Maricopa Trail: I-17 to New River Rd

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

The best access to the west end of this trail is to take 41st Ave south from Anthem Way about two miles to the Maricopa Trail crossing, just before crossing Deadman Wash. There is no trailhead facility, but parking on the side of the road is ok.

The Spears Ranch Trailhead is about 4.5 miles north of Carefree Highway on New River Road (7th St.).

The trail starts on the dirt Frontage Rd (Pioneer Rd) just west of I-17. The trail heads east under the I-17 bridges. For the first three miles, the trail is mostly smooth wide singletrack in the no-man's-land between the feuding Anthem and Desert Hills neighborhoods. Almost two miles in, the trail passes the Anthem Dog Park.

After about three miles, the trail crosses Skunk Creek Wash and heads northwest along Rodger Creek Wash (a tributary of Skunk Creek), crossing the wash a few times. This section is just a little bit sandy in spots, but not bad. The trail intersects a number of ATV roads, but is well signed. Shortly after the Skunk Creek crossing, there is a signed spur trail that leads to the Anthem Trailhead at 11th Ave and Desert Hills Rd.

The last mile of the trail heads due east and is a bit of a roller-coaster, crossing a couple of hills until it arrives at New River Road and the Spears Ranch Trailhead on the far side of the road.