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This a great ride using Hawknest Trail and the 136th St. Express to ride the perimeter of the preserve.


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Map Key

18.1

Miles

29.1

KM

90%

Singletrack

2,956' 901 m

High

2,576' 785 m

Low

689' 210 m

Up

689' 210 m

Down

1%

Avg Grade (1°)

5%

Max Grade (3°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

This is a multi-use trail system - please use caution and respect other users. Downhill traffic should yield to uphill traffic. All users should yield to horses, and bikers and runners should yield to all users. Announce presence when approaching from behind.

Overview

This ride is a great way to find solitude. You can ride this either direction and get the same amount of climbing and fast downhill sections.

Need to Know

Use the MTB Project mobile app, or pick up a trail map at the trailhead at Browns Ranch to reference for the ride.

Description

This 18-mile long ride will give you a good workout with small climbs along with some fast downhill sections. The views are fantastic of the desert and during the weekdays you'll probably not meet many riders on Hawknest Trail. There is nothing technical just good fun riding. The trails are all well-marked and can be navigated easily with emergency markers and directional trail signs at each intersection.

This loop starts at the Browns Ranch Trailhead and takes Brown's Ranch Road north from the parking lot. There is on turn on Brown's Ranch Road on the way to Hawknest Trail, about 2.5 miles from the trailhead that turns to the right with an unmarked trail that goes straight. There is a sign post showing the turn. Don't take the narrower unmarked trail that goes straight. A general rule of thumb: if the trail isn't marked, don't follow it.

I used Brown's Ranch Road to get to Hawknest Trail then rode the entirety of Hawknest Trail east along the top of preserve to 136th St. Express. 136th St. Express was a fun ride with a lot of twists and turns and a couple of tight turns that will keep you alert. The parking areas along this trail do have port-a-potties but no water so be sure you carry plenty of water for the whole ride.

After a few miles on 136th St. Express, turn right onto Turpentine Trail which deadens at Whiskey Bottle Trail. A right onto Whiskey Bottle Trail will take you to Chuck Wagon Trail and a left onto Chuck Wagon Trail will lead you back to Brown's Ranch Road and to the trailhead.

There are many variations you can make to this ride because of the multitude of trails at Browns Ranch. The trails are hard packed desert soil so the riding is easy. You may even cross some old lava flows from when this area of Arizona still had active volcanos.

Enjoy.

Contacts

Shared By:

Peter May with improvements by Brigitte Flanagan

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 23 votes

#753

Overall
  4.4 from 23 votes
5 Star
52%
4 Star
39%
3 Star
9%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#41

in Arizona

#753

Overall
114 Views Last Month
9,937 Since Jan 31, 2018
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

39%
39%
22%
0%
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Photos

Spectacular Saguaro!
Mar 4, 2019 near Carefree, AZ
Looking east at thee Superstitions.
Jan 31, 2018 near Carefree, AZ
Cool Suguaro
Mar 19, 2020 near Carefree, AZ
Large Saguaro.  There are many of these along the loop.
Mar 27, 2021 near Carefree, AZ
Informative signage on all trail intersections
Jan 29, 2020 near Carefree, AZ
Sign is blown away
Mar 19, 2020 near Carefree, AZ
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 11 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Dec 30, 2023
Robert Wagner
Nov 4, 2023
Tom Riddle
Nice. 20mi — 2h 30m
Feb 6, 2023
Lou Hibbard
tc, with Al, rolling fun 18.1mi
Dec 16, 2022
James Anthony Barnes
Nov 12, 2021
J D
May 31, 2021
Judy W
17.9mi
Mar 10, 2021
Richard Schmiedeke
Beautiful well designed trail. Lots of fun. Not sure why class 1 ebikes aren't allowed! They're no faster and do no more trail damage than any other
Feb 23, 2021
Richard Schmiedeke
Outstanding trail!
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