San Tan: Frigid Digits

I was on a bit of a mission for this ride. It was the last weekend day of 2019, I was easily within striking distance of logging my most riding miles in a year and I was also doing a local challenge of riding 200 Maricopa County Regional Park miles over a 100 day period. It's nice to have some goals.

I was up early for a local spin from home down to San Tan Regional Park. I was expecting it to be chilly, but 29º at the start?!? Yeah, it gets below freezing on occasion here in the desert southwest and today was one of those days. As this desert rat would have it, I couldn't find my full finger gloves!! I typically ride with half finger gloves and today would be no different, it'll warm up soon enough, right?

I wasn't expecting to see a flowing Queen Creek Wash.

I was riding along the Queen Creek multi-use path and my fingers began to freeze. It didn't get any better once I reached Hawes road for the trek south to the park. I had to alternate hands on the bars, tucking the other behind my back to warm up my digits. I finally began to regain feeling after an hour or so. I don't know how my friends in cold climates do this on a regular basis. I guess you get used to it and wear better gear!!

It was a couple of days post storm, so I knew the trails at San Tan would be riding great. I'd even get to ride the often avoided Malpais trail since over half of it is in a sandy wash. The only good time to ride it, if you don't own a fatbike, it right after a storm when things pack down.

Snow on the Pinal Mtns. to the east.

Malpais Cliffs.

Hang loose, brah.

At the saddle of Hedgehog trail.

Great views from this bench overlooking San Tan Valley.

A snow covered Four Peaks hiding in the background.

The singletrack at San Tan is fairly wide and fast.

One of my favorite spots at San Tan park. From this saddle, if you look north you can see downtown Phoenix and beyond to the Bradshaw Mtns.

Turn around and look south, Mt. Lemmon comes into view.

The Malpais trail starts out with some good singletrack.

Then morphs into a zigzagging wash trail along the park boundary.

Add in some more sweet singletrack before making the final turn towards the exit.

Most of the final stretch is in this wash.

 I think I was somewhere along the sand wash segment when I reached my yearly mileage goal. In spite of all the setbacks I had over the final six months of the year, I made it. I had to smile since I reached the goal on a crappy sand wash trail. Fitting.

Back on the fast interior park trails.

Exiting the park via Dynamite trail, arguably the best in the park.

Stunning white view across the horizon.

Spotted a good sized coyote along this fenceline cut.

This is about the extent of our fall color.

The wash was flowing deep!! It's a rare sight to see water in it.

That capped a fun ride from home. San Tan park isn't really a destination kind of place to ride, but it's close to home and fun. Some friends are a bit surprised when I tell them I only ride there a handful of times each year. There's just not a lot of miles there and I don't want to get bored with it. Plus, there are so many other great places to ride nearby it doesn't make sense to me to ride the same trails all the time.

Route:

Cane Springs Loop

An interesting question popped up on a local mtb forum asking if there was a way to make a shorter loop using the Goldridge trail near Sunflower. That was all the motivation I needed to scour the topo maps of the area and wouldn't you know it, I found a potential route!! I tossed out some ride bait in hopes of getting at least one other adventurous soul to join me. I lucked out and had TWO show up!! Steve and Gerrit are no strangers to long distance rides, so I knew it would be a good crew for whatever the 'trail' would toss our way.

We met near Mt. Ord and staged at the bottom of FS201 on a chilly, by desert standards, morning. We all knew we'd be shedding layers quick since 201 does nothing but point skyward.

Bluebird skies were on tap for most of the day.

201 varies between friendly climbing grades and lung busting bursts.

The cut on the near hillside is FS191, our return route and filled with unknown conditions.

Still climbing, but at least the surface of 201 is mostly graded dirt.

Near the top and in the pines!!

Don't let Gerrit fool ya, he wasn't tired at all!!

I've been up here a handful of times and this was the first time I cleaned the entire 201 climb. All the other rides I've done here included a bunch of miles prior to arriving at the base of 201. Amazing what fresh legs and an unloaded bike will do for your energy.

Next up was the Goldridge descent and it would be the fellas first time down.

Red hues of the mighty Mazatzals near the beginning of Goldridge.

Steve cruising through the burn area.

This section reminds me of Oracle Ridge on Mt. Lemmon without the hike-a-bike.

There were 5 down trees up top, all requiring a chainsaw for removal. Here, expansive views to the north and the Mogollon Rim.

The pines give way to Jojoba, Manzanita and Holly bushes.

Where's Waldo? Gerrit shredding the gnarly descents.

Steve and I took a bit more cautious approach!!

The lower 1/3 is a series of fall-line descents and short punchy climbs.

Eventually the grade lessens and the final miles leading to the terminus at the Deer Creek trailhead are fast and flowy...as long as you dodge the embedded boulders!!

We dumped out onto the large shoulder of AZ87 for a couple of miles. We rejoined dirt on Cane Springs Rd. as we looked for our turnoff to FS191.

A hint of fall color in mid-December. Gold Creek was flowing through this valley and echoing off the mountainside.

Let the adventure portion of the ride begin!!

The next 5 miles were a mystery as topo maps showed FS191 incomplete near the middle, but satellite imagery showed an easily followed connection. The road started out nicely enough heading towards the hills.

191 began a steady climb up the flanks of the Mazatzal Mountains.

So far, so good!! Gold Creek rushing below.

Gradually our path narrowed into singletrack as we continued to meander up the grade.

The trail was rocky in bits, but mostly fine. Vegetation began to encroach forcing me off the bike on occasion.

Soon it was more effort to attempt to stay on the bike through the prodding & poking branches.

We agreed that the trail tread itself was in great condition, just needed some trimming. The thick stuff went on for about 1 1/2 miles or so. 

After a large switchback, our path & views began to open up once again.

More contoured climbing led us the the pass where we could now see AZ87. Almost all downhill from here.

The initial descent was full of large loose rock, but rideable. In short order FS201 came into view.

Lots & lots of green in these parts.

Steve exiting FS191 onto FS201. Mission accomplished!!

The joys of a downhill rip to the car where cold beers awaited.

There are other jeep roads / trails to explore in the area. I'm sure I'll be back soon.

All three of us were stoked on the ride and the potential for a new route out of the Sunflower area. We agreed that the trail tread on FS191 was in good shape and really only needed some vegetation mitigation along a 1 to 1 1/2 mile section. It would also make a fun downhill going the other direction, but Goldridge definitely has more bang for the buck.

Thanks for coming out Gerrit & Steve, let's do it again soon.

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