Best of the AZT - Snow Bowl Road to FR 418

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Commonly Bikepacked · Flow · Views

A great point-to-point route. This section of the Arizona Trail is the highest in the state and traverses along the base of the beautiful San Francisco Peaks. Excellent sections of flowy trail track through meadows and stands of aspens and old-growth conifers.

"This area is popular, especially on weekends, and especially during leaf season (the area around Aspen Corner draws crowds). Be ready to share the trail."

"This route is described as an out-and-back, starting from low on Snowbowl Road. For an easier alternative, the trail can be accessed from Aspen Corner, which is higher up Snowbowl Road. This alternative makes for a ride suitable for beginners, trims 4.8 miles off the route (each way), and eliminates most of the difficult climbing (and fun descending)."

Starting at Snowbowl Road began climbing on the Arizona Trail. This climb is long and challenging but well worth the effort! There are flowy sections on nice hard pack dirt, as well as some sections of techy rock moves as the trail moves into the higher elevations. Ponderosa pines give way to aspens and firs as you climb up into the high slopes of the San Francisco Peaks. 

When you reach "Aspen Corner," you'll start traversing on flowy singletrack along the base of the San Francisco peaks through beautiful sub-alpine meadows. Once past Bismarck Lake, the trail will descend through beautiful aspens and thick ferns that line the trail in the summer.

The descent to forest road 418 is a dream, the flowy trail swoops through aspens and thick ferns. This route ends when the trail intersects with Forest Service Road 418. Set shuttle here or for the more motivated riders this can be a great out and back as well.