Dreamy Draw - 40th St Loop

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

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This loop makes an excellent introduction to the riding in Phoenix Mountains Preserve, complete with crosscountry desert flow, intermediate tech, and some punchy chunk sections to keep you honest. The web of trails and variations here are endless, so the idea is to start with this loop and branch out to find your own favorite rides from here. On this figure-8 route you'll get a good taste of the classic Trail 100 (Charles M. Christiansen), Trail 1A (Perl Charles) and Zipper. However you end up routing your ride, I recommend taking Trail 100 in the east-west direction and Zipper in the west-east direction for maximum enjoyment.

You can start at the 40th Street Trailhead as mapped (ample parking, restrooms), or anywhere else and join up with Trail 100 - Charles M. Christiansen Memorial. This is the central trail that links up pretty much everything in the preserve. Though it's somewhat well marked, the variety of side trails can make things confusing.

The section of Trail 100 on this loop is scenic, rocky, and of moderate gradient for most of the time as you climb through the mountains' central valley. Steeper and chunkier sections await after the junction with Perl Charles. Note that you could take Perl Charles (1A) - North instead of continuing on T100 here to make things easier.

Enjoy a relatively easy and fast descent down to Dreamy Draw, then link with Perl Charles via short spin on the bikeway. Perl Charles makes a very manageable climb back to T100. From there you'll make a quick skip to the north and find the turn for Zipper.

Zipping down Zipper will be a highlight of your day. It's rocky and fast with plenty of line choices to keep the ride fun every time. This delivers you back to the 40th Street trailhead and your car if that's where you chose to start.