Just wanted to find some areas in Arizona where I can ride my quad. If you know of any places in Arizona, or anything semi close to Phoenix let me know. I'll be moving down there next year so I need some info on these places before I move.


Peace Out!

 

Hey, future Phoenician!

Depends on what type of riding you want to do. And what season it is! There are several places in the desert for trail riding - my favorite place being Sycamore Creek, North East of Phoenix about 20 miles. In the winter season, on a weekend, there are tons of quads and dirtbikes out there. Trails everywhere, a big wash for dragging, hill climbs....just about everything!!! Great place to ride and watch people!!

In the summer, when it's too hot to camp in the desert, alot of people go up to the Cinders, up in Flagstaff. About 2 1/2 hours north of Phoenix. It's actually mountains made of cinder gravel....HUGE hillclimbs....bigger than anything I've ever seen at the dunes, and the camping up there is pretty nice....all the pine trees and stuff...and the weather is nicer than being down in the valley. Usually the holiday weekends are the most crowded....Labor Day, 4th of July, etc. That's where all the dune people go in the summer when it's too hot to go to Glamis! You can go on the Rim, too - around Payson...but that's mostly just riding on fireroads and stuff.

Then, in the winter, most of us go to Glamis, or Gordon's Well to play....since you live in CA I would imagine you've been there and done that!

If you want to ride on the tracks, there are several good MX tracks here, too. Speedworld just built a quad-only track, and they hold races on the main track. There is a track in Verde Valley, too, that also holds races up there (they also let quads run). There is a track in Tuscon called PMP that has two quad tracks, and also Motogrande in Casa Grande allows quads to run on it's MX track, too. There is talk about a track coming to the East Valley, too (I live in Gilbert), which would be AWESOME...

There are alot of places to ride out here - you'll just have to check them out and see which ones suit you...you'll have your favorites!!!

Hope that helped!!!

 

Sandhopper,

Thanks for all of the info on the places to ride I am only 17 years old, but I will be moving to the Phoenix area to go to a Motorcycle Institute. Being 17 and not being able to ride my quad is a nitemare, so I thank you again for all the info. I have never been to Glamis, but I know I will be after I move thats one of my goals. I can't get down there from where I live right now in Northern California, just too far. I like all kinds of riding so I'm sure I can find something.

Thanks again:
Peace out!

 

Cool...glad to help. I used to go to school in Napa and Chico, up in Northern CA!!! You'll love Glamis....good luck with your school, too. How cool....I'd love to work on bikes for a living (even if I am a woman!). Sounds like you will be doing something alot of people only wish they could!!

 

I venture down to Crown King Az. about once a year. It is about 60 miles north of Phoenix and 30 miles west on the Bloody Basin Rd. It is an old mining town with litterly hundreds of mining trails to ride on, you can even get to Prescott from there on the old Senater Hiway. Crown King has only a couple of old saloons and resturants and the Bear Creek cabins where you can stay because it will take days to ride all the trails. You can licence your ATV in Arizona so you can ride on all the main streets and roads. Have a good time I know I do.

 

Butcher Joins (by Saguaro Lake), Queen Valley in the superstition mountains, or Box Canyon, Or Four Peaks

 

sycamore creek is by far the best of all listed for close riding spots it is within an hour of phx, a little rocky and torn up over the years but still impressive.... You can also go to Needle Rock, runs along the Verde river so when it gets hot you go swimming, but that's up in north north Scottsdale... Take 101 freeway to scottsdale rd take that north to dynamite rd turn right which will be east go all the way to the end of that rd make a right and you are there, pay the 3 bucks and have fun , needle rock it about an hour as well....

 

I know it's an old thread, but thanks for the tips ya'll!

 

If you're looking for dirt road rides...Four Peaks, Lake Pleasant (Castle Hot Springs), Crown King, Upper Sycamore Creek and Sunflower Mine are some good choices.

If you're looking for trails and roads...Lower Sycamore Creek, The Rolls, Butterfield Trail, etc..

These are all within and hour of Phoenix. There are a lot of riding groups out there so if you really want to see the area, hook up with a riding group and let them show you around. Good way to learn the area and make riding friends.

The dunes are still my favorite but that's a 3+ hour drive.

 

I forgot one that I've done before...the McDowell Mountains up in North Scottsdale. There are some really cool riverbeds and small canyons in that area. Just don't get caught riding in the water!!!

BTW, I rode up to the Sunflower mine for the first time a few weekends ago. Aside from the trail being a little rocky in a few places...it was awesome. The old mine is 100% worth seeing.