After leaving Tonto, the route traverses across to the northern end of the infamous Black Canyon Trail, one of the longest continuous singletrack trails in Arizona. The eastern edge of the Fool’s Loop travels through the beautiful Tonto National Forest, following rough gravel service roads lined with saguaro cacti. Within this trail system, there are endless options to tag on a longer day of trail riding if you so desire. After a quick stop in North Scottsdale for a late breakfast or lunch, the route quickly changes directions by introducing the popular singletrack within Brown’s Ranch Trailhead and a section of the newly developed Maricopa Trail. The Fool’s Loop starts off by navigating through the sprawling city of Phoenix, following urban pathways and canal trails, passing through city green spaces like the Tempe Beach Park, Grand Canal and the Central Arizona Canal. Made up of urban paths, flowy singletrack, and rugged forest service roads, the loop takes in some other excellent trails and sights along the way.įollowing chunky and unforgiving service roads through Tonto National Forest and singletrack along the BCT, this route passes through countless saguaro forests, rugged canyons, and rolling desert plains that are sure to impress visitors and Arizona locals alike. The Fools Loop starts and finishes in downtown Phoenix, close to amenities and the airport for those flying in. However, for those looking for a longer trip, or to ride the BCT without the challenges of organizing a shuttle, this is it. Logistically speaking, the BCT is typically done via shuttle and shuttling is generally convenient from Phoenix’s city centre, as well as from Flagstaff. While the dammed water is of great value for irrigating fields and for domestic use, it is also very popular with thousands of people who recreate in its waters every year.Īddress: 28079 N.The Black Canyon Trail has long been a must-ride route for bikepackers on the hunt for uninterrupted singletrack. Since then, the Salt and Verde rivers have had six dams constructed. Watershed is one of the most important reasons that the Tonto National Forest was established. Roosevelt Lake (the largest lake totally within Arizona) and Apache Lake are within this district. The district consists of approximately 530,000 acres (approximately 210,000 hectares) of Desert, Semi-Desert Grassland, Chaparral types of vegetation, as well as a few scattered areas of Ponderosa Pine. The Tonto Basin Ranger District is located northwest of Globe and south of Payson. Bulldog Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle Area.During summer months, this district is very populated because of the close proximity to the busy city and easy access to fun recreation opportunities.Īddress: 5140 E. The Salt River that cuts through the Mesa Ranger District is the home of Arizona’s famous Salt River Tubing. Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake provide an excellent opportunity to use both motorized and non-motorized boats. Mesa Ranger District is notable for its extremely popular water activities. The very popular Lower Salt River, Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake are located on this district. The Mesa Ranger District is located north and east of the town of Apache Junction, and consists of approximately 430,000 acres (approximately 170,000 hectares) of Desert, Semi-desert Grassland, Chaparral, Pinyon-Juniper types of vegetation as well as a small area of Ponderosa Pine. There are also commercial partners who provide a variety of water-based recreation opportunities.Īddress: 40202 North Cave Creek Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Whatever your preferences, the Tonto National Forest has plenty to offer when it comes to water recreation. Some activities require highly mechanized equipment, while other popular activities only require a swimming suit. Water recreation ranges from the simple to the sophisticated. While the dammed water is of great value for irrigating fields and for domestic use, it is also very popular with thousands of people who recreate in its waters every year. Watershed protection was one of the most important reasons that the Tonto National Forest was established. The Verde River flows through this entire district Horseshoe and Bartlett Reservoirs are located here. It consists of over 570,000 acres (approximately 230,000 hectares) of Desert, Semi-Desert Grassland, Chaparral, and Pinyon-Juniper types of vegetation. It is located in the farthest left hand corner of the forest, and is notable for the water, hiking, and horseback riding recreation. Cave Creek Ranger District is the first district on Tonto National Forest.