We have chosen one of the
most beautiful areas in the west for a wild mountain bike ride.
This is a seven-day, inn-to-inn, tour through the Coconino and
Prescott National Forests. Starting in Flagstaff, at 7000' in
elevation, we ride through the largest stands of ponderosa pines
in Arizona and later descend to the stunning red rock mesas of
Sedona. We visit Tuzigoot, the pueblo dwellings of the Sinagua
and spend the evening in the old mining town of Jerome where remnants
of its glory days of copper are still present. We conclude our
journey at the small town of Williams. The majority of the trip
is on dirt roads maintained by the National Forest Service with
very little off-road traffic.
The higher altitudes of our tour are inhabited by herds of elk
and deer and other wildlife abound. And, May is a wonderful time
to visit this area as the spring wildflowers will still be blooming.
Our accommodations range from rustic cabins to quaint inns - all
providing comfortable and unique settings. We ride between 35
to 45 miles a day, which leaves plenty of time to explore the
area or just enjoy the scenery.
It is our first and foremost goal to ensure that you have a wonderful
time. So, if you would like to join us, please read on!
Itinerary for Northern Arizona Tour
- DAY 1 - Arrive in Flagstaff Spend the remainder of the day exploring Old Flagstaff and
enjoying the crisp air of this high alpine region. Afternoon warm
up ride through the surrounding countryside and a big western
"howdy" dinner that evening.
- DAY 2 - Flagstaff to Mormon Lake We start our tour through the Coconino National Forest and
travel on primarily Forest Service roads. Keep a close look out
as we may spot elk, whitetail deer, and even wild turkeys. A truly
beautiful ride though the ponderosa pines and meadows ending at
cozy cabins nestled in the woods.
- DAY 3 - Mormon Lake to Sedona We leave Mormon Lake and continue to ride through the forest
till we make a spectacular descent through the magical Red Rock
country and the town of Sedona. We'll reside for two nights next
to the cool, clear river of Oak Creek.
- DAY 4 - Sedona A rest day here gives you time to explore this wonderful riverside
town surrounded by towering red mesas and buttes. Tlaquepaque
Village offers a closeby collection of art galleries and shopping.
Each evening we'll enjoy delicious regional cuisine.
- DAY 5 - Sedona to Jerome We leave Sedona behind and travel through the Red Rock Secret
Mountain Wilderness trail. We'll ride on the mesa tops and slowly
descend to the Verde River and the Sinagua ruins of Tuzigoot.
A challenging ride or a short shuttle to the hillside mining town
of Jerome. Now it's time for a "cold" one at a western
saloon. Jerome is a great town to explore, its switchback roads
and cliff hugging buildings are only outdone by the picturesque
views of the Verde Valley below.
- DAY 6 - Jerome to Williams We ride through the Prescott Forest and once again drop down
to the Verde River. We'll have a picnic at the river's edge. From
there, you can shuttle up to the town named after Bill Williams,
the famous Mountain Man, or continue to ride on paved roads to
our final evening in Williams.
- DAY 7 - Morning transfer to Flagstaff We say "adios" to this beautiful area with great
memories and photos to take with us. We transfer everyone back
to Flagstaff by noon.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Itinerary may vary due to availability.
- For those that wish to explore the area more, a steam train
leaves from Williams and travels to the south rim of the Grand
Canyon.
This tour is limited to a small group, a maximum of 16, and will
provide a variety of riding challenges. The terrain is predominantly
downhill, with two long grades where beginning riders may want
to shuttle. Mountains bikes can be provided for an additional
fee or you can bring your own.
