good spot along I-40 to mtb?

[jimcav]

I am driving home from san diego to indianapolis and wondered if anyone can recommend good mtb stops near (within 10-15 miles of the freeway) where I could hit some good single track to interrupt the drive? Hoping to do the drive in 2-3 days, and probably won't stop the last 6 hours.
thanks
jim

[Louis]

Surely there will be something in New Mexico. The one time I drove through there heading east from San Diego (to NH, back in 1982) it was dark so I didn't get a very good look, but I do seem remember areas that would be good for MTBs.

[PeregrineA1]

Flagstaff has some great stuff. Sedona is also a few miles south of 40.

[jimcav]

anyone recommend the more western parts?
http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-trails/riding-the-interstate-the-i-40-road-trip-edition/

[wtex]

Palo Duro is awesome, highly recommend. 2nd largest canyon in the US, next to the Grand Canyon. Tons of trails north or south of 40 around ABQ.

[ofcounsel]

Flagstaff has some great stuff. Sedona is also a few miles south of 40.

I just got back this evening from Flagstaff/Sedona! It's definitely worth the 25 mile or so detour to experience Sedona MTB trails.

Here's a few of the rides I did, right off of Highway 89A in Sedona.

https://www.strava.com/activities/787212974

https://www.strava.com/activities/785370333

This one was off of Highway 179

https://www.strava.com/activities/786310919

You can also head up I-8 to 1-10 to I-17 towards Sedona on your way up to I-40 :)

If you've never been to Sedona, you owe yourself a trip. All the trails are well marked. About the most well-marked, user friendly trail systems I've had the pleasure of experiencing!

[YesNdeed]

Definitely some good trails 10-15 minutes South of I-40 in Tijeras, NM, just East of Albuquerque, along South 14. Cedro Peak, Otero Canyon, Tunnel Canyon, to name a few. Super convenient for travelling through. You can PM me for any more details.
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/285392

[Jellybird3]

If you have a smart phone, give the Trail Forks app a try (developed by Pinkbike). It's really good at helping find and navigate new trails.

[Jaybee]

No recommendations E of Amarillo so far (Palo Duro is awesome by the way). That's a long way to Indy w no riding.

You would take I-44 once you hit OKC, no? If so, then Turkey Mtn in Tulsa is highly recommended. I've also ridden a decent stash of "hidden" trails in Joplin, but a local showed me and I'm not sure how or if I should describe them online. Haven't ridden E of there in Missouri, but I would think St Louis has to have something.

Also, if you go I-8 to I-10 to I-17 to I-40, then you could make the stop in PHX if the Sedona/FLG area is too cold/snowy for you. If you have the choice between PHX and Sedona, I would choose Sedona.

[jimcav]

i will check that out. i usually do 12-15 hours the last day, so should be good, but nice to have a plan to stop and wake myself up if needed

[Lovetoclimb]

look up the trail networks outside of Gallup NM. There is one just North of the city (high dessert trails) and another several miles East (Zuni trails), both very nice and remote, but only a short trip off of I-40.

More info here (http://www.galluptrails.com)

[jmal]

I'd detour off of 44 and hit the trails in Arkansas.

[jimcav]

there is a lot of stuff in AZ, but i need to space things out, and it looks like it might be cold in flagstaff, so may hit yuma for a quick 1 hr ride and then on to maybe palo duro or the tunnel/otero loop?

[ofcounsel]

there is a lot of stuff in AZ, but i need to space things out, and it looks like it might be cold in flagstaff, so may hit yuma for a quick 1 hr ride and then on to maybe palo duro or the tunnel/otero loop?

Honestly, Mt. Elden may be a little cold and snowy. The base elevation in the flagstaff/Mt. Elden area is 7000 feet.

The elevation of the trails near Red Rock High School are 4300 to 4600 feet. So the chances of significant snow in the area are much lower, and temperatures are going to be about 8 or so degrees warmer, based on elevation alone.

I just rode some of the trails by Red Rock high school this past weekend (I was staying at the Sedona Summit Inn, right across the street off of Highway 89). The trails are very well marked and real easy to get in and out of. You can do an easy hour loop, or connect to different trails and loops for several hours of riding.

See here: https://www.strava.com/activities/787212974

Here's a description of some of the trails in the area:

http://www.trailforks.com/trails/skywalker-46389/
http://www.trailforks.com/trails/herkenham/
http://www.trailforks.com/trails/old-post/
http://www.trailforks.com/trails/carroll-canyon/

My buddy and I out started on the Skywalker trail a little after 7am to make sure we were back at the room for 9am breakfast with our wives and kids.

[buldogge]

I don't MTB...but...Castlewood SP and The Chubb Trail are two areas St. Louis people hit-up, regularly, along/close to 44.

https://gorctrails.com/trails/chubb-trail

https://gorctrails.com/trails/castlewood-state-park

Also Greensfelder and Rockwoods Range:

https://gorctrails.com/trails/greensfelder

https://gorctrails.com/trails/rockwoods-range

-Mark in St. Louis

[2LeftCleats]

If you have any interest and time once in Indianapolis, consider driving an hour south to Brown County State Park. Has some really great trails.

[DRZRM]

I lived in Albuquerque last year, and there is a nice riDE in the Sandia foothills just north of I-40. Sounds like you have good choices in the area, but PM me if you want details.

[Dave B]

If you have any interest and time once in Indianapolis, consider driving an hour south to Brown County State Park. Has some really great trails.

Yeah some of the best trails in the Midwest!

Of course when you get home we have Westwood, fort Ben (have not been there yet) and the old gal (96th street/town run)

How long are you in town?

[druptight]

My go-to method (aside from asking) to find MTB trails is to pull up the strava heatmap and just look for squiggles that aren't on a road. Typically pretty easy to see. Zero in on some areas you might want to stop and just drag the map along I-40 until you see blue squiggles!

Here's a good example right outside Albuquerque just off I-40:

http://labs.strava.com/heatmap/#11/-106.34766/35.03449/blue/bike

Here's some more squiggles south of Amarillo:

http://labs.strava.com/heatmap/#11/-101.72722/35.03618/blue/bike

[Schmed]

I use the MTBProject app for this very sort of thing. Indispensable for finding trails, and for navigating the trail. Just make sure to download the area that you are riding first, and it works even if you don't have cell coverage in that area.

[Jaybee]

Here's some more squiggles south of Amarillo:

http://labs.strava.com/heatmap/#11/-101.72722/35.03618/blue/bike

That's Palo Duro Canyon. Best riding for several miles in any direction. I consider it a must stop when traveling in the area and have been known to extend trips or get up a couple hours early just to get some trail time there.

[malcolm]

Don't know about mtn biking but this would be a good detour.

http://www.pieoneer.com/contact/

[bikinchris]

http://thingstodoinfortsmith.com/mountain-bike-trails/

[Louis]

Here's an idea: get one of these vvvvvvv things and cruise around the country riding all these great trails.

Head south when it gets colder and north when it gets warmer.

http://tinycamper.com/pictures/c192.jpg

[jimcav]

Yeah some of the best trails in the Midwest!

Of course when you get home we have Westwood, fort Ben (have not been there yet) and the old gal (96th street/town run)

How long are you in town?
i did the upper and lower loops at ft ben last time i was in, on my rigid fisher rig 29er, felt a bit beat up, but fun. i love that bike on 96th st trails though.
if you are on winter break, maybe we can do a ride/pizza/beer? i hit a nice beer/pizza place near 146 and hazel del last time (scotty's or something like that maybe)-

[Dave B]

i did the upper and lower loops at ft ben last time i was in, on my rigid fisher rig 29er, felt a bit beat up, but fun. i love that bike on 96th st trails though.
if you are on winter break, maybe we can do a ride/pizza/beer? i hit a nice beer/pizza place near 146 and hazel del last time (scotty's or something like that maybe)-

you bet!