Black Canyon Trail
View Black Canyon Trail in a larger map
The Black Canyon Trail is a 62 mile desert ride that stretches from the Carefree Highway up to the Prescott National Forest, skirting the base of the Bradshaw Mountains and running parallel to Interstate 17.
The Black Canyon Trail Coalition keeps the trails alive and well through trail building and maintenance activities. To lend a hand visit the trail work events page for info and dates. See the maps section for official topos and visit Dale’s website for really good topos (see below)
BCT Segments
Emery Henderson
Doe Springs
Table Mesa
Little Pan (east little pan loop)
Williams Mesa (west little pan loop)
Cheapshot
Skyline
Horseshoe Bend
K-mine South
K-mine North
Soap Creek
Stagecoach
Arrastri
Trailheads
Black Canyon City TH: plenty of parking, but no amenities
Little Pan TH: unknown (most likely not developed)
Table Mesa: underdeveloped TH but plenty of parking
Emory Henderson: developed facility with paved parking
Ride Reports
I finally rode a small portion of the BCT. Awesome!
Many others have given this system a run. Read about u2metoo’s ride on his blog Where the Streets Have No Name and watch his video below.
Read Mountain Bike Bill’s ride report and see pictures of Little Pan on his awesome website.
MTBR forums have great info and trip reports from waltaz
Amazing photos shot by Leslie from IMBA
voodoodaddyfx’s YouTube video of Little Pan.
Maps
Epicrider Dale Wiggins map of BCT (click for full size)
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I rode from the Black Canyon City TH to the top of the Little Pan Loop (and back). This is truly one of the undiscovered gems in Arizona. The skyline section of the trail was amazing. And crossing the Agua Fria River was just a treat. Many thanks to the Black Canyon Trail Coalition.
This is a great trail. I rode from Table Mesa Trailhead north, took the left hand fork (clockwise) of the little pan loop. However, I could not find the trail coming back south on the other side of the loop after it crosses the river. I followed the sign onto the dirt rode and followed it south down to the river, but could not find the trail across the river. I met two seperate groups of riders who couldn’t find the trail either.
A good route description for that segment or better signs would be great. Thanks again to the BCTC for an outstanding long distance trail network.
I don’t quite know what to think of this trail!!! It is, or seems to me to be way too rocky in alot of sections. Now, this is my first time riding this trail and I don’t know if I didn’t like it because I am out of shape or if it would have been the same if I were in shape. I found myself walking through alot, and i mean alot of the parts of the western part of the pan loop, and then once i got to the river I too could not pick up the trail again, either. I started riding Jeep trails hoping to pick it up somewhere, however, after peddling up those steep hills I decided to backtrack. I went back to the river and looked some more, but no luck. I realized at this point that I had left the map in the truck. (smoooooth mooove) So i started to think about the map in my head and remembered (or at least I thought) that if i took the river south it would meet back up with the trail, after about an hour or hike a bike, I came across some very friendly Mexicans who gave me a ride back to the “road with Hot Pink Ribbon” and told me (which they were correct) that it would take me back to the fork which would get me back to my truck.
I agree with Aaron on this one, better signage at the river would be great, not everyone will be as fortunate as myself to come across as friendly peeps to get you back on track. At that point I had started to “panic”, thoughts of spending the night out there were creeping into my head!!!! At that time it was 6 o’clock and only 1.5 hours of daylight left for the most part and I really had no idea where the He@# I was at.
Bottom line, if I wouldn’t have lost the trail and could have finished it, my outlook might be different.
Hey I will be working out there with a crew of 8 on this new trail and I am super excited to see the progress and results of this trail!!
This trail is a classic. Well designed with plenty of varity. Emily Henderson trailhead north to Table Mesa Trailhead is excellent overall like the rest of BCT. The only negative is the last few miles after crossing the second ridge. Trail becomes quite bumpy without many riders past this point until Table Mesa. Table Mesa to Rock Springs is well documented, only add that the uphill on Skyline heading north is fairly fast. Makes for a very fun ride.
Rock Springs to Stagecoach is excellent on the single track sections, classic BCT with a flowing contouring trail, but quite a few jeep road connections. Stagecoach to Bumble Bee Rd is incredibly scenic and fast all the way to 3 miles north of bumble bee RD trailhead. The trail makers know what they are doing, it is made for mountain biking.
I rode from Bumblebee south towards Rock Springs, man, THIS is a great new trail! I rode quad trails down to the river and back up for some climb-training, but should’ve made a day on the BCT. I will definitely be back for more! And by the way, I have officially spilled blood on the BCT–13 stitches from a bit of a wobble near the end of today’s ride, only about 5 minutes out from my truck. Was it worth it? Every stitch.
I rode Rock Springs to Table Mesa this morning, absolutely beautiful weather, and HATS OFF to the IMBA trails crews and volunteers–BCT is absolutely a “must ride,” and the finest, funnest singletrack I have ridden in years. I had a big old smile on my face for 16 miles, and my arrival at today’s planned take-out seemed way too soon.