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A little known trail that can compete with Sedona.


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Map Key

13.9

Miles

22.3

KM

80%

Singletrack

4,302' 1,311 m

High

3,319' 1,012 m

Low

1,211' 369 m

Up

1,210' 369 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

22%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Overview

The upper part of this trail is new and waiting for people to break it in. The entire trail is exposed and best ridden in the spring and fall. The uphill sections of the trail are fairly smooth. Thumper trail is fast and flowy. Lime Kiln is a blast going down, even with the few techy sections. Limme Kiln is all rideable for intermediate and advanced riders with a couple parts that beginners may have to walk.

Need to Know

There is a $7/day fee to drive into Dead Horse Ranch State Park. The trail is at the far end of the tent camping area.

Description

The trail is best ridden starting the lower loop in a clockwise direction and riding the trail as a figure eight. All the lower trails are marked with signs. Start your ride on the Lower Raptor Hill trail. This will be all climbing. Continue on the Upper Raptor Hill trail. When you get to the top you'll turn on to Rusty Bucket. Be prepared for a bumpy downhill.

Rusty Bucket ends on a jeep road. Take this down to the center of the 8 and continue on Thumper. Thumper is fast and flowy. Have a blast.

Take Thumper to Lime Kiln and blast back down to the park. There is a little spur called Rattlesnake Wash Overlook Spur towards the end, off of Lime Kiln, that has a nice view looking south.

Contacts

Land Manager: Arizona State Parks

Shared By:

Hillary Mathis with improvements by Dominik Malik

Trail Ratings

  3.9 from 40 votes

#588

Overall
  3.9 from 40 votes
5 Star
23%
4 Star
48%
3 Star
28%
2 Star
3%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#32

in Arizona

#588

Overall
96 Views Last Month
15,689 Since Jul 26, 2013
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

3%
0%
46%
29%
23%
0%

Photos

Descending Raptor trail.
Jul 3, 2021 near Cottonwood, AZ
Bike packing in a hammock with a view of city lights
Nov 24, 2020 near Cottonwood, AZ
Rattlesnake Wash Overlook
Jul 26, 2013 near Cottonwood, AZ
Moving into the rust bucket
Jan 19, 2018 near Cottonwood, AZ
Singletrack on Rust Bucket descent.
May 8, 2016 near Cottonwood, AZ
Looking down Lower Raptor.
May 8, 2016 near Cottonwood, AZ
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 7 days ago
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