TRANSITION ZONE CROSSING

If you’re looking for Sedona’s ultimate challenging one-way linkup of techy cross country flow riding, then this thumpy classic is the perfect ride for you!! This scenic crusher ride will use ten trails to allow riders to experience the most unique features of the Transition Zone, which embodies Sedona’s unique geological transformation, from the Colorado Plateau of the North to the uppermost edge of the dry Upper Sonoran Desert beneath and south. This ride features nearly every type of obstacle a rider could possibly face, with: steep drops, cliffside exposure, escalating hills, chundery descents, cascading red rock benches, tree slaloms, arroyo moguls, technical switchbacks, quicksand, hidden baby heads, root boulders, sneaky shark fins, and much more. 

The trail begins on Aerie Trail, where riders are provided with awesome elevated views, while the trail traverses the middle of Doe Mountain. The path has a mix of armored washes with technical ascents, and some sneaky juniper roots to keep riders on their toes, while riding the exposed cliffside sections. The downhill switchback sections of the ride make for a rowdy and rippy experience, while the rider at times uses berms to mimic the behaviors of Sonic the Hedgehog and defy the laws of gravity. The ride progresses through increasingly taller & sharper serpentine berms, before engaging in a long section of arroyo moguls, and then flowy micro hills. 

The ride then follows up the steep and rocky ascent of Deadmans Pass, challenging the rider with progressive red step benches, and armored wash crossings. At the intersection of Mescal Trail, riders are greeted with cascaded and glorious views of Sacred Kachina Woman Spire, Lookout Tower, Ursa Minor, and Ursa Major in the background. This marks the beginning of a moderate switchback ascent up Mescal Trail, where plated arroyos and more step benches will enhance the difficulty of the terrain, as you pump your way to the upper reaches of the path, and reach the ginormous cascading slickrock of Mescal Mountain.

This section of trail is full of glorious ledges and edges, and technical cross-overs that make for heads up riding throughout. The middle of the formation is a towering red rock amphitheater and separates two times to invite riders to choose from “Extreme” vs “Difficult” trajectories. The lines converge again in both cases to reconnect with wonderful technical flow sections of fast riding. The exit from the slickrock sections provides enthralling views of Maroon Mountain, Secret Mountain, Lost Wilson Mountain, Wilson Mountain, Lost Canyon, Dry Creek Spires Area, and Capitol Butte.

The end of Mescal Trail transitions to techy downhill switchbacks, before transferring to the wild & scenic Chuckwagon Trail. This moderate classic, takes the rider in-and-out of countless arroyos and mixes an array of technical features into the trail to keep the riding exciting and challenging. Add to that, the progressively ascending hills and heavy composition of scree along the path and you reach optimum suffering about halfway through the trail. Along the way, several mini rock parks exist to allow riders enjoy some playful freestyle riding as they flow through the trails easier sections. 

The end of Chuckwagon Trail comes with vengeance, as riders ascend steep red rock shelves, avoid hidden baby heads, sneaky shark fins, and desperate tree slaloms enroute to the next stage of the adventure. The ride crosses Dry Creek Road to begin and testy serpentine switchback ascent up Anaconda Trail, where the rider reaches amazing sky island views of the entire surrounding Dry Creek Area, Mescal Mountain, Secret Mountain Wilderness, and Boynton Canyon. The descent from the summit is loaded with more and more and more techy serpentine switchbacks as the trail braves the chundery corners and delivers you into Dry Creek via Cypress Trail. 

This trail varies greatly based upon the time of the year, and can sometimes feature several creek crossings, or otherwise thick and deep “quicksand,” which reduces your pedaling efficiency and sometimes stops you right in your tracks. After crossing Dry Creek a couple of times, the trail zig-zags as it ascends to the intersection of Girdner Trail. This section of the ride will proudly continue the rhythm of serpentine orientation and ever changing terrain features, which have epitomized the ride up until this point. 

This region of Sedona is known more broadly as the Western Gateway, and has received a dramatic facelift in recent years, to create arguably the best grouping of loopable moderate mountain bike rides in the state. With a mixture of rolling hills and newly plated rock features, the path develops a steady flow, flourishing into a roller coaster feel at times, as the trail narrows, and the speed increases incrementally as the trail progresses southbound. After some steep and loose ascents to conclude the trail, the ride will transition across the Scenic 89A, to connect with Herkenham Trail. 

Herkenham Trail offers sweeping views of Scheurman Mountain, Twin Buttes, Gibraltar Rock, Crown Butte, Cathedral Rock, and House Mountain. This perspective of Cathedral Rock, offers its most spectacular observation available in Sedona, with its array of spires brilliantly fanned out for an optimum polychromatic landscape photo rendering experience. Notably, this section of Sedona riding is wildly different than the Dry Creek Area & Western Gateway, with chunkier washes, more bouldery trails, and scree infested berms. 

The terrain trends downhill for most of this region, but the trail disobeys the current, and at times introduces hidden hills, and abrupt drops with sharp corners to spice things up. The conclusion of the ride jumps and jives through an outlay of techy terrain features to finally connect with the Ramshead Parking Lot at the end.

The transition between these three unique areas makes for an amazingly diversified riding experience. Each of the regions, offer their own distinctive challenges, but each area also shows elements of the former. The transitioning of terrain and presentation of Sedona’s most beautiful rock formations along the way, makes this easily the best moderate one-way full day riding experience in Red Rock Country.

Outing Includes

Red Rock Pass

SmartWater

Ultima Electrolytes

LaCroix Sparkling Water

Osprey Backpack/Fanny Pack

1,300 Lumen Helmet Light (If Needed)

1,300 Lumen Bike Light (If Needed)

Fox Launch Knee Pads (Optional)

Riding Gloves (Optional)

50 UPF Sun Hoody (Optional)

30+SPF Sunscreen

Organic Insect Repellent

Organic Packaged Snacks

Two Sliced Organic Fruits

Healthy & Fresh Prepared Wrap

Full Sedona Based Transport

MTB Rental Pick-Up & Transport

Private MTB Guide (First Aid & CPR Certified)

All Medical Supplies & Safety Gear Needed

Emergency Bike Repair Supplies

List of Supplies Included

Logistics

• Duration: 5 Hours of Biking & 1 Hour of Logistics
• Distance: 20 Miles
• Type of Tour: Private Only
• Capacity: 1 - 14 Riders
• Difficulty: Expert
• Transport: 1 Vehicle
• Type of Ride: Enduro Ride / One-Way Ride / Technical Ride / Black Diamond Ride 
• Trails Used: Aerie Trail, Deadmans Pass Trail, Mescal Trail, Chuckwagon Trail, Anaconda Trail, Cypress Trail, Girdner Trail, Herkenham Trail, Old Post Trail, and Ramshead Trail
• Map of Ride Location: West Sedona / Central Sedona / Southern Sedona
• Best Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
• Start Times: 9AM, 9:30AM, 10AM, 10:30AM, 11AM
• Upcoming Availabilities: Five Hour: Transition Zone Crossing
• Cost: $345 + Tax/Rider (Private Group Calendar) & $475 + Tax (Private Solo Rider Calendar)*
• Rental Bike Options: Kids Full Suspension Bike (+$50/Rider), Standard Full Suspension Bike (+$80/Rider), Premium Full Suspension Bike (+$100/Rider), Dream Full Suspension Bike (+$130/Rider). Rental Pick-Up, Rental Transportation, and Basic Rental Bike Damage Coverage Included. You Can Add Rental(s) at Check-Out

*Two Person Minimum for Private Groups or Please Refer to Private Solo Rider Tour Pricing