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Taliesin Loop

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 3.8 (29)
  1. Areas
  2. AZ
  3. …Phoenix Metro
  4. …Scottsdale
  5. McDowell Sonoran Preserve: Southern Region
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“A quick winding loop through rocky desert landscape. ”

Daniel Young
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Map Key

8.4

Miles

13.6

KM

70%

Singletrack

1,992' 607 m

High

1,476' 450 m

Low

560' 171 m

Up

562' 171 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (1°)

14%

Max Grade (8°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Allowed

Overview

A quick loop that has a couple difficult climbs depending on which way you take it. Leads to a cool viewpoint and has a ton of flowing singletrack.

Need to Know

There is no public parking near the start of the loop but there is a different starting point at the Quartz Trail on 104th street and McDowell Mountain Ranch Road.

Description

Start out at Cactus and Frank Lloyd Right and take the trail on the Northeast corner up the side of Frank Lloyd Right. Stay on this trail along the road until it starts to climb and go across the bridge over the canal. Take the junction left and climb up over the little hill and ride up the fire road.

Depending on which way you want to go around the loop, you can either go right at the first junction that points towards Taliesin Trail or go straight toward the golf course. Take the second left down and then climb back out of the wash. Ride along West World Trail until the sign points to the right to Quartz Trail.

Cross the cart path of the golf course and head up Quartz Trail. Climb up Quartz for a considerable amount of time going under a bridge making sure not to miss the trail left down into the wash at McDowell Recreation Center. Keep riding up and continue straight at the Paradise trail junction. It's a pretty steady climb all the way to the top.

When you reach the top you'll ride for a short distance to another junction and take it right. Enjoy the winding Taliesin Trail down and there will be on junction along the way which you'll take left. After that there will be two points where the trail crosses a concrete pathway. Continue on until you go under another bridge and take the trail left up over hill.

From here it's pretty fast back down to the first fire road. Take it back down to the starting point

Contacts

Land Manager: Maricopa County Parks

Shared By:

Daniel Young
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.8 from 29 votes

#1

in McDowell Sonoran Preserve: Southern Region

#926

Overall
  3.8 from 29 votes
5 Star
24%
4 Star
45%
3 Star
24%
2 Star
3%
1 Star
3%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in McDowell Sonoran Prese…

#44

in Arizona

#926

Overall
83 Views Last Month
11,028 Since Sep 4, 2013
Intermediate Intermediate
3%
0%
83%
7%
7%
0%
Add a Photo

Photos

Lower Quartz Trail in the wash between neighborhoods....very rocky
Sep 5, 2018 near Fountai…, AZ
Looking Down Quartz Trail from just below the summit....near the connector to Taliesin Trail.
Jan 17, 2015 near Fountai…, AZ
Near the bottom of Quartz Trail
Sep 4, 2013 near Fountai…, AZ

3 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 58 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Dec 7, 2023
Charles Curtin
Dec 3, 2022
Dave J
Mar 7, 2022
Rock On
Oct 3, 2021
Mike Rossi
11mi
Dec 29, 2020
Stephanie Henderson
go the opposite way arrows say on mtb. the incline is steeeeeep and would be a way better down. 7.3mi — 1h 35m
Nov 20, 2020
Matthew Schwartz
First time, Loved it!!! 13.5mi — 1h 30m
Oct 31, 2020
Mike Murphy
First time
Oct 19, 2020
Ed Gill
Very nice trail once you get past the golf courses and McMansions. Added few rocky miles of Lost Dog trail towards the Taliesin Overlook for views. — 2h 00m

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