faster you'll find yourself bombing through tight corners and steep rocky descents making your heart rate shoot as if you were climbing a mountain. Although, what goes down must come up. At the end of your wild roller coaster ride you drop into a wash, which turns into a river after large storms, and begin the treacherous climb back to power road. This is were roadies tend to prevail leaving mountain bikers, especially us single speeders, in the dust. If you haven't been out the the Hawes Trail system I would highly suggest a trip. Try to avoid it on Saturday mornings as many hikers seem to favor doing this trail backwards which leads to some awkward encounters as you almost plow through them (not that I have ever experienced one of these moments). Whether you are a seasoned rider trying to test your skills, or a beginner who wishes to improve their technical riding give Ridge trail a try, you'll be happy you did.

Back to Gold Canyon Mountain biking again - incredible random slamin maniacal crazy maze of trails…read more Like a spiderweb, no kidding. It's a picture postcard day to snap a few photos of Sonoran desert plants with a back drop of gold and bronze mountain ridges. Can you dig it? Sly incredible blue and billowing clouds scattered throughout. Paint that if you are an artist! Due to the fact I've only ridden here a handful of times on my travelsI, I often stop at intersections and consult my Trailforks app for the best way to go. Do all the blue and green trails I can and some of the black diamond. Make sure you come back on the K trail. It's like a thrill ride at a Disney theme park! K trail promises big dips with big drops and big pops Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah! Solid Mountain bike riding skills, stamina and the lust to ride like your pants on fire - is a must!

Best of the best! Absolutely amazing quality work and reasonable prices. Highly recommended and got…read moremy retro BMX bike riding like new!

Friendly, helpful, and fast. They were able to fix my flat tire and provided a tool that will help…read moreme in the future thank you bike boss -from another boss

Went on a hike with my partner and our dog the other day. We had high hopes but were pretty…read moredisappointed. We hiked all the way to the top of the mountain and we just felt it was a little depressing. It's not the most aesthetic trail by any means. It's right near some power plant which gave it an industrial vibe. The mountain was a straight incline on concrete. The very top was the best part, but I'm in no rush to hike here again.

We were able to hike but there really was no more. Like hiking on gravel, not the best AZ has to…read moreoffer

Very nice hiking trails with great views. I only hiked, not biked but my brother said the trails…read moreare great for biking. The trails are not paved. You're in the desert. I went in November and the weather was perfect.

GREAT place for any skill level of mountain biker or biker! I recommend going up North Star and…read morethen shooting it down into the hurl, and then starting over again

I had a last minute trip to Scottsdale and had no plan of doing anything outdoors. Fortunately, I…read morefound Sonoran Outdoor Adventures and was able to book online easily. Marek met us at Brown's Ranch Trailhead with our fat tire bikes, helmets, water and snacks. Safety was a top priority and Marek made sure our bikes were the right height for us. We booked the sunset tour and I am so happy we did. Marek was so informative and shared a lot of history and information about the area we were in. I had never explored a desert setting and I have to say it is breathtaking! The entire time I felt like I was on a fake movie set - YES it's that beautiful! Marek took lots of pictures and even recorded a few videos. Hours after our tour he sent us a custom mini video with pictures and videos of our tour. If you have time for a bike tour please do not hesitate to book the Sunset tour with Sonoran Outdoor Adventures. We chose the beginner level for our tour and although it was a lot of peddling, we survived! Can't wait to do it again!

Good location--the reserve is beautiful and huge. Excellent introductory experience (we were…read morebeginners), tour was tailored to our interest and skill level. Tour guide, Levi, was excellent, and very knowledgeable about history and plants/animals do the desert. Would definitely recommend.

Wow one of the best places ever…read more Seriously, get great trails great rocks, cool artifacts to look at, (but not touch;) !! Peridot Quartzite Agate Garnet schist Chalcedony

Not the most breathtaking views but it was a picture perfect day for a hike, and I wanted to see…read moresaguaro cacti. Some of the cacti were in the upwards of 30 feet tall. They look like stick figures with arms raised toward the sun in the fields. I took the four mile D trail "Over the Mountain Loop." It does not matter which direction if you are completing the entire trail, but I would go with the "start" direction if you only want to do part of the trail as it heads toward the side of the mountain with a better view. Multiple signs with mile count and QR code. Even though it was only 60 degrees, it was warm in the sun with a gentle breeze. Got to say hello to a horned owl nested in a cactus umbra. I would not have seen it except a fellow hiker who visits every year told me to look over the fence. Not a large parking lot and not any nearby alternatives, so be patient. A ranger was cutting off traffic from the trailer only parking, and she was recording license plates.

Today I was a first time customer at Spartan Rides. Oh my...I can't believe this shop has been here…read morefor years and I'm just now experiencing it! I pass it 5-7 times a week on my way to the gym. Thankfully they put up flags so I knew to look for them. Veteran owned bike shop! The layout and selection is also aesthetically pleasing and everything is easy to find. They even have demo bikes that are available to tryout. The gentleman who was working today (forgot to ask his name through my excitement) was very friendly and was genuinely interested in helping me. He also gave me background on the owners and how they started up. Very cool story! * Bonus they do repairs!!

I bought my bike from Spartan when they first opened and have been very happy with the bike and the…read moreshop as a whole ever since. Great staff, great selection of parts. Great job Spartan Rides.

Well maintained, paved, multi use trail. Several official trailhead openings along the New River…read moreTrail. There are also many points to join the trail that are not official trailheads. The Fletcher Heights trailhead is in a medical/industrial park. No bathrooms here. (There is a QT near by if looking for restrooms.) Take a break at one of the covered picnic tables. Water station with water fountain and bottle refill. Tool station near the map to adjust or fix one's bike. Streatching/parcore bars over by Cigna. There is even a little lending library. (Look for the green newspaper holder.) Parking available at the trailhead. If full, additional parking is available further in the center. Usage of the trail was about 50/50 those on bikes vs. those on foot. When passing eachother, people were using good trail etiquette. A couple people were walking their dogs, but not many. With a length of the trail, 13.5 miles, many people seem to be there to take advantage of the length. I myself only walked about 5 miles. Trail itself follows the wash. Use good judgment in regards to weather. Posted signs warn to stay out when flooded; this is a flash flood area. Wash made for a nice view. There were many different types of birds. While I didn't stop, there are spots with benches to sit and enjoy the view. Sporadic spots with shade. Various points had treadmarks where riders have chose to go off roading in the wash.