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      This region is Unsanctioned, Ride at your own Risk!

      System of user-created trails on Arizona State Trust Lands. All users must have a State Lands Recreation Permit. e-bikes are not allowed on the short section of the Arizona Trail so be aware.
      Primary Trail Type: Cross-Country
      eBikes Allowed: Yes
      Parking google parking directions plan a road trip here
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      Trail info last updated

      Activities Click to view
      Region Details
      • 16
      • 1

      Region Status
      Open as of 1 day

      Stats

      Avg Trail Rating
      Trails (view details)
      17
      Trails Mountain Bike
      17
      Trails E-Bike
      17
      Trails Gravel Bike
      1
      Trails Adaptive Bike
      1
      Trails Horse
      1
      Trails Hike
      17
      Trails Trail Running
      17
      Total Distance
      22 miles
      Total Descent Distance
      7 miles
      Total Descent
      781 ft
      Total Vertical
      899 ft
      Highest Trailhead
      4,133 ft
      Reports
      185
      Photos
      14
      Completed Counter
      5,056

      Popular Vail Vortex Mountain Biking Trails

      • 100 ★ 4.0 • 4,636 ft • 0 ft • 423 •
      Access from the Vail Pistol Hill Trail System, parking on the east side of S. Camino Loma Alta & Garrigan's Gulch. State Trust Land Permit: https://asld.secure.force.com/recreationalpermit/
      • 85 ★ 3.7 • 2 miles • 179 ft • 397 •
      Connects the Vail Vortex Trails from the roundabout to the Arizona Trail on Pistol Hill Road. Cross Old Spanish Trail and Pistol Hill Road. State Trust Land
      • 95 ★ 4.4 • 2 miles • 88 ft • 381 •
      Access from the Vail Pistol Hill Trail System, parking on the east side of S. Camino Loma Alta & Garrigan's Gulch. State Trust Land Permit: https://asld.secure.force.com/recreationalpermit/
      • 90 ★ 0.0 • 2 miles • 31 ft • 375 •
      Fast single track along South Camino Loma Alta Road in the Vail Pistol Hill Trail System. Connects parking on the east side of S. Camino Loma Alta & Garrigan's Gulch to parking at S. Camino Loma Alata & Via Rancho del Lago and a...
      • 80 ★ 3.0 • 3,186 ft • 111 ft • 315 •
      Connects the Roundabout to Ole Mesquite. Access from the Vail Pistol Hill Trail System, parking on the east side of S. Camino Loma Alta & Garrigan's Gulch. State Trust Land Permit: https://asld.secure.force.com/recreationalpermit/
      • 70 ★ 2.8 • 3 miles • 231 ft • 277 •
      Access from the Vail Pistol Hill Trail System, parking on the east side of S. Camino Loma Alta & Garrigan's Gulch. Connects to E Colossal Cave Road near the entrance to La Posta Quemado Ranch. State Trust Land Permit:...
      • 55 ★ 3.3 • 2 miles • 105 ft • 269 •
      Access from the Vail Pistol Hill Trail System, parking on the east side of S. Camino Loma Alta & Garrigan's Gulch. State Trust Land Permit: https://asld.secure.force.com/recreationalpermit/
      • 75 ★ 0.0 • 1 mile • 3 ft • 267 •
      Popular green difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating with a 3 ft green climb. Trail visibility is always easy to follow. On average it takes 8 minutes to complete this trail.

      Recent Ride Log Activity in Region

      Today
      • 2 rides
      Yesterday
      • 6 rides
      Past Week
      • 23 rides

      Vail Vortex Mountain Bike Routes

      12 miles • 480 ft • 5 •
      My favorite trails at Vail Vortex. Two great single track downhill rides. South Coyote Canyon and Tight...
      15 miles • 1,008 ft • 8 •
      This is a nice loop that combines some easy desert pedaling and the beautiful Colossal Cave sections of...

      Photos of Vail Vortex Mountain Bike

      mtb
      125 |
      Nov 27, 2024 @ 12:16pm
      Nov 27, 2024
      mtb
      132 |
      Jun 2, 2024 @ 4:03pm
      Jun 2, 2024
      mtb
      171 |
      Jun 2, 2024 @ 4:03pm
      Jun 2, 2024
      mtb
      123 |
      Nov 26, 2023 @ 12:16pm
      Nov 26, 2023
      mtb
      83 |
      Nov 26, 2023 @ 12:17pm
      Nov 26, 2023
      mtb
      201 |
      Apr 9, 2023 @ 8:20pm
      Apr 9, 2023
      mtb
      190 |
      Feb 13, 2023 @ 2:30pm
      Feb 13, 2023
      mtb
      179 |
      Feb 13, 2023 @ 2:30pm
      Feb 13, 2023
      mtb
      190 |
      Feb 13, 2023 @ 2:30pm
      Feb 13, 2023
      mtb
      191 |
      Feb 13, 2023 @ 2:29pm
      Feb 13, 2023
      mtb
      197 |
      Feb 13, 2023 @ 2:29pm
      Feb 13, 2023
      mtb
      116 |
      Feb 21, 2021 @ 3:20pm
      Feb 21, 2021

      Videos of Vail Vortex Mountain Bike

      Kc Badger
      mtb
      trail: Badger
      3:27 | 3557 | Oct 29, 2009

      Recent Trail Reports

      statustraildateconditioninfouser
      Mole Mound
      Oct 18, 2026 @ 3:05pm (America/Phoenix)
      1 day
      IdealE-Bike rawalcott
      Zippin'
      Oct 18, 2026 @ 3:05pm (America/Phoenix)
      1 day
      IdealE-Bike Trail is in good shape.rawalcott
      Tight & Twisty
      Oct 18, 2026 @ 3:05pm (America/Phoenix)
      1 day
      IdealE-Bike Quite a bit of sand, as usual, but in...rawalcott
      Buckhorn
      Oct 18, 2026 @ 3:05pm (America/Phoenix)
      1 day
      IdealE-Bike Trail is in better shape then the last...rawalcott
      Coyote Canyon
      Oct 18, 2026 @ 3:05pm (America/Phoenix)
      1 day
      IdealE-Bike Great tale in great shape.rawalcott
      Badger Chase
      Oct 18, 2026 @ 3:05pm (America/Phoenix)
      1 day
      IdealE-Bike Trail is in great shape.rawalcott
      Badger
      Oct 18, 2026 @ 3:05pm (America/Phoenix)
      1 day
      IdealE-Bike Everything was good.rawalcott
      Redtail
      Oct 18, 2026 @ 3:05pm (America/Phoenix)
      1 day
      IdealE-Bike Trail is in great shape.rawalcott
      Encantado
      Oct 18, 2026 @ 3:05pm (America/Phoenix)
      1 day
      IdealE-Bike Trail in good shape, perfect riding...rawalcott
      Ole Mesquite
      Sep 18, 2026 @ 8:06am (America/Phoenix)
      Sep 18, 2026
      Idealpoey

      Activity Feed

      usernameactiontypetitledate
      rawalcottaddreportactivity #106181538 and 8 more
      Oct 18, 2026 @ 5:29pm
      1 day
      thedesertratwishlistrouteactivity #105848340
      Oct 13, 2026 @ 9:01pm
      Oct 13, 2026
      poeyaddreportactivity #104059620 and 2 more
      Sep 18, 2026 @ 10:37am
      Sep 18, 2026
      poeyaddreportactivity #103796702 and 5 more
      Sep 14, 2026 @ 11:53am
      Sep 14, 2026
      poeywishlistrouteactivity #102798894
      Aug 31, 2026 @ 9:36pm
      Aug 31, 2026

      Recent Comments

      usernametypetitlecommentdate
      natebeachtrailLoopsy DaisyZ3 poor trail. Overgrown and tight
      Sep 4, 2025 @ 10:32am
      Sep 4, 2025
      natebeachtrailEncantadoZ3 good trail
      Sep 4, 2025 @ 10:31am
      Sep 4, 2025
      Iane0qgostrailPistol Hill SummitThis is more of a hike than a mountain bike...
      Aug 26, 2025 @ 9:42am
      Aug 26, 2025
      gbtourtrailCoyote CanyonSuper fun!
      Aug 27, 2024 @ 9:31am
      Aug 27, 2024
      Griffen1W3A2FtrailLoopsy DaisyThis trail is very flat, with some tight...
      Apr 26, 2021 @ 5:22am
      Apr 26, 2021

      Nearby Areas

      namedistance
      Colossal Cave Mountain Park 11 4 12.8 km
      Rincon Valley 4 35.4 km
      McKenzie Ranch 46.3 km
      Saguaro National Park - Rincon Mountain District 10 18.4 km
      Fantasy Island 16 118.6 km

      Activity Type Stats

      activitytypetrailsdistancedescentdescent distancetotal verticalratingglobal rankstate rankphotosreportsroutesactivity logs
      Mountain Bike1722 miles781 ft7 miles899 ft
      #4,416#641218525,898
      E-Bike1722 miles781 ft7 miles899 ft
      #5,220#592180267
      Gravel Bike13,596 ft79 ft3,530 ft79 ft
      2126
      Adaptive Bike13,596 ft79 ft3,530 ft79 ft
      5
      Horse15,148 ft10 ft289 ft66 ft
      2
      Hike1722 miles781 ft7 miles899 ft
      #9,366#136185138
      Trail Running1722 miles781 ft7 miles899 ft
      #8,382#114185170

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ What are the highest rated mountain biking trails in Vail Vortex?
      The highest rated mountain biking trails in Vail Vortex are: View all mountain biking trails sorted by rating.
      ▼ Where can I park to ride in Vail Vortex?
      There are 3 parking locations listed in Vail Vortex. The most popular parking spots are: View all parking and trailhead locations on the map to plan your visit.
      ▼ What is the longest trail in Vail Vortex?
      The longest trail in Vail Vortex is Hasta La Vista at 2.5 miles. View all trails sorted by distance.
      ▼ What are the best & highest rated hiking trails in Vail Vortex?
      The best hiking trails in Vail Vortex are: View all hiking trails sorted by popularity score.
      ▼ What are the best & highest rated trail running trails in Vail Vortex?
      The best trail running trails in Vail Vortex are: View all trail running trails sorted by popularity score.
      ▼ How many trails are in Vail Vortex?
      Vail Vortex has a total of 17 trails. Browse top mountain biking trails in Vail Vortex to find detailed information including difficulty ratings, distances, and trail conditions.
      ▼ Which trail has the most elevation gain in Vail Vortex?
      The trail with the most elevation gain in Vail Vortex is Pistol Hill Summit with 589 ft of elevation gain. View all trails sorted by elevation gain.
      ▼ Which trail has the most elevation descent in Vail Vortex?
      The trail with the most elevation descent in Vail Vortex is Hasta La Vista with 165 ft of elevation descent. View all trails sorted by elevation descent.
      ▼ What activities are most popular in Vail Vortex?
      Vail Vortex supports the following activities: Mountain Biking, E-Biking, Hiking, Trail Running.
      ▼ What are the steepest mountain biking trails in Vail Vortex?
      The steepest mountain biking trail in Vail Vortex is Pistol Hill Summit with an average grade of 11.8%. View all trails sorted by grade.
      ▼ What trails have the biggest jumps in Vail Vortex?
      The trails with the biggest jumps in Vail Vortex are: Browse all mountain bike trails to find trails with jumps and technical features.
      ▼ Are the trails open in Vail Vortex?
      The overall region status for Vail Vortex is Clear / Green. Out of 17 trails:
      • Clear / Green: 14
      • Minor Issue / Yellow: 3
      View the full trail status page for the latest updates.
      ▼ What are the trail conditions in Vail Vortex?
      Based on trail reports from the past week in Vail Vortex:
      • Ideal: 8 trails
      Check the Vail Vortex trail status page for the most current conditions and recent trail reports.
      ▼ Can I ride an ebike in Vail Vortex?
      Yes, Vail Vortex supports e-bike riding. There are 17 trails in Vail Vortex that allow e-bikes. Check the e-bike trails listing for specific trail access details and any local regulations.
      ▼ What are the most popular mountain biking routes in Vail Vortex?
      The most popular mountain biking routes in Vail Vortex are: View all mountain biking routes in Vail Vortex.
      ▼ What are the most popular Strava Segments in Vail Vortex?
      The most popular Strava segments in Vail Vortex are:
      • South Broden Connector (588 athletes)
      • Enjoy your ride to the Coaster (506 athletes)
      • OST to Roundabout (505 athletes)
      View all Strava segments in Vail Vortex.
      ▼ What are the most popular mountain biking trails in Vail Vortex?
      ▼ What are the best beginner ride trails in Vail Vortex?
      The best beginner mountain biking trails in Vail Vortex are: View all beginner mountain biking trails in Vail Vortex.
      • By jeffgicklhornTF Pro & contributors
      • Admins: SDMB
      • #44524 - 7,120 views

      Downloading of trail gps tracks in kml & gpx formats is enabled for Vail Vortex.
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