FLAGSTAFF TO GRAND CANYON?

[yz129]

after riding stage 1 of the Coconino loop my buddy says we need to ride to the g/c.
would like to ride the azt there and back. could this be done in 2 days? stay at the g/c at the end of day one and return the next day?
if we leave from the snow bowl it looks like 90mi.

[ArisaemaDracontium]

There is an old route from Flag to the GC on double track and dirt roads, apparently following an old wagon road route, that is reported to be doable in a day. Cosmic Ray's guidebook has a write-up about it. Never did it myself but always wanted to. You could probably follow the AZ trail out and this route back or something like that. If you're ambitious it sounds doable as an over-nighter.

[AZTtripper]

The old Moqui Stage route is the 70 mile one day ride that is very doable. The AZT shares part of this.

IMO the full AZT with all of the single track would be a bit tough on a loaded bike. Staying in a room and traveling light might make it more reasonable.

One option would be to ride the Stage route out and the AZT back. Or perhaps a mix of each in each direction. Speed thing up some by skipping some trail in each direction, but make things more interesting by adding some trail into each day.

I see the opening post is a couple of weeks old, guess I missed this the first time around.

Hope that helps.

Tim

[yz129]

The old Moqui Stage route is the 70 mile one day ride that is very doable. The AZT shares part of this.

IMO the full AZT with all of the single track would be a bit tough on a loaded bike. Staying in a room and traveling light might make it more reasonable.

One option would be to ride the Stage route out and the AZT back. Or perhaps a mix of each in each direction. Speed thing up some by skipping some trail in each direction, but make things more interesting by adding some trail into each day.

I see the opening post is a couple of weeks old, guess I missed this the first time around.

Hope that helps.

Tim

thanks for the reply,we have not rode this yet due to the heat,but now concerned with the afternoon rains,might be a gooey mess!?
we are thinking of staying in a room,really wanted to ride mostly azt,but I guess time will only tell. have you ridden this route azttripper?

[AZTtripper]

I toured the AZT back in 04 and 06. There was no trail to Aspen Corners back then so the route was a little bit different.

In 04 I met 2 riders doing the Moqui Stage route in a day, following their tracks and a down sign caused me to miss the turn up Rabbit Canyon.

Seems like with a little bit of planning you could make this a pretty doable and fun 2 day ride. I don't thing I would start with Buffalo Park tho. I would say look at the finish of the Coco 250 course and take the trail out to Snow Bowl road. Then to save time ride up the road and pick up the trail at the new parking lot, where the road bends right, then down thru the Aspens.

After that the trail is mostly 2 track and some of it's the same as the Moqui. As you get farther out, and start running out of time have a plan to hit the roads and make it to GC. Then on the return pick up some more of the trail to start your day. Then finish by riding back up to Aspen Corners and the fun down hill single track back to the Snow Bowl road crossing. Ride as much trail as you have time for, all the way to Buffalo if you can.

[yz129]

you are on it aztt,that is the plan we have,or start at snowbowl rd.
thanks again