Last week I conveniently found myself in Flagstaff for the weekend. After taking care of some work in Phoenix on Friday, Brent and I headed up to Flagstaff for the weekend. After a late afternoon ride on the excellent Sycamore Rim trail, I was in the mood for a longer point-to-point ride the next day. Also having driven through Flagstaff well over 4 dozen times, Walnut Canyon National Monument was still on my to do list. I hadn’t come across much information on the Arizona trail section through Walnut Canyon, but decided to combine both into the ride for the day.



Our start was the east side of Flagstaff at Sandy Seep trailhead off Rt 89 and immediately picked up the Arizona Trail (AZT) for nearly the entire ride.



Passing through the tunnel under Rt 89, we quickly found that nearly no one rides this section of AZT and only a bit of foot traffic.



The ground is composed of volcanic cinder as a result of the cinder cones in the immediate area, so sections are very soft and loose just like decomposed granite. Luckily, most of it is on a down grade. There’s even a small bit of hike-a-bike through some serious volcanic rock.



Finally you’re spit out on to a road and prairie area, but you’re only on the road for maybe 100 yards.



This is where the trail gets thin and don’t be confused with the other cow trails in the open pasture. There’s a nice view of the San Francisco Peaks looking back where you started.



Exiting the pasture you start following some offroad trails paralleling the railroad tracks heading east to Albuquerque. Eventually the AZT splits off with sign post and you’re back on singletrack for good.



Then you head under the railroad tracks and I-40.



Occasionally signs give you mileage.



But we crank along through open land.



The AZT crosses Walnut Canyon Rd within 1/2 mile of the park entrance gate. Riding a bike, you will still need to pay admission but I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth this year from the America the Beautiful access pass. Having been never been to Walnut Canyon N.M. I didn’t know what to expect, but found there’s over 2 dozen cliff dwellings in the canyon. You enter the Island trail via the bottom of the visitors center and descend nearly 200’. The trail is just that, an island peninsula in the canyon.



Most of the canyon’s cliff dwellings (rooms) reside on the same level of rock deposit on both sides of the canyon.





Water was collected from the stream below and crops grown on the rim above. Signs state that these dwellings were only inhabited for just over 100 years before these people moved on further to the south.



Done with lunch, it was time to roll again and pickup AZT where we left off. This section definitely shows moderate bike traffic but we didn’t see anyone on the trail, even on a Saturday.



2.1 miles to the west of the Walnut Canyon Rd, you come to the main AZT trailhead for this section.





The trail meanders through the forest, with the usual xc undulations and occasional cobblestone rock sections.





Unlike Sycamore Rim trail, you don’t see much of Walnut Canyon until the very end.

About the half way point, the AZT briefly comes to the rim, but you’ll be too busy concentrating hard on the trail with three tight, descending switchbacks.



After this, there are 4 short overlook side trails to the rim. The first couple doesn’t come across as outstanding, but are notable none the less.



Not until you reach Fisher Point overlook.






If you feel that you haven’t gotten any reward up to this point, this is where you’re ending up in 0.9 mile.



The 400’ drop to the bottom of the meadow is some near black diamond fun.



There’s even a cool cave like feature at the foot of the rock formation.



We continued on AZT for another mile and then split off for the 1.3 climb up Sandy’s Canyon to the Canyon Vista trailhead where our other vehicle was parked. With 23 miles completed for the day it was time to hit up Flagstaff for some food & brew.





And while we were there, Saturday night was the locals’ beach cruiser night at Flagstaff Brewing Company with some 3 dozen bikes rolling up.





Afterwards we strolled around a couple of blocks and found the original keg bike in a bike store.



Overall, it was a good ride accentuated with a visit to the Walnut Canyon National Monument. Friday’s ride of Sycamore Rim was still fresh in our minds, but Sunday’s section of AZT would best both by a long shot.

Looks awesome!

We are all wishing we would have taken you up on the offer to go now. Sweet TR.

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A mountain biker who doesn't ride road has no legs
A road biker who doesn't ride mountain has no soul

NIce trail, and that burger is making me hungry.

Nice TR. I'll be in Flag again this fall, and am planning to ride Mt Elden trails some more. But how about that Sycamore Rim trail you said was excellent? Planning a TR on that?

(I found a map, TR and pictures of Sycamore Rim on singletrack.us -- looks pretty nice. Lots of rock. The climbing and altitude at Mt Elden last year were pretty hard for me -- Sycamore looks a little more moderate in that respect.)

Thanks.

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

Wow! Great TR Sean thanks.

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Looks like you guys hit it just right. Someday I'd love to ride the AZT from end to end.

Very nice, looks like a great day.

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strava:instagram:activejunky

I seemed to be really popular in those pics.