Casa Grande Mountain
Looking for some fresh singletrack to explore I searched the MTBR trail reviews and Arizona forum for a new ride. Casa Grande Mountain looked good on paper and the trail view in Google Earth looked even better.
First thoughts are that this trail rocks. Pristine singletrack no more than 24 inches wide in most places. This morning I had first tracks over some freshly raked trail. It’s the groomed corduroy of the desert.
There are two distinct sections of trail. The north side loops are about 5 miles total. If you ride over the saddle from the north side you enter Phil’s Wild Ride. It’s not really called Phil’s wild ride but it should be. Phil, a Casa Grande local, has built most of the trails over that first saddle that lead to the south side of the mountain.
There are a few different ways to ride the north side loops. A couple of connector trails let you mix-n-match till you find what you like. The trails here are not too technical as they twist and turn up and down the mountain. There are even a couple of nice jumps and two wash bridges to cross.
The south side trails run from the saddle clear down to the south point of the mountain in a Desert Classic-like fashion. They have the look and feel of Wild Horse out in near Hawes with a little bit of Twisted Sister action and a smattering of Pass Mountain. The further south you go the more technical it gets. There are quite a few trails to choose from to get the south point. The East and West Legs are the most technical with Bootleg esque exposure, steeper climbing and more technical decents.
The locals have built an awesome system in Casa Grande. It’s such a new system that the singletrack is still SINGLEtrack. I feel some serious respect for the trails, knowing that it local sweat maintaining the mountain. My thanks goes out to everyone who have built and maintain these trails. I’ll have to do my part and give back to the mountain.
Last Saturday I met CGCharlie, his wife Doris, and friend Clarence out on the trail. Charlie has built most of the north side trails and continues to clean and cut new ones. Today I met Robert, a local who helps maintain the trails by raking and riding frequently.
Casa Grande Mountain is the best kept secret outside of Phoenix. It doesn’t have to be that way. Spread the word.
Local Bike Shop: Round Trip Bikes
Reader Reviews
Review from MTBikeAZ
Time: August 8, 2007, 8:56 pm
The trailhead is a bit tricky to find. Follow Peart to the end just past the hard right turn. Right before the pavement ends, hang a left off the side of the road onto a “hard to see” jeep road. Follow the jeep road about a quarter mile staying right when it forks. There is a lone cactus with no arms that marks the trailhead. See the photo above. Good luck.
After riding the trail. Let me know what you think.
Pingback from MTBikeAZ.com » Riding in a Desert Wonderland
Time: December 5, 2007, 6:12 pm
[…] finally scouted out and rode the south east leg of Casa Grande Mountain. That section of trail reminded me of Bootleg Canyon, not quite as technical but plenty fast and […]
Review from Dave
Time: March 2, 2008, 9:14 pm
I rode this trail last weekend and highly recommend it to anyone who has 2 - 3 hours to ride. Not an all day destination but has good climbs, some technical, and some nice downhill too. Great way to spend the morning
Review from Jon
Time: August 31, 2008, 9:34 am
I rode this trail yesterday (8/30/08). I’m in Maricopa and started from the north end. I missed the trailhead by the cactus, so ended up following the jeep trail until I decided to head toward the mountain and intersected the singletrack. It is good….once familiar I will speed it up a bit, but be careful the first time…….
I got there from Peart. Parked at the end of the paved road……lot’s of broken glass.
It was a couple of days after a storm and I only saw 3 or 4 tracks. This trail would really develop with a little more traffic. I’m 30 min. from it or South Mountain. The Casa Grande trail had nobody on it when I went, but the trail is well formed.
P.S. I did come across one rattler.
Review from Mic
Time: August 8, 2007, 8:40 pm
Where is the access to the trail head? I looked for it today is it off the end of Peart?