Heading to Phoenix for a weeks vacation. Will be staying in Apache Jtc. Looking for places to ride or run. Mtn or road will work.
Also, any good bike shops to visit.
As for the biking, see the previous postings below. I wrote extensively. Since you’ll be in Apache Junction, pay particular attention to the Apache Trail ride description:
Heading to Phoenix for a weeks vacation. Will be staying in Apache Jtc. Looking for places to ride or run. Mtn or road will work.
Also, any good bike shops to visit.
Don’t know of any bike shops out towards AJ. The good thing is AJ is a ways out there, there are tons of trails for mtn and running, and you can always hop on the 60 and head up into the hills to globe or one of the other cities. If you’re in the area over a weekend before the end of March, hop on over and catch the Renaissance Festival, it’s a blast!
John
Yes, if you are staying in Apache Junction, you must, must do the Tortilla Flat road ride (Apache Trail). Take Apache Trail east out of town, then it turns northeast and becomes State Route 88. It is a high-speed, two lane road with no bike lanes and sometimes some unfriendly drivers, but for the most part it is safe. As the other poster said, it has a ton of climbing, awesome scenery, and lots of curves. You’ll pass a marina by the lake where you can sometimes get water, but don’t count on it. There is also a restaurant at the “Tortilla Flat” old western tourist place, where water may also be available if you really need it. The nice thing is, once you get on SR 88 heading northeast, it is an out-n-back route on just one road - ride until the pavement ends and then go back. It’s an ass-kicker but well, well worth it.
If this is to far out there, is there any other cities nearby that are better. Say no more than 30 min. drive.
What are looking for when you stay here? And how much do you want to spend, if you are looking for hotels, etc.?
Apache Junction isn’t bad, but it is “out there”. If you want more food, shopping etc, move west 10 miles to the east side of Mesa. The problem is there is very few places to stay in Mesa. I’m thinking you have a trailer or RV? If that’s the case. Places to stay are no problem.
Tortilla Flats, aka End of Pavement (EOP) is a great ride, but less great on the weekends with higher volume of drunken boater traffic.
Our #1 loop is Bush Highway to Usury Pass (Ellsworth) to Macdowell to Power loop. Add a climb up Ridgecrest to Eaglecrest to add a couple k and lose the ugliest corner on the loop. From AJ, 7-8 miles to get to the loop, then 20 miles per loop. Each loop has 1000 feet of vertical with the longest climb about 3.5-4 miles. Repeat as necessary.
Note, winds can pick up this time of year. AM winds are usually out of the NE, shifting to the SW later in the day. Peak winds of 15-20 mph are not uncommon.
Chevron stations are very friendly for free fountain drink refills.
Thanks , this is helpful.
First time in the area since 1987. Didn’t ride back then so I am some what lost.
DR
Thanks , this is helpful.
First time in the area since 1987. Didn’t ride back then so I am some what lost.
DR
If you’re around on a Saturday morning, there is a group ride that leaves at 7am from Tribe Multisports in scottsdale. It’s a ways in, especially if you stay in AJ, but…
John
Here is a link to www.mapmyride.com with AJ in the search
http://www.mapmyride.com/search?txtPageNumber=0&txtSortBy=featured_flag+desc%2C+average_rating+desc&txtLocation=Apache+Junction&txtKeyword=&lstRouteTypeID=2&btnSearch=SEARCH+>
If you continue up route 88 after the asphalt ends you will end up at Roosevelt dam. I think it is around 18 miles of dirt road. If you are in a rental car you can do your best Collin McCray rally imitation. If you are in you mom’s car its ok. People haul boats up it. You will pass Apache Lake on the way which is very nice. When you get to Rosevelt dam you can park. There is some great road in both directions. If you go left toward Payson or right toward Globe you can get back to Phoenix. The dirt road is just the shortest and most scenic.The shoulder in both directions is as wide as a car lane. You can also visit the Tonto national monument which has cliff dwellings. It is just a quarter mile off the road toward Globe.
If you go to the mapmyride website and type in any area code or location you can get others rides or log your own. It is a very nice tool.