Our first year of full time rv’ing we spent a day hiking in the Coronado National Park. This year we’re in the area for a few weeks and spent a day in Sierra Vista riding to the top of a mountain and then a loop around the area. Our ride was 19.2 miles with 3174′ of climbing. Overall, a pretty tough ride.
Carr Canyon is a dirt road that climbs steadily the entire way, including up some narrow switchbacks. The views of Sierra Vista and all the surrounding mountain ranges are beautiful! I think one or two cars passed up but that was it. The road dead ends up at Reef Campsite where there are a few trails that get you out into the wilderness (no bikes allowed). At 7401′ we were in pine forest which was quite a contrast from the desert we started out in waaaay down below.
After turning around and heading most of the way back down the mountain we turned left on the Clark Spring singletrack. This first section of trail heads out and away from the start on a granite loamy rocky surface that contours around the mountain. There are several technical rocky sections and some drops to negotiate along the way. Eventually it opens up and after crossing a dirt road we headed down along a stream through a canopy of oak. This part is swoopy and fast but don’t let the rocky gardens catch you not paying attention!
The last part of our loop was the Perimeter Trail. Wooooo, this one is a doozy. It is the narrowest of singletrack along a ridgeline that is probably most used for hiking but I loved it. It’s pretty rocky and challenging and earned it’s black diamond rating. There are a couple of spots to hike your bike but mostly, with skill, it’s rideable.
I just finished reading Leopard at the Door and enjoyed it. It’s historical fiction set in 1950’s Kenya which I knew nothing about. So many books!
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