Arizona Bike Challenge Adventure Tour with EcoSouthwest.com

	The Arizona Bike Challenge

(runs from April through October)

Enjoy a fun-filled ride and adventure on this week of adventure, breathtaking beauty, and camaraderie. Late in the day we will meet the group in Phoenix. From there we will load the gear and luggage, then take the van(s) to the cooler climes of Arizona and get ready to explore and enjoy the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Verde Valley country. From there we will head to the White Mountains and Salt River Canyon region before going back to Phoenix. All the meals come with the tour as well as accommodations, ground support, transportation, and entry fees. The tour is hosted by knowledgeable, friendly guides, and all are expert bikers. In addition to the geology, natural, and people history that comes with the tour, the guides will even pass along some essential information about mountain biking maintenance and safety tips.

This is what we have in store for you in this grand scenic adventure.

Day 1:
We will meet the group in Phoenix (hopefully well before the evening) and depart for Williams for the night (about a three hour drive north).

KINDLY NOTE (this option): If the group is flying into Phoenix later in the evening, we may change the lodging arrangement somewhere closer to Phoenix and avoid a long road trip on the first day of the group's arrival.

Williams, which is surrounded by the Kaibab National Forest, is the closest town to the South Rim and is considered the gateway to the Grand Canyon. The thriving community is named after a famous American mountain man called Bill Williams, who also has a mountain named after him. Bill Williams Mountain, which is also one of the many inactive volcano remnants in the area, is one of the highest points in the state about 12,600 ft. Over dinner we will discuss the details of the tour. Our meet and greet gatherings are designed to bond the group and make our guests feel comfortable, not only among themselves, but with us and all that we have to offer on our tours. As in most of our tours, equipment, in this case, the mountain bikes, can be supplied by our guests or rented through us. We will supply the group with a list of essential things each participant needs to have prior to coming on the tour. This important list will also discuss the health and safety factors we feel are necessary for any outdoors adventure, especially riding in the high country.

Day 2:
Departure to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. An early start is necessary today as we breakfast around sunrise. That way we get to see and do more throughout the tour, and of course it is better to lose sleep and beat the heat whenever possible.

BASIC ITINERARY:
We will drive to the South Rim (about an hour north of Williams) and take a long look at this very big ditch of northern Arizona. On this, as well as on all of our tours, we will learn about the geology, natural, and people history of the region. Given today's adventure there really is no place quite like this in the world for geology as it pertains to this natural wonder of the world.
An option anyone in the group may choose to take while at the park is to bike along the West Rim drive (and, yes, we'll load the bikes in the trailer along just in case). Otherwise, riding inside the park as a group is verboten. This seven or so miles (one way) is breathtaking in that other sense of meaning. The road is closed to the general public, except shuttle buses and the like, so this stretch of the park isn't crowded with traffic. Besides coming to the South Rim for the grandeur of the scenery, the group will have most of the day to get acclimated to the high climate. After lunch, we will be driven in the vans to various scenic overlooks traveling from Grand Canyon Village, heading east. Amazingly, the canyon's appearance actually changes before your eyes, because the geology is that remarkably different from west to east.

For today's adventure the Highest point is 7,493 ft - Starting point 7,356 ft Ending point 6,648 ft
Total Climb 3,210 ft Total Descent 3,918 ft

KINDLY NOTE: There is an optional train ride excursion from Williams to the South Rim (and return by van). During the high season it's a big, black beauty of a steam engine like the kind that first came here way back in the turn of the century. We can discuss this "all aboard" option at the time of booking as well as the slight cost increase for this excursion.

Day 3: Williams to Jerome
The road drops into Williams and we will head south climbing the hills of the Kaibab National Forest. Today's cycle will be a mixture of tarred and dirt roads that wind their way through the Woodchute wilderness which drops steeply into the majestic valleys and into the Prescott National Forest. The bird life of this area is amazing and views from a bicycle are probably the best. The day ends with a climb to the pass that overlooks jerome. We will have a chance to visit one of the most popular tourist destinations in Arizona, the historical minding town of Jerome.
Jerome is a fascinating village and throwback to what life used to be like a century or so ago. Peculiarly, its buildings and houses, many of them rebuilt, clings to the slopes of Cleopatra Hill high on Mingus Mountain. As a former copper, gold and silver mining town, a lot of Jerome's buildings slid off their foundations because of the mines dynamiting directly below. The turning point came when the town jail broke free and slid 225 feet down the hill. When mining finished and Jerome was in danger of becoming a ghost town, artists moved in, pulled by the spectacular views and remote and rugged setting. The entire town has now been designated a National Historic Landmark.
Later in the day, and when we depart for Sedona, (where we will spend the night), we will stop briefly at the Tuzigoot National Monument and see how the ancient dwellers lived when this spacious valley and region was host only to these, the Sinagua Indians.

Total distance: 53 miles - Highest point 9,200 ft - Starting point 6,754 ft Ending point 7,134 ft

BASIC ITINERARY:
Depart Hotel. Reach the pass at Summit Mountain. Descend to Bear Canyon and begin ride on the dirt road. Stop for lunch by the Verde River at Perkinsville. From there, it's a long hard climb to Hopwell (48 miles) Descend into Jerome. From there, it's all downhill so to speak, and riding in a van ain't bad, either.

Day 4: Sedona to Camp Verde
After a hearty and typically American breakfast in Sedona we start another of the great highlights of the challenge. This morning we cycle the road through Red Rock country past some of the most amazing classic rock formations in Arizona, and famous as a backdrop for many Western films. We will stop for lunch at Beaver Creek within the natural valleys of the Coconino National Forest. In the afternoon we will cycle 20 miles along the forest roads and into Camp Verde. For those who have the energy this afternoon we will visit the ancient cliff dwellings of the Montezuma Castle National Monument.

Total distance: 38 miles - Highest point 4,358 ft - Starting point 4,256 ft Ending point 3,120 ft
Total Climb 3,357 ft Total Descent 4,493 ft

BASIC ITINERARY:
Leave Sedona and cycle through very beautiful scenery that will challenge your ability to keep your eyes on the road before you. Arrive at lunch stop at Beaver Creek. From here there are 12 miles of dirt road that is in fairly good shape. Start again on paved road for last section downhill into Camp Verde.

Day 5: Camp Verde to Payson
This is our longest cycling day as we head southeast into Mogollon Rim country and a real challenge. (But in case you get too tired to do it, and like on any other day of the tour, you always have the option of riding some, or all, of the time in the van.) We begin with a transfer along our route to Clear Creek where we start a long uphill climb to the Mogollon Plateau with its exhilarating views and our best chance of seeing elk. The journey to Strawberry is one of the most scenic roads in this area with great views and historic buildings along the way. We will stop in Pine for lunch and the afternoon is mostly downhill to Payson which is our rest for the night. Payson is surrounded by the Tonto National Forest and is a popular destination for the Phoenix folk to escape the summer heat. 5,000 ft above sea level it is not considered in the mountains but the Mogollon Rim and forests are a welcome relief from the desert valley.

Total distance: 51 miles - Highest point 4,960 ft - Starting point 3,193 ft Ending point 4,960 ft
Total Climb 7,038 ft Total Descent 5,271 ft

BASIC ITINERARY:
Transfer 2 miles into Camp Verde and a further 6 to Clear Creek. Start Cycle uphill on great roads and into the Coconino National Forest following the lush banks of the Verde River, one of the loveliest riparian (i.e., streamside) areas of the state and a chance to see lots of water fowl and other wildlife. The highest point is at Cinch Hook Butte with magnificent views of the valleys, canyons and forests! Then it's all down hill to arrive at lunch stop in Pine. There are some very steep downhill sections along the way and participants should be made very aware of the possible dangers along this road. From here we enter much denser forests. We will descend all the way to the East Verde River. Then there will be a final climb up to Payson and then to the hotel for a welcomed night's rest preceded by a sumptuous meal.

Day 6: Payson to Roosevelt Lake Junction
Today will be our easiest day as we start with a transfer to the turnoff for the Theodore Roosevelt Lake. From here we will be cycling along Tonto Creek, within the Tonto National Forest, which eventually leads us to the Roosevelt Dam, the largest masonry dam in the world and a major source of water for the city of Phoenix.

Total distance: 39 Miles - Highest point 3,329 ft - Starting point 3,329 ft Ending point 2,420 ft
Total Climb 2,094 ft Total Descent 1,100 ft

BASIC ITINERARY:
Leave Payson. Transfer to junction and from here there will be about 27 miles of downhill, through the Mazatzal Mountains and villages called Jakes Corner and Cactus Flats. Pass the "Mad As Hell Ranch" (real name, folks) and into the Roosevelt Lake Wildlife Area Bermuda Flats for lunch by the lake. Arrive at Roosevelt Lake Resort and our cabins for the night.

Day 7: Roosevelt Lake to Scottsdale
This will be a real challenge today as we take the final pass over into the Phoenix valley, or what the eco warrior, Edward Abbey, once referred to as "The blob that ate Arizona." The route is called the Apache Trail and was used as an old American Indian trading route. It will take us to the highest point today of 3,022 ft in the Superstition Mountains offering some of the most scenic (and hot!) desert landscape in central Arizona. The Apache Trail is a winding, partially gravelled road that snakes its way around the north side of the Superstition Mountains. We will see the ubiquitous Turkey Vultures and some other raptors flying over Fish Creek in the Tonto National Forest. We will be stopping at Goldfield, an old gold rush mining town, after a long downhill and transferring to Scottsdale, a classy Phoenix suburb.

Tonight we will have a celebratory meal to mark the accomplishment of the group at having cycled the 250 miles from The Grand Canyon to Phoenix.

Total distance: 50 miles - Highest point 290 ft - Starting point 2,420 ft Ending point 1,989 ft
Total Climb 6,049 ft Total Descent 6,533 ft

BASIC ITINERARY:
Leave Roosevelt Lake resort. Arrive at Dam. Marvel at the concrete and wonder about the ongoing problem of denuding rivers and streams for such water storage where a lot of evaporation occurs and wastes this precious elixir of the Southwest, water. Start dirt road section. Arrive at Apache Lake. Get to Lewis and Pantry Creek where we will stop for lunch by the river. Fish Creek and the mountain wall climb. Start of paved roads again and a terrific four mile descent to Tortilla Flat. Arrive at Canyon Lake. Our last climb to Apache Gap and then all downhill. Arrive at the old mining village of Goldfield. Transfer to Hotel in Mesa on the outskirts of Phoenix. We will pass Tomahawk Avenue and Apache Junction on our way into Scottsdale.

Day 8: Scottsdale into Phoenix
If time permits, an depending on the group's flight departure, we will transfer into the center of Scottsdale for some time to shop or laze about. From there the group will be taken to the airport for departure. Another option, and depending once again on the time we have to work with, there may be time to visit the National Museum, which is the largest of its kind that's entirely devoted to American Indian studies. Some options to consider, all right, and all contingent on time and interest.

Bon voyage and happy trails. But come tour with us first!