Name: Sunset
Rating: 4.6

Conditions

All Clear 88 days ago

Dry History

Getting forecast...

“Varied riding with smooth forested singletrack, ridgeline vistas, and steep technical sections”

— Almonzo Wilder

Driving Directions GPX File

Dogs Unknown

Features -none-

Description

Sunset is a trail with two distinct personalities. The softer side of Sunset is from Schultz Pass to the intersection with the Little Bear Trail. It's a moderate cruise that climbs through shaded conifer forest over a small saddle, where beautiful views of the SF Peaks can be had.

Beyond Little Bear, Sunset gets serious as it climbs to the main ridgeline of Mount Elden. The "Hobbit Forest" is a steep technical rock garden set in an aspen forest. Past this, the trail stays near to the summit ridge, where there are big views to the east toward the Painted Desert over the slopes burned by the 1977 Radio Fire.

Contacts

Local Club: Flagstaff Biking Organization

Land Manager: USFS - Coconino National Forest Office

Feb 4, 2019: Updated closure order adds recreation opportunities near Flagstaff

Jan 31, 2019: Public meetings, comment period extended for Fossil Creek CRMP

Jan 31, 2019: Pile burns planned for next week

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.6 from 14 votes

#2

in Mount Elden

#480

Overall

4.6 from 14 votes

5 Star		57%
4 Star		43%
3 Star		0%
2 Star		0%
1 Star		0%

Rankings

#2

in Mount Elden

#27

in Arizona

#480

Overall

56 Views Last Month

5,290 Since Jun 9, 2013

Intermediate/Difficult

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		8%
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		23%
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Photos

Autumn

SF Peaks from meadows on top of Sunset.

View from the Sunset Parking Lot. Schultz Creek…

Upper Sunset, to the Hobbit Forest.

The "Hobbit Forest" section of Sunset Trail.

The Sunset Trail with Mount Elden in the backgr…

Antennas on Mt. Elden.

2 Comments

Michael Turner
Boulder, CO

Michael Turner Boulder, CO

Mostly Blue/black but the rock garden is a tough one if you aren't at least an intermediate bordering on advanced rider. I was nursing five stitches from a previous fall so I walked most of it. I would normally have ridden it but prudence was the way to go. Oct 21, 2016

Flag

Patrick Woods

Excellent! Without knowing any better, I climbed Sunset. Altitude and some steep/technical sections made it tough. But, the descent was absolutely worth it! Great combination of chunky and flowy fun. It was later recommended to me that the ride starts at the "Y" where Shultz Pass Rd and Mt Elden Lookout Rd split, and you ride up Elden Lookout Rd to the top of Sunset, then descend Sunset and also descend Shultz Creek Trail back to your car. I'll be back to try that route next time. Nov 21, 2018

Flag

4.7 Miles 7.6 Kilometers Singletrack	1,488' 454 m Ascent -486' -148 m Descent
8% Avg Grade (5°) 50% Max Grade (26°)	9,140' 2,786 m High 8,058' 2,456 m Low

Sunset

4.7 Miles 7.6 Kilometers

Singletrack

1,488' 454 m

-486' -148 m

8%

50%

9,140' 2,786 m

8,058' 2,456 m

Shared By Almonzo Wilder

Conditions