NoSo: Apache Wash + C4 Loop

 One of my goals for 2023 is to ride the local trails I normally don't get to. The Phoenix area has something like 20 riding areas, a few are a bit of a drive, but all are worth it especially if you make a longer ride out of it.

This day had me going up to the Apache Wash trailhead of the North Sonoran Mtn. Preserve, NoSo. There's a connecting trail to the Cave Creek area I've never been on, so I figured today was the day. I could then tack on a C4 Loop, aka: Cave Creek Cactus Classic or now: Captain Cosmo's Crazy Challenge. C4 Loop either way.

There were a couple of connector trails in the Apache Wash area I had never been on, so I routed my ride to include those.

Much to my surprise, Cave Creek was flowing all the way down through NoSo. Doesn't happen very often I reckon.

Heading north on the Cliff Walk trail.

BB8 sighting crossing under SR74.

The connector trail to Cave Creek wasn't really anything special, but it was dirt linking two trail systems so that alone made it cool.

It would be really nice if we could all play along. There have been a few asshats in the Hawes area who feel the rules don't apply to them. It's a real slap in the face to those who have donated their time, money & effort to create new trails. It's not like there aren't moto legal trails directly across the road there. /rant

On the town section of the C4 loop.

Since I was nearby, I rolled into Flat Tire Bike Shop to say hey to Kaolin, bike fitter extraordinaire!!

The Cave Creek Town Trail parallels Spur Cross Rd for a few miles.

I followed the trail up through the wash route, a bit more technical and sandy, but still fun. Bring $3 cash or have a Maricopa Regional Park Pass to enter the Spur Cross Conservation Area and continue on the C4 Loop. Glad I had my pass with me.

The climbing and views hit almost instantly.

Spur Cross Trail is absolutely beautiful, but you work for it. Good climbs, rocky and hardly anyone out there. It has a real backcountry feel to it.

Black Mtn. near the center of Cave Creek.

Sweeping views of the hills around Brown's Ranch and the McDowell Mtns. PeakFinder app.

Continuing to pan right, a distant Camelback Mtn. in the center of Phoenix seems so far away. PeakFinder app.

The C4 route through Spur Cross doubles as the Maricopa Trail.

You can read about my experience bikepacking the entire Maricopa Trail and all the Regional Park spurs in this post: Maricopa Trail: Super Mega Ultra Edition.

What an incredible view. I'm never ceased to be amazed out here.

First poppy sighting of the new year. It's still January!! Should be a great season for wildflowers.

The route winds south to the Cave Creek Regional Park.

Start of a fun downhill on the Overton Trail.

Go John!! Ok!!

Some real nice climbing grades here.

Made a wrong turn on the C4 - NoSo connector and ended up here, made for a cool photo though.

The desert is so green right now. I hope everyone is getting outside to enjoy it.

I was closing in on 3,000' so to be sure I hit it, I tacked on a climb to Apache Vista.

Mission accomplished. It had been years since I last rode that trail. It's a short climb, but the vantage point up there sure doesn't disappoint.

Looking towards the McDowell Mtns, Brown's Ranch and Four Peaks in the distance.

Strava page. Stralizer app.

This was a great route and helped make the hour+ drive worth it. I can always add more miles down in NoSo, easily making a 50 miler.

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Peralta Regional Park

 Thanks to Pinal County's Parks & Recreation Department, Gold Canyon has a new playground: Peralta Regional Park. It opened in early January and was advertising 8 miles of trail open to mountain bikes. I was curious to see how close the park & trails would be to the existing trails in Gold Canyon. One way to find out.

I had a Bikepacking 101 ride planned for later that day, but figured I had enough time to head over to Gold Canyon and ride all the new trails and connections before 1p. The only information I had about the trails was the online trail map, shown below, but it didn't have difficulty ratings or elevation data. I was essentially just winging it.

The goal was to ride all the trails & connections, not including the park roads. A Traveling Salesman route.

Can't miss the park entrance.

I staged off Peralta Rd. near the park entrance and rode in. I found the first trailhead sign, with a simple 'trail' designation. I would later find that's how all the trails were signed, so having a park map or Trailforks is almost necessary. I immediately came to my first split, which way to go? Not knowing the layout it was a 50/50 gamble if I'd chosen correctly. I went left going clockwise around the Oro Vista Loop.

Rounding the corner a magnificent view of the Superstition Mtns. unfolds.

Then the trail really kicks up. Oof.

It was about this point when I wondered if I should've gone the other way!! In hindsight, yes. The steep section had some exposure, but wasn't too long. It's probably a fun descent.

Coming down the opposite side of the hill, I spotted a tiny Saguaro.

There's a singletrack connection from the Oro Vista Loop to the Stargazing node. It leads here, a cool spot to stare at the heavens. A mellow gravel path leads out to the parking area.

I made my way back to finish the Oro Vista Loop and then bisect it along the Wanderer Trail. It began with a steep, switchbacking climb but I was able to ride it out. The ensuing ridgeline was fantastic with panoramic views of the Superstition Mtns. I was having too much fun to stop for photos.

The connecting trail over to Saguaro Loop was steep and already showing signs of erosion. Not sure how it's going to hold up after a few big storms. Saguaro Loop had a bit of hike-a-bike to gain initial elevation, but was then very rideable going clockwise.

Saguaro Loop Trail.

Two mines right off the trail, this fenced off one was slightly below the trail grade. The other was above.

Making my way to the center of the park.

Nice, flat interpretive trail.

Finishing up the Serenity Loop. A mostly beginner loop with a couple short steeper bits in/out of washes. The distant knob would be the destination of the North Star Trail.

Some water hanging around on the Desperado Loop, the main perimeter trail.

I stopped to chat with a trail runner. He gave me enough intel on the North Star Trail to know I should leave the bike behind when things got steep. Sure enough, the beginning of the trail was nice, but it was obvious when I needed to ditch the two wheels. I hiked, scrambled up to the overlook which provided a sweeping view of the entire park and beyond.

This trail gained elevation rapidly!! San Tan Mtns. in the distance on the left, Estrella Mtns. on the right.

Looking more south. You can barely see Mt. Lemmon here, slightly left, faded dome on the horizon.

Lush Ocotillo up top, carsonite marking the end of trail viewpoint.

Close-up knob view.

A little hard to see, but it's a rock throne to take in the views.

Far east side of the Desperado Trail.

On the south end of Desperado Trail, I did one loop using the camping access trails. They look like a great place to spend the night. I did a final out-n-back on the last camping trail, running into the Pinal County Open Space Director, Kent Taylor. I had met him a few years ago at an open space presentation. When I told him I was finishing up riding all the trails, he laughed and said 'tough trails, huh?' Yep. This is Pinal County, not Maricopa County Regional Park trails.

They were fun, but he was right, you definitely worked for the miles. The trails are generally rocky, not smooth flowy trails. That's not to say they don't have any flow, but you work for it. There were a couple of technical areas on both Saguaro Loop & Desperado Trail. Erosion is going to be an issue here methinks. It was already showing in a few areas. Hopefully it gets addressed before severe ruts take over.

As far as connectivity goes, the park entrance is very close to the east end of the Gold Canyon trail network, Outer Limits & Don't Fence Me In in particular. So it would be easy to add a Peralta Regional Park loop to a Gold Canyon spin.

It's a very scenic area and worth checking out. If rocky riding isn't your thing, consider a hike or a camp out. I know I'll be camping here in the future.

The Traveling Salesman did finish the route, but a little behind schedule and had to hurry to the Bikepacking 101 ride!!

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