Flag2GC Route

Race - Aug 5, 2023

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Annual Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Ride (FLAG2GC) is a 65-mile ride (not a race) that raised funds for Marine League Charities of Northern Arizona and Toys for Tots.

There is no cell phone coverage for much of the route. Put your phone in airplane mode to save battery. Summer monsoons mean that it is likely to thunderstorm by 1 pm over the first half of the route and by 3 or 4 PM near the Grand Canyon.

The ride starts with beautiful singletrack through the Arizona Nordic Village drops onto Forest Service Roads #151 and #418 connects with the Arizona Trail. After 7 miles of AZ Trail, riders take Forest Service Road #549 to #549C to SAG 1 (mile 25). Prior to hitting SAG 1, from around mile 20 to 25, expect to find muddy sections due to the summer rains.

Departing SAG 1, riders take a technical descend down to Forest Service road 417 which intersects with the Arizona Trail and a relatively flat and fast road section through Babbit Ranch with scenic vistas. At mile 43, riders will have lunch at SAG 2. From Sag 2, there is a mix of doubletrack and forest service roads (#301 to #301A) that climb to the finish the ride on Forest Service Road #301A.

During the summer of '94, three fearless, fresh off-the-couch mountain bikers packed their Camelbaks™ for a day ride from Flagstaff. Armed only with trail snacks, water, a local map, credit card, and a thirst for adventure, they were off to follow the original Moqui Stage Coach route to the Grand Canyon. The riders miscalculated the ride duration and landed at the canyon cooked, ravenous, and too late to make the ride back.

The founders of the Flag2GC ride hoped to create a better experience than what they had experienced by putting some organization a point to point ride. In 1998, with less than two months to plan, (what were we thinking?) the DirtyGirls took over the organizational responsibilities. They quickly realized that cold cash was necessary to pay for all of the amenities required for a successful ride. Not wanting to make money from their friends, the DirtyGirls decided to make the ride a charitable event.