Gila View to Mine Drop

Gila View-National-Mine Drop at EveryTrail

Another exploratory ride out in West South Mountain. I just really love that place. I rode up the new Gila View Trail (I’m not even sure it’s called the Gila View trail, that’s just what I’ve heard) from 17 Ave. There’s no lot or parking yet, just a dead end. The climb is steep with tight switchbacks. When the switchbacks I didn’t make grossly outweighed the ones I did, I just stopped counting. The trail though is really fun if you like steep climbs and the most challenging switchbacks ever.

Even though there is some HAB, I can see climbing this trail regularly as an alternative option into West National. Instead of the HAB up Telegraph Pass, and then the additional HAB up National, climbing the Gila View Ridgeline offers very sweet views.

Across National. Just can’t get enough of National. Then on down to the infamous and the scary Mine Drop. Yes, it was scary. Super loose, super narrow, and super exposed. I can handle if one of those three is super, two of them tops, but not all three at the same time for the entire trail! No wonder no one ever rides it. Fun for exploratory purposes, but next time I’ll just stay on National and loop back via backside DCX or the new trail they are building.

The trail crew said a couple more weeks till it meets up with National. It’s going to be good to have new stuff to ride out west.

From Gila View Mine Drop Loop

From Gila View Mine Drop Loop

From Gila View Mine Drop Loop

From Gila View Mine Drop Loop