Year-round fun awaits cyclists on the Tonto National Forest. High-country routes afford beautiful views and escapes from summer heat. Desert routes provide scenic variety and an alternative to the cold of the Rim Country during the winter months. While these route descriptions may be tantalizing, you should pick up the U.S.G.S. quadrangles identified for each route. A picture is worth a thousand words. A map is worth ten thousand.
New River and New River Mesa Routes: Long range views of riparian habitat.
Slate Creek Divide Loop: Wildly varying habitat.
White Hills Route: Varies from grassland to mountain forest.
Buzzard Roost Canyon Route: Best as overnighter. Be prepared for the wild.
Three Bar Route: Two fenced wildlife refuges.
Forest Roads and Other Trails: Find your own route, but first you should know...
New River and New River Mesa Routes
Scenery includes long range views of the riparian habitat associated with the New River as well as chaparral vegetation and juniper woodland. The proximity of three recreation sites provides an excellent choice of places to park your vehicle before your ride and to rest after your ride. Check current/forecasted weather conditions and the Cave Creek Ranger District before using as thunderstorms may cause flash flooding in the area.
Routehead: 3,970 ft. elev. (1,210 m) - Routes begin at the junction of FR 24 (Cave Creek Rd.) and FR 41 (New River Rd.).This junction is located approximately three miles past the Seven Springs Recreation Site.
Maximum and Minimum Elevations: FR 41: 4,300 ft. (1,311 m) and 2,320 ft. (707 m); FR 17: 4,600 ft. (1,402 m) and 3,800 ft. (1159 m).
Routes: Follow FR 41 to the junction with FR 17. At this point, two alternatives arise:
1) Continue on FR 41 to Forest Boundary approximately 2.3 miles past Cholla Spring. Route ends at Forest Boundary.
2) Follow FR 17 to the end of the road.
Length: FR 41 from FR 24 to Forest Boundary: 13.5 miles (21.7 km) FR 24 to end of FR 17: 12.2 miles (9.7 km).
Difficulty: More difficult
Recommended Seasons: All Year
U.S.G.S. Maps: Cooks Mesa, Daisy Mountain, and New River Mesa, Arizona Quadrangles.
Slate Creek Divide Loop
Scenery varies from chaparral communities and the riparian habitat associated with the Sycamore West Fork to Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine overstory in the northern portions of the loop. Check current/forecasted weather conditions, as northern portions of the loop do receive snowfall. East and West Sycamore Creeks may have substantial flow during and/or after storms.
Routehead: 4,480 ft. elev. (1,366 m) State Highway 87 Approx. MP 225. Junction with Forest Service Road FR 25 (Saddle Mountain Rd.) and FR 201 (Pine Mountain Rd.) where the Maricopa/Gila County line crosses State Highway 87 in the Slate Creek Divide area.
Maximum and Minimum Elevations: 6,060 ft. (1,848 m) and 3,840 ft. (1,171 m).
Routes: Follow FR 25 west to the junction with FR 25A (West Sycamore Rd.). Follow FR 25A northward along the West Fork of Sycamore Creek to the junction of primitive FR 3722 (unsigned). Follow (uphill) FR 3722 east to the junction of FR 201A. At this point two opportunities arise:
1) Turn North (Left) Along FR 201A: Follow FR 201A north past Horse Camp Seep to the junction with FR 201. Turn right (east) on FR 201 then go south past Pine Mountain Mine to the Slate Creek Divide and State Hwy. 87.
2) Bear East (Right) Along FR 201A: Follow FR 201A east to the junction with FR 201. Follow FR 201 south (right) back to Slate Creek Divide and State Highway 87.
Many other choices are available for biking this route. Listed below are mileages for a few of these.
Length: Alternative #1 (From above): 13 Mi. (22 km); Alternative #2 (From above): 10 Mi. (16 km) Loop top half only (Inc. dirt. to 8 from SR 87): 12 Mi. (19 km) Figure eight: 16 Mi. (26 km)
Difficulty: More difficult.
Recommended Seasons: Early spring, summer, fall, early winter
U.S.G.S. Maps: Reno Pass and Mazatzal Peak Arizona Quadrangles.
White Hills Route
Scenery varies from grasslands to Pinon pine and includes the riparian habitat associated with the East Verde River. Route ends in the vicinity of the East Verde River. Check current/forecasted weather conditions and Ranger District before using as recent snows can cause problems with road surface conditions. Also, thunderstorms and subsequent runoff can raise the water level of the East Verde River significantly in a short amount of time.
Routehead: 4,950 ft. elev. (1,509 m) State Highway 87 approx. MP 259. Junction with Forest Service Road FR 209 (Crackerjack Rd.) in the Buckhead Mesa area.
Maximum and Minimum Elevations: 5,320 ft (1,622 m) and 3,400 ft. (1,037 m).
Route: Follow FR 209 to junction with FR 209A (Cedar Flat Rd.). Follow FR 209A across the East Verde River to the junction with FR 406 (Doll Baby Rd.). Route ends at this point.
Length: Approx. 10.25 mi. (16.5 km)
Difficulty: More difficult
Recommended Seasons: Year-round
U.S.G.S. Maps: Buckhead Mesa and North Peak, Arizona Quadrangles
Buzzard Roost Canyon Route
Scenery varies from mostly grassland and meadows to pine overstory with intermittent riparian and chaparral vegetation on southerly slopes. FR 416 crosses a perennial stream. Due to the isolated location of this route, you may want to make plans to stay overnight in one of the Forest Service campgrounds. Check with the Ranger District for information about these campgrounds and also for current/forecasted weather conditions before using. This area does receive snow during the winter season.
Northern Routehead: 6,227 ft. elev. (1,898 m) State Highway 288 (Young Highway) Approx. MP 290 junction with Forest Service Road FR 416 (Juniper Rd.) in the Squaw Mesa area.
Southern Routehead: 6,370 ft. elev. (1,942 m) State Highway 288 (Young Highway) Approx. MP 285 junction with Forest Service Road FR 609 (Bearhead Spring Rd.) in the Board Tree Saddle area.
Maximum and Minimum Elevations: 6,390 ft. (1,948 m) and 4,830 ft. (1,473 m)
Route: Follow FR 416 past Buzzard Roost Camp to junction with FR 486 (J.R. Ranch Rd.). Follow FR 486 down Buzzard Roost Canyon to the junction with FR 609. Follow FR 609 to junction with State Highway 288 (Young Highway). The junction of FR 416 with State Highway 288 and the junction of FR 609 with State Highway 288 are separated by approximately five miles. This route may be traveled in either direction.
Length: Approx. 16 miles (24 km)
Difficulty: More difficult
Recommended Seasons: Late spring to early fall
U.S.G.S. Maps: Young Southwest, Buzzard Roost Mesa, Copper Mountain, and McFadden Peak, Arizona Quadrangles.
Three Bar Route
The Three Bar Wildlife Enclosure is a fenced wildlife study area operated by Arizona Game and Fish. The proximity of two recreation sites provides ample parking should you want to cool off in Roosevelt Lake after your ride. Scenery includes the riparian habitat associated with Roosevelt Lake and watershed as well as chaparral vegetation. Check current/forecasted weather conditions and Ranger District before using as thunderstorms may cause flash floods in the area.
Northern Routehead: 2,246 ft. elev. (685 m) State Highway 188 approx. MP 243. Junction with Forest Service Road FR 647 (Game Loop Rd.) north of Cholla Bay Recreation Site.
Southern Routehead: 2,136 ft. elev. (651 m) State Highway 188 approx. MP 242. Junction with Forest Service Road FR 647 just north of Mills Cove.
Maximum sod Minimum Elevations: 3,716 ft. (1,133 m) and 2,136 ft. (651 m)
Route: Follow FR 647 from SR 188 around the Three Bar Wildlife Enclosure and back to SR 188. The Junction of State Highway 188 and the northern routehead of FR 647 and the junction of State Highway 188 and the southern routehead of FR 647 are separated by approximately 9/10 of a mile. This route may be traveled in either direction.
Length: Approx. 6 6/10 miles (11 km)
Difficulty: More difficult
Recommended Seasons: Year-round
U.S.G.S. Maps: Theodore Roosevelt Dam, Arizona Quadrangle.
Forest Roads and Other Trails
Hundreds of miles of "roads" on the Tonto National Forest are suitable for use by mountain bikers. They range from fairly smooth one-lane roads to wheel tracks no longer suited for motor vehicles. Many roads have been or, are in the process of being closed to motorized vehicles in order to protect certain wildlife and vegetation habitats. In many cases, these roads are accessible to bikers. Before you enter an area, be sure you can find your way out.
There is an extensive system of trails in some parts of the Forest, however most of them are steep and/or rocky and can be unsuitable to even expert bikers. Many trails are located within designated wilderness areas where vehicular access of any type is prohibited. You should know where you are at all times so that you do not ride into one of these areas by mistake.
Where are you going?
What do you want to do?
