Looking for a good one day ride / loop in Phoenix area

Moto North · 12-18-2012, 01:10 PM

Hey Guys,

I'm going to be flying in to Phoenix (from Toronto Canada) for a conferance (work...yuck) and planning to take an extra day there to rent a bike. Just hoping some of you folks could offer suggestions as to where I should go. I'm planning to rent an 800GS or 1200GS or VStrom. So far thats all I'm seeing available besides pure street bikes. I ride a 950 Adventure up here. I'll only have one day...Jan 12th and looking to make the best of it. Would like to see some spectacular scenery, a bit of interesting, historic stuff would be cool and of course some great back roads. Please keep in mind I'll be on a stock bike with stock tires so gravel is great but would rather avoid soft sand. Any suggestions would be greatly apreciated. If anyone in the area is interested in hooking up for a ride would be even better!
Thanks

benwiggin2 · 12-18-2012, 01:59 PM

just don't go anywhere with nightstalker.....

AZ4us · 12-18-2012, 02:29 PM

NOooo. He is a Cool Guy !
Just have some Tequila before the Trip and enjoy the ride !
No Mexican insurance is needed.

Welcome to the valley of the Sun !

Quote:

Originally Posted by benwiggin2

just don't go anywhere with nightstalker.....

Pantah · 12-20-2012, 12:42 PM

Scottsdale Rd north to Cave Creek Rd in Carefree. Turn R onto Cave Creek. The road climbs north out of the valley once past the golf resorts. Look for Sears Kay Indian ruins on the right. There will be a sign. Ride to the lot and hike up to the ruins. Maybe .3 miles hike or so.

Road turns to dirt and Cave Creek Rd becomes Seven Springs Rd. You will see signs marked Great Western Trail. Take it all the way to a T shaped intersection with Bloody Basin Rd. Turn right and go to Sheeps Bridge or something like that. It dead ends at the Verde River and a dam. I've never been there yet. Might be worth a peek. Turn around and go back west on Bloody Basin Road. A few miles west of Seven Springs intersection the road will begin climbing out of Bloody Basin atop a rising ridgeline. Then it will switchback up a wall to a plateau called Agua Fria Nationa Monument. Bloody Basin Rd will intersect with I-17 where you can head back to Phoenix. Or you can continue under the Interstate and take Crown King Rd to Crown King! Also dirt.

Google up some history about the area. Basically the Cavalry held Fort McDowell which was south just North of what is now Fountain Hills. They would ride up Camp Creek Wash (13 miles) to the what is now Seven Springs Rd/Cave Creek Rd. There were mines and raches to protect. The Apaches would withdraw to Bloody Basin and hide out. You'll see why it was easy to hide. It's sort of a badlands type terrain.

It's a great day trip. The roads are narrow and can be rough in spots, but nothing severe. A GS 800 would be a good ride. I would take you down Camp Creek Wash, but the sand is deep and you'd need a buddy to help pick up your bike occasionally.

Moto North · 01-11-2013, 01:40 PM

Thanks Pantah,.
Looks like a nice ride. I like the mix of scenery, terain and a bit of history mixed in. Just my style. I'm in town now and will be picking up the rentals tonight, heading out for the ride Sat morning first thing. Looks like it'll be a bit chilly but I brought my cold weather gear just in case....good thing! Anybody in Phoenix area want to come for a ride? You can email me directly at trevor.picard@msasafety.com as I'll catch it on my phone then. Any other route suggestions would from anyone else??
Cheers

Stumpalump · 01-11-2013, 05:34 PM

Outside of Carefree, take the road to lake Bartlet. It's scenic and no traffic this time of year. Hit Horseshoe lake on the way back for a cool dirt ride and see the dam in the other post. You can still head north thru seven springs after that. Have fun and welcome to Arizona!

F800ekelley · 01-12-2013, 05:34 AM

Ill agree the bloody basin is a great easy ride on stock tires a great way to see az. If ur looking for pure street i would reccomend touring up the 87 for a little head down the 177 (i think) towards rosevelt lake and taking apache trail home google apache trail it to be an award winning drive on a bike it can only be better part of acahe trail is dirt road

Moto North · 01-14-2013, 10:29 AM

Thanks for all the input guys. We ended up doing the Apache trail loop. Had a great day, Although a little chilly in the morning and at the end of the day. Otherwise we had an awesome ride and it likely helped to keep the tourist traffic down to almost nothing. You guys are truly blessed with amaizing rides!

12-18-2012, 01:10 PM	#1
Moto North ^OP Ontario ADV Rider Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Campbellville Ontario Canada Oddometer: 146	Looking for a good one day ride / loop in Phoenix area Hey Guys, I'm going to be flying in to Phoenix (from Toronto Canada) for a conferance (work...yuck) and planning to take an extra day there to rent a bike. Just hoping some of you folks could offer suggestions as to where I should go. I'm planning to rent an 800GS or 1200GS or VStrom. So far thats all I'm seeing available besides pure street bikes. I ride a 950 Adventure up here. I'll only have one day...Jan 12th and looking to make the best of it. Would like to see some spectacular scenery, a bit of interesting, historic stuff would be cool and of course some great back roads. Please keep in mind I'll be on a stock bike with stock tires so gravel is great but would rather avoid soft sand. Any suggestions would be greatly apreciated. If anyone in the area is interested in hooking up for a ride would be even better! Thanks __________________ "If you love your bike and it leaves you and then comes back - you've probably high-sided" "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." T.E.Lawrence

12-20-2012, 12:42 PM	#4
Pantah Red Sox Nation Joined: Oct 2004 Location: India Wharf Oddometer: 8,922	Bloody Basin Loop Scottsdale Rd north to Cave Creek Rd in Carefree. Turn R onto Cave Creek. The road climbs north out of the valley once past the golf resorts. Look for Sears Kay Indian ruins on the right. There will be a sign. Ride to the lot and hike up to the ruins. Maybe .3 miles hike or so. Road turns to dirt and Cave Creek Rd becomes Seven Springs Rd. You will see signs marked Great Western Trail. Take it all the way to a T shaped intersection with Bloody Basin Rd. Turn right and go to Sheeps Bridge or something like that. It dead ends at the Verde River and a dam. I've never been there yet. Might be worth a peek. Turn around and go back west on Bloody Basin Road. A few miles west of Seven Springs intersection the road will begin climbing out of Bloody Basin atop a rising ridgeline. Then it will switchback up a wall to a plateau called Agua Fria Nationa Monument. Bloody Basin Rd will intersect with I-17 where you can head back to Phoenix. Or you can continue under the Interstate and take Crown King Rd to Crown King! Also dirt. Google up some history about the area. Basically the Cavalry held Fort McDowell which was south just North of what is now Fountain Hills. They would ride up Camp Creek Wash (13 miles) to the what is now Seven Springs Rd/Cave Creek Rd. There were mines and raches to protect. The Apaches would withdraw to Bloody Basin and hide out. You'll see why it was easy to hide. It's sort of a badlands type terrain. It's a great day trip. The roads are narrow and can be rough in spots, but nothing severe. A GS 800 would be a good ride. I would take you down Camp Creek Wash, but the sand is deep and you'd need a buddy to help pick up your bike occasionally. __________________ Straight ahead and faster -Bo Weaver 1970 "There I was..." -Griffin Niner Three Hotel

01-11-2013, 01:40 PM	#5
Moto North ^OP Ontario ADV Rider Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Campbellville Ontario Canada Oddometer: 146	Saturday ride? Thanks Pantah,. Looks like a nice ride. I like the mix of scenery, terain and a bit of history mixed in. Just my style. I'm in town now and will be picking up the rentals tonight, heading out for the ride Sat morning first thing. Looks like it'll be a bit chilly but I brought my cold weather gear just in case....good thing! Anybody in Phoenix area want to come for a ride? You can email me directly at trevor.picard@msasafety.com as I'll catch it on my phone then. Any other route suggestions would from anyone else?? Cheers __________________ "If you love your bike and it leaves you and then comes back - you've probably high-sided" "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." T.E.Lawrence

01-11-2013, 05:34 PM	#6
Stumpalump Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2010 Oddometer: 122	Outside of Carefree, take the road to lake Bartlet. It's scenic and no traffic this time of year. Hit Horseshoe lake on the way back for a cool dirt ride and see the dam in the other post. You can still head north thru seven springs after that. Have fun and welcome to Arizona! __________________ KTM 950A Rokon 2X2 Montesa 315R trials KTM 200 EXC. XR400

01-14-2013, 10:29 AM	#8
Moto North ^OP Ontario ADV Rider Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Campbellville Ontario Canada Oddometer: 146	Thanks for all the input guys. We ended up doing the Apache trail loop. Had a great day, Although a little chilly in the morning and at the end of the day. Otherwise we had an awesome ride and it likely helped to keep the tourist traffic down to almost nothing. You guys are truly blessed with amaizing rides! __________________ "If you love your bike and it leaves you and then comes back - you've probably high-sided" "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." T.E.Lawrence

12-18-2012, 01:59 PM	#2
benwiggin2 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Red stickered, in the wild, wild, west Oddometer: 1,825	just don't go anywhere with nightstalker.....

01-12-2013, 05:34 AM	#7
F800ekelley Adventurer Joined: Sep 2012 Location: valley of the sun Oddometer: 86	Ill agree the bloody basin is a great easy ride on stock tires a great way to see az. If ur looking for pure street i would reccomend touring up the 87 for a little head down the 177 (i think) towards rosevelt lake and taking apache trail home google apache trail it to be an award winning drive on a bike it can only be better part of acahe trail is dirt road

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