Sunset Ridge is located at Hawes in Mesa AZ, and is one of the best MTB tech trails in the area!
This expert level trail is tucked high and away making you earn every foot. If you are unsure of your mountain biking skill level there are two squire catchers at the start that should give you an idea of what to expect.
The tech here is advanced and the loose terrain and wash make it extra sketchy. Both Dan and I went down, but nothing could keep the smiles off our faces… so much fun!
If you want to learn more about Hawes and the trail network, or you want to make a donation, check out the folks at “Hawes Trail Alliance” https://hawestrailalliance.com/
If you are interested in the custom Hawes T-shirt I designed click here:
https://trailsage.myspreadshop.com/hawes+sunset+ridge
Our Route:
Starting from the Bush Highway Trailhead parking lot we crossed the highway and took Roadrunner to the first intersection. Here we made a right on to Ridge and another right onto Lower Hawes which will eventually turn into Mid Hawes. You will be gently climbing the entire time.
Climbing gets serious when you hang a left on to Lower Gidro. This will merge with Cactus Garden which is equally tough. At the top you will make a left on to Red Mountain Rush which will take you to Sunset Ridge.
You will be on Sunset Ridge for quite some time until you reach Mineshaft (or Mine). Take Mineshaft the rest of the way down and make a left on to Granite. When you see the intersection of Ridge make a right and follow that to Roadrunner to exit the trail system.
In total, our ride ended up being about 11 miles with 2200 ft of climbing. If want to follow the route we took, check out my Strava or Trailforks links below.
Trail Details & Additional Info
Bush Highway Trailhead
Interesection of N. Bush Hwy and Granite Reef Damn Rd
Mesa, AZ 85215
Strava Activity:
https://www.strava.com/activities/6769023954
Trailforks Ride Log
https://www.trailforks.com/ridelog/view/35675174/
Action Ride Shop
If you are looking for an awesome bike shop check out Action Ride Shop. Top notch mechanics and the store was filled with bikes, gear and accessories. Highly recommend them!
1316 S Gilbert Rd Ste D1, Mesa, AZ 85204
https://www.actionrideshop.com/
Featured rider: Dan @the_ride_abides
If you like what you see, or have some feedback/questions feel free to contact me. If you enjoyed the content and you want to see more check out my other pages on Trail Sage.
SunsetRidge #Hawes #MTBAZ #POV #IbisCycles #IbisMojo3 #MountainBike #MTBing
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