more stats
8.6 miles
Distance
686 ft
Climb
-577 ft
Descent
00:50:43
Avg time
109 ft
Altitude change
1,333 ft
Altitude min
1,587 ft
Altitude max
1,395 ft
Altitude start
1,503 ft
Altitude end
0.2%
Grade
-19.4%
Grade max
15.4%
Grade min
4 miles
Distance climb
3 miles
Distance down
1 mile
Distance flat
00:50:43
Avg time

Desert Classic Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    South Mountain Preserve
    Phoenix, Arizona
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (6 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    90 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 85 in E-Biking
    • 70 in Trail Running
    • 45 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Global Ranking
    #17775 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #23780 in E-Biking
    • #70037 in Trail Running
    • #122774 in Hiking
    • #980 in Horseback
  • State Ranking
    #219 in Mountain Biking · Arizona [+]
    • #89 in E-Biking
    • #989 in Trail Running
    • #2,392 in Hiking
    • #122 in Horseback
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    DH, AM, XC, DJ
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular In Reverse
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Season
    Year round
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Ride in Rain
    Yes
  • Land Owner
    City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department

Desert Classic trail connects the east and west ends of the southwest quadrant of south mountain riding area. About 13 miles across the lower flats of the south west range it ascends from east to west and descends west to east. Pima Canyon which is a large ramada with parking at the east end and Telegraph pass which is a small ramada and parking at the west end. Desert Classic is the classic trail ride.

Access Info

Pima Canyon, Telegraph Pass, Warpaint, Western Star, various trailheads

Tags
Desert

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 7 rides
  • 19 miles average
6 Months
  • 44 rides
  • 18 miles avg distance
All
  • 934 rides
  • Last: Oct 30, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
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Status:
on Oct 16, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 3.97 (66 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (7,388)
close
      Directions to desert-classic trailhead (33.362840, -111.986080)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      60 more »
      mtb
      829 |
      Mar 12, 2019 @ 10:56pm
      Mar 12, 2019
      mtb
      721 |
      Nov 22, 2018 @ 3:20pm
      Nov 22, 2018
      mtb
      695 |
      Jul 16, 2017 @ 4:32pm
      Jul 16, 2017
      mtb
      1,050 |
      Mar 30, 2016 @ 12:19pm
      Mar 30, 2016
      Desert 41Rock formations 3Views 1Wildlife 1

      Videos

      15 more »
      youtuber ALL THE PLANTS ARE TRYING TO KILL YOU // Last...
      mtb
      8:51 | 1902 | Mar 8, 2018 , Phoenix
      Desert Classic - Back Fun Parts
      mtb
      21:21 | 274 | Mar 30, 2026 , Phoenix
      Desert Classic - Back to Parking Full Trail
      mtb
      51:03 | 247 | Mar 30, 2026 , Phoenix
      Desert Classic Out
      mtb
      27:59 | 259 | Mar 21, 2026 , Phoenix

      Routes with this trail

      81
      Desert Classic
      ★ 4.0 • 3 miles • 543 ft • 3 • Out & Back •
      Nice ride on Desert Classic, then a hard grind up to and old helicopter pad for a nice view of Phoenix's...
      104
      Desert Classic to Helipad
      ★ 4.0 • 15 miles • 1,350 ft • 9 •
      Cross country with a climb at the halfway point.
      66
      SoMo: DC Beginner/Intermediate Loop
      ★ 4.5 • 10 miles • 564 ft • 17 • Out & Back •
      South Mountain intro ride for beginners / lower intermediate riders. A few short steep wash crossings will...

      Links

      4.0 ★★★★★
      66 Ratings
      5 ★ 32%
      4 ★ 44%
      3 ★ 15%
      2 ★ 8%
      1 ★ 2%

      13 Reviews & Comments

      RB1976 RB1976
      Definitely not “green all the way”. One of the chunkier blues in the valley, especially on the west side. Erosion has taken it’s toll on some sections, but this is an always fun ride.
      TannertehyWw
      If the only thing you’ve ever ridden are greens then you will most likely have trouble with the western half of this trail. It is not “green all the way”. I like to do this trail out and back on my hardtail when I don’t feel like brining the full sus up to National. Mostly XC with bits of tech thrown in to keep things interesting. On the way coming back east I like to hop on Guadalupe perimeter up to the top to add in a little more climbing and tech. Fun stuff.
      Rapmmp06
      This is not a blue trail, green all the way. Easiest trail on SOMO

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      Nearby Trails

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Desert Classic located?
      Desert Classic is located in South Mountain Preserve, Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is part of the South Mountain Preserve trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 33.36284, -111.98608.
      ▼ How hard is Desert Classic?
      Desert Classic is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 0.2%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Desert Classic?
      Desert Classic has 686 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 577 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,333 ft to 1,587 ft.
      ▼ Is Desert Classic a point to point trail?
      Desert Classic is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Desert Classic?
      Desert Classic is 8.6 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Desert Classic?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Desert Classic. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Desert Classic?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Desert Classic are:
      • December (51 activities)
      • April (49 activities)
      • November (44 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Desert Classic? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Desert Classic are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Desert Classic?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 51 minutes to ride Desert Classic. The trail is 8.6 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Desert Classic?
      Desert Classic is a very popular trail. There have been 6,982 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 7,388 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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