Recently got in a couple of solo weekday rides in Flagstaff, to the same place, Fisher Point, from two different approaches. One through Walnut Canyon from the south, and one along the rim from the east. Both were good, but were out-and-backs since I didn't have the legs for a huge loop, or the ride for a shuttle. I scouted out a little more and found what I think would be a great AZT ride. These are crackberry pix, so not best quality, but should suffice.
Spent the night in Canyon Vista campground, where the first trailhead was. Really nice developed campsites, but too much nearby road noise for me. Went for a hike in the rain to a nearby climbing area, Le Petit Verdon, aka The Pit. Nice featured limestone rock.
Since the days were pretty hot, with afternoon thundershowers, I got up kinda early for the first relatively short ride. It was maybe 10mi roundtrip, with some side trail exploration, but I kept it short because it had a coupla climbs, and I suck at climbing, even worse at 7000' elevation. I rode nice singletrack through the Ponderosa pines, with patches of volcanic rock causing me to wonder about Nevegal sidewall strength...then descended Sandy's Canyon into Walnut Canyon. Sandy's was the only trail where I did any HAB for technical reasons.
That stretch of rockiness led to some narrow descending into Walnut Canyon, where there was a nice babyhead section I enjoyed.
Some really nice flat and fast trail led to a beautiful meadow
Along the way were some flowers, cinquefoils, that I haven't seen around here. Kinda like tiny lil roses.
The meadow led to the cave at the base of Fisher Point. You can see another biker near the entrance.
From there the trail climbed about 400' in a mile to Fisher Point, where I posed my trusty steed a la Baja.
...and a hiker snapped a pic of the old dog, looking, as usual, red-faced from exertion, and needing to lose a little belly flab.
The descent from Fisher Point was muy excelente, ripping fast with several rock ledges, but all less than a foot, so good flow for me. On the return I had some HAB again up Sandy's Canyon.
Afterwards, I drove up to Marshall Lake for lunch and a beer while watching the thunderheads form.
There is an AZT trailhead there, and primitive open camping, quiet and beautiful. A loop ride on the AZT through here was recommended to me, but I didn't want to climb pavement to make that work.
The next day I drove out to Walnut Canyon National Monument to the AZT trailhead there, and went to Fisher Point again, by riding the rim of Walnut Canyon. This was an excellent out-and-back of about 16mi, including side trips to overlooks. I took about 4hrs including a short nap at the Point. Never saw another soul the entire time. No pix of the nicely flowing red dirt singletrack through the pines. This trail is pretty easy, but is is really nicely built and flows well both directions. It's considerably faster on the return trip, even though the elevation difference is small. After a while it suddenly descends via several tight, well-built switchbacks into and out of a side canyon to regain the rim. That section was only slightly technical but the most fun.
I eventually got to the Point again, where I could look down on the meadow with the cave, where I was the previous day.
Returning along the rim, the trail was typically excellent like this.
The return descent into the side canyon was fast and fun. Like hootin', hollerin', laugh out loud even if there's no one to hear you fun.
When I had first descended the switchbacks into the side canyon, I was totally loving it, but also thinking coming back up would be a bitch in the midday heat. That was not the case, as clouds cooled things off a little, and the switchbacks were very doable in the uphill direction for most riders (yeah, I walked the first, steepest one, but got the others). Here's a pic looking back at the bottom couple. Nice stonework.
The last few miles back to the car didn't really seem downhill compared to the ride in, but I was several gears higher, even topped out a few times, and caught (a little bit of) air several times. Sweeet!
Afterwards I went to the monument and checked out the cliff dwelling ruins.
You can see some pictures of those, as well as a few different pictures of the trail section I described, in this earlier TR by Sean.
http://dirttreaders.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=2944
So here's a map of the area, with trailheads circled.
My recommendation for a longer shuttle ride, all singletrack, is to start higher up at the Marshall Lake trailhead and ride the AZT down into Walnut Canyon, up to Fisher Point, and out to the trailhead at the National Monument. That would be excellent.
By the way, after several trips to Flag, I've checked out all the bike shops. Absolute Bikes is the most well known, but really didn't impress me. I recommend Bike Revolution. Their guys have way better local trail knowledge, and they've got a coffee bar inside, chairs and a couch, streaming bike videos, and a brewery next door. Can't get much friendlier than that.
