AZ Trail and Oracle State Park

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Allowed

This group of trails is little used, but a lot of fun. There is a lot of climbing, some of it rather difficult. This ride joins up a section of AZ trail with the trail system in Oracle State Park.

The trail starts by taking you downhill. The terrain is smooth and flows well. With a little bit of climbing, but more downhill, you eventually reach the windmill. There is a picnic table here and it's a great place to take a little break. From here there are two options. The short route takes you along the power line trail for about a mile, with some steep ups and downs. The route as mapped here takes you the longer way, about 3 miles.

Head north from the windmill up the wash. Follow the wash for about a mile, keeping an eye out for a sign on the left that reads Windmill loop. This loop is also referred to by the locals as the boy scout loop, as there were the ones that used to maintain it. As of this writing, it looks like no one has ridden this trail for many years. The climbing is difficult when the trail is well visible. There are stones to mark the trail, so keep a sharp eye out. It is best to closely follow the gps route - use the MTB Project MTB Project mobile app.

It will mostly be hike-a-bike for the first half as you look for where the trail is supposed to be. After working your way along the windmill loop, it intersects the power line trail again. From here take a right. Follow the power line trail until it pops out at a parking lot with trail access in Oracle State Park. The trail is steep up and steep down undulating for about 2 miles. .7 miles from the parking lot the trail splits in two and you can take the power line trail or the wash trail. Both will get you to the parking lot just the same.

Once at the parking lot, you can take the Mariposa trail to the main parking lot inside the park. The Mariposa trail is a fun fast trail. It comes out on the road into the park. When you reach the road take a left and ride on the paved road into the park. Look for the Nature Trail heading towards the Wildlife Corridor Trail and then take the Wildlife Corridor Trail, which gets you back out to just above the windmill. The Wildlife Corridor Trail is mostly climbing, but it is not too difficult. It is gradual.

Once you reach the intersection of the Wildlife Corridor Trail and the AZ trail, take a right and continue back on the AZ trail the way you came in. It is mostly climbing on smooth trail back out to the trailhead.