fossana
Member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2018
- Messages
- 934
Intro
Most of my off-road travels on the AZ Strip have been as a pass-through to get to other destinations, like Kanab Creek Wilderness and the N Rim of the Grand Canyon. A friend and I have a bikepacking trip planned this spring, so I figured I should transition my hiking only training regimen to include pedaling time. The AZ Strip has a spider web network of dirt roads, which are perfect for longer dirt rides (depending on conditions).
Last weekend I tried a route I found on a gravel ride site, but I wasn't excited about the busy and dusty washboard section closer to the highway/city. This time I decided to start in a more remote location and include a choose your own adventure section. I was pleasantly surprised by the interesting mix of topology and old ranch relics. Granted it was a weekday, but I only ran into one other person, a guy on a gravel bike on a section of the aforementioned published route. Winter riding conditions are ideal, mostly hardpack and gravel with very minimal sand/silt. I am looking forward to further 2-wheeled exploration on the Strip, with or without a motor.
Route Details
Mileage: ~24
Elevation Gain: ~2.3K feet
Water availability: Not guaranteed and limited to cattle troughs
Communications: Spotty cell reception, recommend carrying a backup map and a satellite emergency communication device
Road conditions: Muddy after major precipitation; likely sand slogging during warmer months
![Screen Shot 2023-02-09 at 9.32.09 AM.png Screen Shot 2023-02-09 at 9.32.09 AM.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118533-90164e0aa129d68e6e397c47af9d4ba9.jpg)
Photos
Empty water tank near the Hurricane Wash turnoff
![20230208_151853.jpg 20230208_151853.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118536-c4a9065396a803b4e5664607ccd71811.jpg)
![20230208_155018.jpg 20230208_155018.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118538-ba6d51ab422fd25e1772bccaae49d2f5.jpg)
Temple Trail diversion (rocky and absent in spots)
![20230208_160500.jpg 20230208_160500.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118540-eaa4c035c70c8fe0125363e83c06cee6.jpg)
![20230208_160546.jpg 20230208_160546.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118542-93131220b9207195984e9e4db7bc9b1f.jpg)
Back on the main road
![original_651aec0c-2b5b-4153-94fb-1771b09fde12_20230208_163957.jpg original_651aec0c-2b5b-4153-94fb-1771b09fde12_20230208_163957.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118545-8d1763ac0f32470e880e6b62de417573.jpg)
Most of my off-road travels on the AZ Strip have been as a pass-through to get to other destinations, like Kanab Creek Wilderness and the N Rim of the Grand Canyon. A friend and I have a bikepacking trip planned this spring, so I figured I should transition my hiking only training regimen to include pedaling time. The AZ Strip has a spider web network of dirt roads, which are perfect for longer dirt rides (depending on conditions).
Last weekend I tried a route I found on a gravel ride site, but I wasn't excited about the busy and dusty washboard section closer to the highway/city. This time I decided to start in a more remote location and include a choose your own adventure section. I was pleasantly surprised by the interesting mix of topology and old ranch relics. Granted it was a weekday, but I only ran into one other person, a guy on a gravel bike on a section of the aforementioned published route. Winter riding conditions are ideal, mostly hardpack and gravel with very minimal sand/silt. I am looking forward to further 2-wheeled exploration on the Strip, with or without a motor.
Route Details
Mileage: ~24
Elevation Gain: ~2.3K feet
Water availability: Not guaranteed and limited to cattle troughs
Communications: Spotty cell reception, recommend carrying a backup map and a satellite emergency communication device
Road conditions: Muddy after major precipitation; likely sand slogging during warmer months
![Screen Shot 2023-02-09 at 9.32.09 AM.png Screen Shot 2023-02-09 at 9.32.09 AM.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118533-90164e0aa129d68e6e397c47af9d4ba9.jpg)
Photos
Empty water tank near the Hurricane Wash turnoff
![20230208_150716.jpg 20230208_150716.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118535-f5bda0a640f8a4b3b2c8f780af5dc1e5.jpg)
![20230208_151853.jpg 20230208_151853.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118536-c4a9065396a803b4e5664607ccd71811.jpg)
![20230208_152241.jpg 20230208_152241.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118537-189549609025df90ccce160c93715d9c.jpg)
![20230208_155018.jpg 20230208_155018.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118538-ba6d51ab422fd25e1772bccaae49d2f5.jpg)
Temple Trail diversion (rocky and absent in spots)
![20230208_155841.jpg 20230208_155841.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118539-fa6ee47a90d514ee22de9aa4da94b024.jpg)
![20230208_160500.jpg 20230208_160500.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118540-eaa4c035c70c8fe0125363e83c06cee6.jpg)
![20230208_160534.jpg 20230208_160534.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118541-7e740176dc42be1d041b068db91e78ef.jpg)
![20230208_160546.jpg 20230208_160546.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118542-93131220b9207195984e9e4db7bc9b1f.jpg)
Back on the main road
![20230208_163351.jpg 20230208_163351.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118543-a4788e354f37731005d1ff8a47f8a904.jpg)
![original_651aec0c-2b5b-4153-94fb-1771b09fde12_20230208_163957.jpg original_651aec0c-2b5b-4153-94fb-1771b09fde12_20230208_163957.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/118/118545-8d1763ac0f32470e880e6b62de417573.jpg)