About the mid-way point on Interstate 8 between San Diego, CA and Casa Grande, AZ lies the town of Yuma, AZ. Most folks don’t take notice of it other than a last chance to fill up with cheap gas before entering into the neighboring state of Taxifornia. Yes, people do live here. Take notice of the vehicles during the winter months, you’d wonder if Canada invaded the US with plates from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the like. With a population north of 200,000, these folks need some place to recreate besides the sand dunes to the west.
In my numerous travels to Phoenix from San Diego, I couldn’t help but notice cars parked at the end of a frontage road as I sat in line at the Border Patrol check point, leaving the east side of town. One particular Phoenix meeting ended early only to find widespread rain as I exited the building. Since Phoenix was out of the plan, I headed to sunny Yuma for some exploring. Occupying me for nearly 3 hours, I brought back some fellow riders the following month to share the experience. From the eastern most exit on I-8 in Yuma, Foothills Blvd, jump on the north frontage road and head east to the very end of the pavement start the adventure.
The communication towers up on the ridge would be the day’s high point.
Hitting the dirt access road, singletrack goodness starts under the powerline poles and starts the climb,
Which gets a bit technical,
And then mellows out with some flow.
Oh, but what do we have here?
Once the singletrack ends, so does the fun. The service road to the towers is rough poured concrete and starts out at an 11% grade.
But then you hit a wall halfway into the 0.9 mi climb when it steepens into an average of 24% for the remainder. Hikers thought we were crazy but what’s new?
If you’re still on the saddle between here and the top, you’ll enjoy several short sections exceeding 30% slope.
Should you find superhero power and make it to the top without stopping, descend and repeat the 800’ climb for some brutal humiliation while averaging an 18% grade. Else enjoy the view from the top from Telegraph Pass as your heart rate lowers below 300.
Everyone arrived at the top with preconceived notions of an awesome singletrack descent. I gave them the option of this trail off the top, but after seeing the highly visible X, likely marking where the last person died on the XXX descent,
Everyone unanimously approved of back tracking.
Being the only time I’ve ever lowered my seat on the road, canyon air smelled nothing short of a descending 18-wheeler.
Then back track on the singletrack.
After the 4.3 mile out & back, we’re back at the start…but hold your horse part’ner. We’re not done yet as there’s a whole ‘nother section of trail system to be ridden. We picked up a faint trail on the other side of the wash and followed it along the base of the mountains.
Then picked up some ATV tracks once it disappeared, heading in the general direction of the big rock mound. Eventually hooking up with a trail around the circumference of the mound.
On the western most side, a trail heads up to the cross on the hill.
Although primarily a hiking trail, those wanting to get their black diamond descent fix definitely don’t want to miss this option.
We took in the view,
Wow’d the hikers on the descent with our Jedi-like prowess,
Then picked up the trail along the base and headed around.
On the southeast side, either turn south on an ATV track to the frontage road and back to the vehicle or spend more time exploring a couple of optional HAB routes. Not a destination ride in and of itself, but it fills the bill if you need a few hours out of the car with a killer climbing experience with some 1,400’ of climbing in 9 miles.
Fortuna Hills (aka Telegraph Pass)
Yuma, AZ
8+ miles of trail/ATV/dirt road
4.6 miles of singletrack
