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Dead Horse Ranch State Park Ride

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
 3.9 (41)
  1. Areas
  2. AZ
  3. …Central AZ
  4. Cottonwood and Clarkdale
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“A little known trail that can compete with Sedona. ”

Hillary Mathis
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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
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.9 from 41 votes

#1

in Cottonwood and Clarkdale

#608

Overall
  3.9 from 41 votes
5 Star
22%
4 Star
49%
3 Star
27%
2 Star
2%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Cottonwood and Clarkdale

#33

in Arizona

#608

Overall
96 Views Last Month
15,689 Since Jul 26, 2013
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
3%
0%
47%
28%
22%
0%
Add a Photo

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

6 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

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Check-Ins

Apr 11, 2024
Serena Mangus
Rode up Bones to Upper Raptor, returned via Rust Bucket to Lower Raptor. 15.3mi
Jun 15, 2023
Jeff Smith
Great trail right out of the campground. 13.7mi — 1h 43m
Nov 25, 2021
Nate Christenson
Awesome trail. Nice climb with a few fun, technical-ish sections. You can keep your suspension open the whole way down. 14mi — 1h 50m
Oct 28, 2021
Atsuko Ohtake
Apr 22, 2021
Mark Nasky
Bones up 17.5mi — 2h 15m
Mar 28, 2021
Tyler Cande
Rocky but fun! 13.9mi — 2h 04m
Mar 20, 2021
victor thompson
22.2mi — 2h 30m
Mar 18, 2021
Bobby Lee
Being from PA, I felt at home with the rocky sections. These trails have it all...climbing, downhills, drops, berms, rocks, and more. 17.7mi — 1h 53m

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