5,000+ Handpicked Adventures 4.8 Avg Across 185K Reviews Book Direct With Local Experts Every Booking Funds Conservation

5K+ Adventures 4.8 Avg Eco-Funded

Adventure, Curated

Explore 5,000+ human-powered experiences — handpicked outdoor adventures for all skill levels with max stoke, zero hassle.

Local Legends, Real Reviews

We partner with the best in the business — trusted local outfitters and guides who know the trails, tides, and terrain. Backed by 185,000+ reviews, averaging 4.8⭐

Book Direct, Best Price Guarantee

Get the best price, availability, and flexibility you need by booking directly with the outfitter or guide.

Protect What You Love

Your adventure gives back. Every booking supports conservation and keeps wild places wild.

McDowell Mountain Singletrack - 4 Day Guided Mountain Bike Trip

Guided ·

4.9

Phoenix

Locally Owned

Shuttle Included

Small Group Sizes

Duration: 4 days

Pricing

Adult

18+

$1,545

Youth

14-17

$1,445

Description

Guided Arizona Mountain Biking Trip - McDowell Mountain & Sonoran Desert

Spend four days riding world-class singletrack and camping under the stars in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. This trip explores the best of McDowell Mountain Regional Park and the nearby McDowell Sonoran Preserve—both known for their fast, flowing trails, iconic desert scenery, and expansive views. With routes ranging from mellow loops to more technical terrain, there's plenty to satisfy intermediate riders looking for a fun and flexible long weekend on the bike.

We’ll ride legendary trails like the Competitive Track and loops around Granite Mountain, wind past towering saguaros, and enjoy big desert sunsets each night at camp. All meals, logistics, and support are taken care of - ust show up ready to ride and relax. It’s the perfect warm-weather getaway filled with adventure, great food, and good company.

Trip Details, Duration, & Difficulty

RIDING TYPE | Intermediate

TRIP DURATION | 4-Days

SEASON | February – March & October – November

*Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.

Road Surface: Mostly singletrack. Includes packed sediment, some rocky and sandy sections and smooth dirt sections.
Overall Rating: Intermediate
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
Altitude: 1,000 - 4,000 feet

Location / Where to Meet

MEETING PLACE AND TIME

Phoenix, AZ The trip will meet at 8:30 AM local time at The Holiday Inn Express, 3401 E. University Dr. & I-10. You may park your car here for free during the trip. You will need to spend the night before in Phoenix.

ENDING TIME

We will return to The Holiday Inn between 1:00-2:00 pm on the final day.

Ages & Requirements

This trip is ideal for intermediate mountain bikers with some experience riding singletrack. You should be comfortable with moderately technical terrain, sustained rides of 10–25 miles per day, and a few short climbs. A sense of adventure and a love for desert riding are key!

While there’s not a specific minimum age for this trip, it’s important that all participants meet the physical requirements and are confident in this terrain. Because this is a group tour, riders should be able to keep pace and not impact the overall group experience. If you’re considering bringing a younger rider, please include their age and biking experience in your booking request form. We’re happy to assess whether the trip is a good fit or discuss the option of a private tour better suited to your family’s needs.

What's Included

The trip price includes food and drinks for the trip, guides, support vehicle, campsites, permits, and any entry fees into national parks and public lands.

meals, snacks, water, electrolyte drinks, non-alcoholic drinks
camp mugs, all kitchen and dining ware
1 cycling water bottle
camp chairs
dry bags to pack your gear
solar showers
sunscreen & bug spray
bike stand and lube
guides bring their own tools
first aid kit with basic medications

Not Included

Rental fees (bikes and camping gear), alcoholic beverages, gratuities for your guides, and applicable sales tax. If you would like to bring alcoholic beverages we will store them for you at the appropriate temperature.

Rental Options & Additional Services:

Camping Gear: We rent three-man tents (comfortable fit 2 adults), 20-degree sleeping bags and Thermarest pads.
Bike Shipping & Handling: Having your own bike for the trip is never a bad idea. We recommend BikeFlights when shipping your bike to and from the trip. Check with our office staff on our partnered bike shop in the area of your trip.

Multi-Day Guided Mountain Biking Adventures

ADVENTURE PROVIDED BY Western Spirit Cycling Adventures

FAQs

Itinerary

DAY 1

Ready for a weekend of fun, adventure, and to get away from it all? We’ll start out riding in the McDowell Mountain Regional Park, which is the site of the famous Cactus Cup races of the 1990s. It continues to be one of the most fun places to ride! It’s hard to believe this 20,000 acre park is just outside of Phoenix. The park offers over 40 miles of mountain biking trails so there are plenty of options. After we warm up and test our skills a bit on the trails, we’ll head back to camp for a delicious dinner. Kick back and relax with a refreshing beverage and an amazing view of the Sonoran Desert. TOTAL MILEAGE: 5-12 miles

DAY 2

After fueling up on a yummy breakfast in camp, we’ll spend the day riding fun loops at the McDowell Mountain Regional Park. With lots of options to choose from, we can make this day as easy or hard as we like. One of the more famous loops at McDowell is called the Competitive Track. The Long Loop of the track was designed for the average rider but is used by all. The Sport Loop is for intermediate riders and experts. The Technical Loop is for the expert rider. This portion of the track offers swooping turns, very technical descents, rugged terrain, and steep inclines. Each loop offers a variety of obstacles to test the rider’s skills. This competitive track is geared for mountain bikers who want to improve their technique, but for us it will just amount fun, fun, fun! Enjoy riding through the unique Sonoran desert landscape and past towering Saguaro cacti. The views are incredible and the riding brings nothing but smiles! After a full day of getting our “ride on”, we head back to camp to chill out, eat another amazing dinner, and enjoy the desert sunset. TOTAL MILEAGE: 10-24 miles

DAY 3

Wake up in your tent, get some coffee and breakfast, then hit the trails again! Today we head to another area of fun riding that will make you grin--the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Again, there are many different loops of premier singletrack that we won’t run out of options. Trails such as Whiskey Bottle, Chuck Wagon, Branding Iron, or Granite Mountain Loop are on the agenda. Prepare for fun roller-coaster type riding and experience some amazing geologic wonders in this area, such as Pinnacle Peak and Metate Rock. After our memorable day in the beautiful Sonoran Desert, we’ll head back to our camp for dinner, stories from the day, and stargazing. TOTAL MILEAGE: 8-25 miles

DAY 4

Our last day already? We’ll eat a delicious breakfast and break down camp. A quick morning ride will round out our weekend before we head back to civilization. We’ll say goodbyes and hope to see you again! TOTAL MILEAGE: 5-10 miles

Packing List

Be sure to bring everything on this list. We have carefully developed this list to ensure your comfort on the tour regardless of the weather. If you are prepared for extreme weather, it is an adventure. If you are not prepared it can be a serious problem.We recommend the layering system, including a wicking or long underwear layer, an insulating layer and a weather barrier for wind and rain. This list reflects that philosophy. Weather in the mountains can be unpredictable so be sure to bring all the warm clothing and rain gear listed!

HOW TO PACK: The bulk of your gear and clothing will ride in the Western Spirit support vehicle (preferably in a large duffle bag) and will not be accessible during the day.

For this trip, you will need a riding pack and optional day bag:

Your riding pack may be a hydration pack, but needs to carry 2-3 liters of water, rain gear, other warm clothing, and food for the day. You may be away from camp and the support vehicle all day and need to be self-sufficient.

A small day bag is optional and may be used to store things you’d rather not ride with, but would like to have access to during the day. This day-pack will remain with the support vehicle and may not be accessible, depending on the day.

WHAT WE PROVIDE: ✓ meals, snacks, water, electrolyte drinks, non-alcoholic drinks ✓ camp mugs, all kitchen and dining ware ✓ 1 cycling water bottle ✓ camp chairs ✓ solar showers ✓ sunscreen & bug spray ✓ bike stand and lube ✓ guides bring their own tools ✓ first aid kit with basic medications

BRINGING OR RENTING

Bike (Our rentals come with flat pedals. You are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.)
Helmet (gratis w/rental bike)
Tent
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad

CYCLING CLOTHING

cycling shoes
3 - 5 pair cycling shorts
3 - 5 cycling shirts
long sleeve cycling shirt
long sleeve cotton shirt or solar sleeves
cycling socks
windbreaker
tights or leg warmers
2 pair cycling gloves (1 pair full length for warmth)
rain jacket (Gore-Tex or similar)
rain pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
warm layer (lightweight synthetic puffy jacket or long sleeve fleece shirt)
sunglasses or other eye protection

CAMP CLOTHING

camp shorts
shirts
warm socks
long underwear, top and bottom (wicking layer, not cotton)
2 pair warm long pants
long sleeve fleece or sweater
pile or down jacket (insulating layer)
warm gloves and hat
brimmed hat or visor
bathing suit (for solar showers on the trip and at the hotel before/after your trip)
hiking shoes
sandals
rain gear to wear in camp

PERSONAL

toiletries
medication (daily and emergency)
towel
biodegradable soap
wet-wipes
flashlight or headlamp (with extra batteries)
sunglasses
optional day bag
stuff sacks or reusable grocery bags (or separate compartments for your dry bag
cash for tipping guides: your guides work as a team and share all of their gratuities. A tip of 10-20% of the price of your trip given to either one of your guides when you return to civilization is a great way to say thanks for a job well done.

OPTIONAL

camera, extra batteries
binoculars
alcoholic or any of your favorite beverages (your guides will pack these)
books or maps
we encourage you to turn your devices off, but if you cannot, please bring a way to charge them. We recommend a portable USB charger with 1-2 charges. Also, putting your phone on airplane mode to save power is recommended.

Lodging Before Your Trip

Phoenix is a popular vacation spot. It is a good idea to book your rooms several months in advance if possible; here are a couple of recommendations:

Holiday Inn Express, Phoenix Airport 3401 E. University Drive & I-10 602-453-9900 This is where the trip meets. We recommend making reservations here ahead of time.

The Clarendon Hotel 401 W. Clarendon Ave www.theclarendon.net 602-252-7363

For transportation from the airport either call Discount Cab (602-200-2000) or use the Uber app on your smartphone.

TAXI SERVICE

Paul’s Taxi: 602-222-2227 Ejecutivos Taxi: 602-678-1444 Discount Cab: 602-200-2000

Cancellation Policy

We would hate to see you go but if something does come up here is the cancellation policy.

Should you need to cancel for any reason, we will apply the following cancellation policy: For cancellations prior to 60 days before departure, a $50 handling fee per person is retained and the remainder of your deposit is refunded. For cancellations 60-31 days before departure, 50% of your trip fees are refunded. For cancellations 30 days or less before departure, no monies are refundable.