Name: Sidewinder Trail
Rating: 4.2

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Trailhead Hours: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Trail Hours: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Need to Know

This is a multi-use trail also frequented by hikers and horseback riders.

Description

Built for mountain biking, Sidewinder Trail is the longest, most technical trail in the North Sonoran Preserve.

Beginning from the Apache Wash Trailhead, head around the east side of Apache Hill and gradually climb before dropping down on the north side, intersecting Apache Wash Loop. The trail then heads into the north flats before climbing again, passing the 14th and 10th St. connectors and Ridgeback Trail. It descends into some tight washes as it climbs steadily again before passing the Central Avenue connector trail. From there, it briefly joins the Ocotillo Trail and quickly starts climbing again.

At about mile 5, Ocotillo diverges toward the south while Sidewinder continues to climb west and then north, eventually bending northeast after passing the communication towers, descending the last 1 mile to the Desert Hills Trailhead.

Contacts

Local Club: Cave Creek Bicycle Association

Land Manager: City of Phoenix - Trails and Desert Preserves

Shared By:

Pierre Munger

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.2 from 38 votes

#1

in Anthem & New River

#415

Overall

4.2 from 38 votes

5 Star		45%
4 Star		37%
3 Star		11%
2 Star		5%
1 Star		3%

Trail Rankings

#1

in Anthem & New River

#26

in Arizona

#415

Overall

59 Views Last Month

5,308 Since Oct 20, 2014

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		58%
		15%
		24%
		3%

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Photos

Sidewinder Trail cutting through the saguaros

Feb 14, 2015 near Anthem, AZ

Sidewinder, Ridgeback, and Ocotillo loop in 4K

Mar 10, 2022 near Cave Creek, AZ

Mar 5, 2017 near Anthem, AZ

Poppies bloom all around you on a ride along the Sidewinder Trail.

Mar 5, 2017 near Anthem, AZ

SW peak of Sidewinder trail in the early fall morning.

Oct 19, 2017 near Cave Creek, AZ

Jan 4, 2015 near Cave Creek, AZ

4 Comments

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Unknown

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Check-Ins

Jul 23, 2023

Mountain Park

7.6mi — 0h 35m

May 6, 2023

Mountain Park

5mi — 0h 20m

Mar 25, 2023

Mountain Park

1.7mi — 0h 15m

Mar 22, 2022

Mountain Park

5mi — 1h 00m

Jan 11, 2022

Mountain Park

7mi — 1h 15m

Dec 4, 2021

Mountain Park

7.1mi — 1h 18m

Apr 30, 2021

Ed Abula

Jan 1, 2021

Kevan H.

Sep 25, 2020

Lisa Barnes

Sep 13, 2020

Stephen Manders

Varying degrees of rock terrain.

Feb 1, 2020

Ben Rakozy

Jan 25, 2020

Kimberly Coyle-Pohs

Oct 23, 2019

Max Shrout

Oct 19, 2019

Karl Lillie

Beautiful day out!

Apr 12, 2019

Neff Lazcano

Apr 7, 2019

Faith Ann

Oct 12, 2018

Michael Morley

Aug 18, 2018

Sjb Sjb

Jan 27, 2018

Matthew Vane

6.9mi

Dec 6, 2017

Bryce Henson

Nov 16, 2017

Ivan Ankrom

OMG, I bit off more than I can chew on this trail. After riding Ocotillo, Sidewinder is intermediate/difficult for sure. 16% ascents, killer trail. 7mi — 2h 00m

Sep 27, 2017

Randy P

did ocotillo to ridgeback to sidewinder and return on ocotillo. 8.5mi

Feb 22, 2017

Jared Allen

Nov 28, 2016

Lost Justpastnowhere

Sep 26, 2016

Keith Crenshaw

Great after work ride with a steep climb and relaxing cruise 7.3mi

Mar 26, 2016

Jay Holsten

Jan 1, 2016

Mark Slovak

Dec 8, 2015

Andrea Johnson

Jan 17, 2015

Paul Godman

Rode as a night ride! Fantastic.

Nearby Recommended Routes

Always look up the trail, even when climbing. I nearly ran over this rattle snake, then dropped my bike and danced out of the way. Snakes never seem to go out of their way to bite, just don

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This section of Trail 100 has mild-moderate singletrack and some steep, but short climbs. The views can pay off in the early evening.

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11.3 mi 18.2 km • 860' Up 262.05 m Up • 964' Down 293.9 m Down

Paradis…, AZ

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Sidewinder Trail

“One of the toughest trails in the Sonoran Preserve. ”

7.1

11.4

2,082' 634 m

1,739' 530 m

683' 208 m

806' 246 m

4%

16%

Toolbox

Know This Trail?

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Need to Know

Description

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#1

#415

#1

#26

#415

Photos

4 Comments

Comment Type:

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Cave Creek Cactus Classic Race Loop

Reach 11 Long Loop

Sunrise South Butte Loop

West Side Loop

Prickly Pedal Race Course

Trail 100 - Charles M. Christiansen Memorial

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