A great loop with some mild easy climbing to a straight shot single track blast to a technical slick rock traverse around a flat top mountain. Mescal Mountain is a loop comprised of Long Canyon Trail, Deadman's Pass, Mescal Mountain and a short road ride back to the parking lot. The portion of slick rock is an awsome traverse!

Trail Description

From the Long Canyon Trailhead ride up the trail (starts as a old jeep trail) for 1 mile to the signed junction with Deadman's Pass, make a left.

Deadman's Pass starts a small climb towards the pass for a 1\4 mile. Once over the pass pedal pedal pedal. It is a straight shot for almost 1 mile. There are a couple drops\rock gardens which you may want to slow up a bit but with a squishy bike and knowing the right line you can fly through. The trail will come through a dry wash just after a bench and the junction with the Boynton Canyon trail.

Watch on your left at or just after the wash there will be a couple entrances to Mescal (not marked and possibly blocked by trees layed down by angry hikers.... there are no signs saying no bikes, it is not wilderness and there is a trail there so ...). Follow the trail back across the wash where the trail climbs steeply towards Mescal.

As the trail continues to gain elevation it starts it's traverse at the base of Mescal's red cliffs on off camber slick rock. From here on out pick your line through the slick rock as it follows the contour of Mescal. If your looking for solitude this is the ride, very few people hike or ride this trail. This portion of the ride is the most technical with a number of challenging burst climbs and steep descents. As the trail comes off the slick rock it heads into the pinyon juniper and you will come to a faint junction stay left. Quickly you will come to another junction, stay right. The single track slowly changes to double track to jeep trail and descends back towards the road you came in on. You can achieve warp speed if your heart desires on portions of this.

Soon you come down into a large open area (Some old 4wheeling hills) and Long Canyon Rd. is visible. Get back on the road to the left and your car is about a quarter mile down on the left.

Getting There

From the "Y" in Sedona head south on Hwy 89a for 3 miles to Dry Creek Rd. make a right. Follow Dry Creek Rd. for 3 miles where the road tees. Make a right on Long Canyon Rd. The parking lot is 3\4 mile on the left hand side of the road.

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When to Bike

Spring
Summer- Mornings & Evenings
Fall
Winter- Mid Day