Arizona Cool Pines Road Bike Tour with EcoSouthwest.com

	Cool Pines Road Tour

(seasonal)

Our Cool Pines Road tour, or CPR as we like to call it, is meant to be a shorter tour for early summer or even late summer. If you are looking for a road and biking tour that features not only the great scenery of central Arizona's high country, but the fascinating history of this gold and silver mining region, here is an adventure for you. All the meals come with the tour as well as accommodations, ground support, transportation, and all entry fees. The tour is hosted by knowledgeable, friendly guides. The geology, natural, and people history comes with the tour, and of course this country has a lot to do with the Old West, so there will be plenty of those stories, too.

Here is what we have in store for you in this upcoming adventure.

Day 1:
We will meet the group in Phoenix and drive the two hours north and west to Prescott, which once was the capitol of the territory. In fact, it twice became the capitol, only to later lose its title to, first, Tucson, and then to Phoenix. 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 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 biking tour that we offer.

Historically rich, and mile high, Prescott is nestled in the cool pine tree setting surrounded by the Bradshaw Mountains. Incidentally, a little known fact by many is that the Bradshaws, next to the Yukon strike in Alaska, was the region of the country where the most gold was found. Nearby Ft. Whipple, now the home of the VA hospital, once was used by Generals Crook and Miles (among other military leaders), and some of their Indian war campaigns began out of Prescott. Naturally, famous men, like the Earps' and Doc Holiday had something to do with Prescott. Prescott is also known for it's famous whiskey row, and is also the home of the first rodeo, thus making it a popular cowboy town, both then and now.

Day 2:
The ride and adventure for today will take in some of the local and good looking scenery Prescott has to offer including a ride to Skull Valley, where the group will enjoy a great lunch at the famous train depot. Mostly, it is a downhill ride all the way, but we want to spare the group the rigors of cycling back to Prescott and we will van back instead. This time we will make a grand loop of it and take the many curving switchbacks from Yarnell to Prescott's back door. But don't worry: the driver(s) have to take it easy and there will plenty of time to look around at the rich, green mountainous country all around you. Once back in Prescott there will be time to refresh, rest, or do some local sightseeing before dinner. On all of our tours we make sure there is plenty of down time so that we don't wear the group out. Plus we feel individuals just need some time on their own.

Day 3:
Today the group will take the van and visit Ashfork, which lies to the north (about an hour's drive). In this region we know of some very special ruins and petroglyphs that are sure to dazzle the eyes and tease the imagination as to what these symbols mean. Naturally, we always provide plenty of rest and convenience stops on all of our tours, and we never rush the group but prefer to enjoy the sights as well as learn the history along the way. Tonight, the last of this short, but memorable and historically rich tour, we will enjoy a farewell dinner and hope to see you again on any of our other tours and adventures.

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