more stats
5.7 miles
Distance
766 ft
Climb
-758 ft
Descent
00:55:13
Avg time
8 ft
Altitude change
1,495 ft
Altitude min
1,781 ft
Altitude max
1,518 ft
Altitude start
1,526 ft
Altitude end
-28.8%
Grade max
27.1%
Grade min
3 miles
Distance climb
2 miles
Distance down
4,298 ft
Distance flat
00:55:13
Avg time

Circumference Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Deem Hills
    Phoenix, Arizona
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (3 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    25 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 90 in Trail Running
    • 55 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #150700 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #75510 in Trail Running
    • #129893 in Hiking
  • State Ranking
    #2,350 in Mountain Biking · Arizona [+]
    • #1,107 in Trail Running
    • #2,555 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes

This loop has completely different difficulty levels and features depending where in the loop you are at and direction of travel. And rocks. Lots of rocks.

Section descriptions - mileage based on elevation chart for reference

(west parking lot) 0-1.4 mi: Two long rock chutes that drop from the south end of Ridgeline, heading down EB is less technical/committing than WB. Going up either would be strenuous to say the least.

1.4-2.25 mi: Long uphill, not too steep but starts out on some less pleasant rocks that eventually taper out and become easier to negotiate. Solid intermediate to ride down, not too technical.

2.25-3.0 mi (east parking lot): Either direction this is probably solid black diamond to ride, large rock steps, dense rock gardens, steep. More difficult than Ridgeline when heading up.

3.0-3.6 mi: North of the east parking lot is a flat wide section that runs to the power line/canal trail, which is also smooth. Green difficulty.

3.6-5.7 mi (west parking lot): The north and west sides have a fairly consistent feel, lots of rocks to negotiate but generally rideable with the right line choice; good place to practice technical riding for somewhere like Sedona. Also a good workout with the elevation changes along the way (nothing too steep, longer sustained climbs along the way either direction). Also popular with hikers and trail runners.

Tags
RidgelineRock gardensStairs

Trail Supporters

  • BLM
    BLM
    Land Manager

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 1 rides
  • 6 miles avg distance
All
  • 42 rides
  • Last: Oct 17, 2026
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Circumference Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Oct 20, 2025 @ 2:35am (America/Phoenix)
Oct 20, 2025
Still ridable, just stay alert through all the loose rocks, ruts, etc after the recent storms. Tech level has been up'd a bit.
Sep 11, 2023 @ 10:04am
Sep 11, 2023
Mar 1, 2022 @ 10:32pm
Mar 1, 2022
May 7, 2021 @ 12:32pm
May 7, 2021
Very loose and rocky
Apr 15, 2020 @ 6:57pm
Apr 15, 2020
more »
Status:
on Oct 20, 2025
Ideal
Avg: 3.38 (15 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (339)
close
      Directions to circumference trailhead (33.728790, -112.165870)

      Photos

      16 more »
      mtb
      140 |
      Oct 20, 2025 @ 2:02am
      Oct 20, 2025
      mtb
      84 |
      Mar 12, 2025 @ 3:14pm
      Mar 12, 2025
      mtb
      75 |
      Mar 12, 2025 @ 3:13pm
      Mar 12, 2025
      mtb
      91 |
      Mar 12, 2025 @ 3:13pm
      Mar 12, 2025

      Videos

      4 more »
      Deem Hills Circumference
      mtb
      5:21 | 664 | Dec 2, 2021 , Phoenix
      Circumference Trail - Deem Hills
      mtb
      1953 | Jul 11, 2017 , Phoenix
      Fave part of Deem Hills Trails
      mtb
      2:46 | 571 | Jan 4, 2017 , Phoenix
      The fun part of circumference trail.
      mtb
      2:41 | 462 | Dec 22, 2016 , Phoenix

      Routes with this trail

      71 miles • 5,166 ft • 30 • Loop •
      Huge route using most of the trail systems in the Northwest Valley: Sonoran North & South,...
      9 miles • 1,437 ft • 6 •
      This trail has one black diamond
      3.2 ★★★★★
      15 Ratings
      5 ★ 13%
      4 ★ 27%
      3 ★ 33%
      2 ★ 13%
      1 ★ 13%

      10 Reviews & Comments

      Ampfrog Ampfrog
      Things can definitely go bad here, even if experienced with tech: https://www.trailforks.com/photo/28915981/

      Love gnarly tech and Deem Hills, but went into less-focused cruise mode at the wrong time. OTB downhill belly flop onto rocks.

      The trail is also significantly more difficult in places after the recent storms, dirt has washed away leaving more rock garden and loose rock than usual.
      TannertehyWw
      Compared to other blues in the valley, this is SIGNIFICANTLY harder. Sidewinder, Desert Classic, the blue trails at PMP, Dixie mountain loop are all way, way easier than this. Personally, I would rate this black without question. The only argument you can make for a blue in my opinion is that there aren’t any cliffs, so you aren’t going to die on this, but you could very easily hurt yourself as there are a TON of rocks, both large and small.
      wrinkledpants
      Agreed with others this is a full black trail. It’s really loose with baby heads. Technical and steep hairpins and quite rocky, punchy climbs.

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      • By toddTF Pro Trailforks & contributors
      • #15169 - 4,667 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Circumference located?
      Circumference is located in Deem Hills, Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is part of the Deem Hills trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 33.72879, -112.16587.
      ▼ How hard is Circumference?
      Circumference is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The climb difficulty is rated Black Diamond.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Circumference?
      Circumference has 766 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 758 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,495 ft to 1,781 ft.
      ▼ Is Circumference a point to point trail?
      Circumference is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Circumference?
      Circumference is 5.7 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Circumference?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Circumference. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Circumference? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Circumference are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Circumference?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 55 minutes to ride Circumference. The trail is 5.7 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Circumference?
      Circumference is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 323 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 339 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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