Prescott, Arizona, is a mountain biking paradise, offering trails for every skill level amidst stunning high-desert landscapes. You’ll find everything from higher-elevation trails to semi-arid desert hard-pack to slow and technical granite slick rock structures. This is some of the best mountain bike riding in the Southwest! Need convincing? Check out “The Complete guide to riding in prescott“, and “Mountain Biking in Prescott“. ( opens new tabs )
Here’s a rundown of a few spots to ride, curated from our local chapter members:
- Thumb Butte Trails: 3 miles west of town on Thumb Butte rd., this area features a mix of flowy singletrack and technical climbs. Try the 8 mile Thumb Butte loop for an intermediate ride with panoramic views. Great for after-work spins. Pay parking at this national forest location. ( no pedal assist bikes in the national forest ).
- White Rock trailhead: 1 mile further West on Thumb Butte rd. at the junction of 318, 324, & 738 trails. From here a maze of trails at all compass points guarantees miles of smiles. Free parking. No pedal assist bikes.
- Granite Dells (map): Head to Willow or Watson Lake for twisty trails weaving through otherworldly rock formations. Everything from green to double black. Park at either Peavine trailheads or Iron King in Prescott Valley. Pedal assist OK.
- Spence Basin: A local favorite for advanced riders, this trail system has flowy and technical singletrack. Check out Tour of Spence Basin a 7-mile loop with punchy climbs and fast descents. Park at Upper or Lower Spence trailheads. No pedal assist bikes.
- Pioneer Park/Brownlow trails: A favorite for beginner and intermediate riders. 25+ miles of green & blue flowy trails with a few aerobic climbs and big descents. Pedal assist OK.
- Bean Peaks: A PMBA project 10 years in the making. Bike optimized featuring tabletops, berms, rollers and technical rock features. Currently about 10+ miles of trails with 10 more miles to be built in 2025-26. No pedal assist.
- Prescott Circle Trail: The crown jewel of Prescott trails. A 56-mile network encircling the city, perfect for epic adventures or shorter segment rides. Best ridden counter-clockwise. Some of our pro racers have completed it in 4.5 hours. Any completion of the circle (even over 2 days) is a major achievement.
Tips: Trails are busiest on weekends, so get out early. Monsoon season (July-Sept) can make surfaces slick—check conditions. Always pack water, lots of water; Prescott’s elevation (5,300 ft) and summer temps. demands hydration. Join our chapter rides to explore hidden gems with locals who know the dirt best! Also check out the local bike shop rides.
For paper trail maps visit Prescott’s Chamber of Commerce. For on-line up-to-date maps visit Trail Forks.
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