Visiting Death Valley is a bucket list item for many mountain bikers and travelers. No where else on earth will you find the unique geological features and breathtaking features found in our country’s largest National Park. But to really experience Death Valley, you need to get off the highway and typical tourist tracks and explore the park by bike, and it’s a physical challenge that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Smart travelers need to prepare both their gear and their bodies before taking a multi-day mountain biking trip to Death Valley National Park.

Pure Adventures spoke with guides from AOA for their expert (and essential) tips for a safe Death Valley adventure.

Watch the Weather

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, AOA’s Annemarie Medrzycki is a hiker and cyclist who knows how quickly weather conditions in the American Southwest can change. “One of the most important considerations when visiting the desert Southwest is to prepare for all sorts of weather conditions. The air temperature here and in Death Valley, can drop quickly at night. Exposure is often one of the greatest threats to individuals caught outdoors unprepared,” advises Medrzycki.

Prepare to Pre-hydrate

For at least 3 days before your departure, drink a 3 liters of water per day at least, particularly for hikers and cyclists visiting Death Valley. “Hydration is extremely important,” says Medrzycki. “It is very easy to get dehydrated without realizing it because your sweat will evaporate without your noticing – you may not realize the level at which you are exerting yourself.” Because of how much you will be sweating during your trip, remember that water alone will not do – take in a lot of sugar and salts to replace electrolytes. A commercial electrolyte product (think Gatorade, Ultima or Nuun) is a good idea, or make your own using sea salt, honey and water.

It’s not always newbies who make hydration mistakes. “Even athletes who are more conscious of these things than most individuals are likely to take in too little while exercising in the desert,” adds Medrzycki, and suggests dusk and dawn as the best times to log miles. We recommend at least 3 1-quart bottles or a hydration bladder that will hold that much liquid.

Fuel with Food

A mountain biking trip in Death Valley is not the time to cut calories. Your body needs fuel to power through the climbs that Death Valley promises. “We always remind people that when it comes to snacks you need sweet and salty, this is one reason that trail mix is a go-to.” says Medrzycki. Dried fruit is a great trail snack and a nice change from commercially prepared bars. Real foods are important, not simply power bars and energy gels. Pack food that will withstand high temperatures and being jostled around in your pack. While chocolate bars might be tempting, that sweet treat at the end of the day will be a gooey mess. Sturdy homemade energy bars that won’t end up as a bag of crumbs will give you the energy you need.

Top Pack Picks

Pure Adventures’ Death Valley mountain biking is hotel-based, which means you don’t need to carry all of your gear all the time. In fact, it’s recommended that you bring only what you need – our guides appreciate your lean packing. Your daytime mountain biking pack should be in the 1500 – 2500 cu. in. range, which gives you plenty of space for the following essential items:

• water bottles
• personal food items
• sunblock and lip balm
• camera
• small personal first aid items (moleskin for emergency foot care)
• lightweight fleece jacket
• long pants
• sun hat
• wool or fleece hat
• spare socks

Contact Pure Adventures to book your Death Valley cycling tour today!

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Phoenix, Arizona is famous for a lot of things, especially its scorching summer temperatures. With June, July and August ranging between 94F and 105F, outdoor athletes can’t be blamed for laying low during the summer months (there’s a reason we only offer our Arizona guided and self guided hiking and mountain biking trips between November and April). On the other hand, fall temperatures in Arizona fall in the much more comfortable of between 55F and 88F. Ready to lace up and enjoy the cooler temps? Pure Adventures talked to the top AOA guides to help round up 10 of the best trails in the region for families, photographers and outdoor adventurers.

Related tour: Scottsdale guided road cycling

For families

Bobcat Trail, Sonoran Park Preserve
At only a mile long and 135 feet in elevation change, this  wide, hard packed trail is best for families with wee hikers who have a habit of asking “are we there yet?”. Gently rolling and picturesque, you can either do an out and back or use the Bobcat Trail to connect with other trails in the system. Note there isn’t a designated parking area and the trail is accessible only by foot.

North Trail, McDowell Mountain Regional Park
As opposed to the other multi-purpose trails in  this popular park, the North Trail is a family-friendly hike and bike only. At 2.9 miles long (round trip), this mostly flat trail is ideal for older kids and beginning hikers because of it’s gentle slopes and hard packed natural surface.

Judith Tunnell Accessible Trail, South Mountain
Likely the least difficult trail in the region, the Judith Tunnell trail is also one of the newest. Decomposed granite provides a smooth surface perfect for strollers or wheelchairs, and drinking fountains, benches and covered ramadas offer up a comfortable place to rest along the 1 mile route. Interpretive signs help parents answers the questions about the desert’s flora and fauna coming from curious hikers.

Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, McDowall Sonoran Preserve
As one of the major access points for the Preserve, Lost Dog Wash Trailhead offers shorter and easier trails throughout the McDowall Sonoroan Preserve. Our pick from this trailhead is the Ringtail Trail because of it’s archealogical significance –  some of the rock flakes along the trail are from prehistoric tool-making work!

Guide tip: stay hydrated

Keeping everyone in your family hydrated is key to a good day on the trails. AOA guide Megan Anderson suggests that everyone on the trip have their own hydration bladder, rather than carrying water bottles. “It is an easy way to carry a lot of water and you don’t have to always open and close your backpack,” says Anderson. “I find them really great for kids because they end up chewing on the drinking hose and staying really well hydrated.”

Related tour: Deluxe mountain biking in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert

For Photographers

Tom Thumb Trail, McDowall Sonoran Preserve
Fit hikers up for the challenging trails beginning from the Tom Thumb Trailhead will be rewarded with the best views in the entire preserve. Lookout Viewpoint is a 5.7 mile hike with 1,100 feet elevation gain, but the climb is worth it. Only at this elevation can you see the unusual vegetation and flowers unique to this part or the preserve. The Tom Thumb Trail is also an AOA and Pure Adventures favorite. “The unique landscape riddled with giant granite boulders with such unique forms they appear almost as sculpture,” says AOA’s Annemarie Medrzycki.

Go-John Trail, Cave Creek Regional Park
Visitors to this trail will be rewarded with sweeping cactus studded views of this popular recreation destination. Looping around a mountain, the Go John Trail is a moderately difficult 5.8 mile shared-use trail that makes hikers feel like they are miles away from civilization. Another reason we like it: it’s just plain fun!

For adventurers

Black Canyon Trail
In central Arizona, the Black Canyon Trail is home to some of the state’s best technical singletrack. Weaving through the 7,000 foot Bradshaw Mountains, we’re biased and think that the 13 mile point to point is best experienced on a mountain bike, but fit hikers will appreciate the climbs and river crossings too.

Boulder Canyon Trail
This popular hike in the Superstition Mountains is also an AOA pick for fit hikers. The 7.3 mile trail connects Canyon Lake to La Barge Creek and is famous for the wide variety of spring wildflowers – but why wait until spring when the temperature is perfect right now?

Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, McDowall Sonoran Preserve
Home to more than 100 miles of pristine desert trails, the trails found here were originally carved by the motocross community. Restored by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, the trails are lined by the mighty Saguaro and huge granite boulders. Again, we think the mountain bikers will get a kick out of rollercoaster-like hills, but fit hikers can make a day of the climbs and scenery here.

Alta Trail, South Mountain Park
Very steep and very difficult, the Alta Trail in South Mountain Park is considered to be the most challenging trail in the park. Even though the trail is only 4.5 miles long, the 1,100 feet in elevation gain means that fit athletes up for the adventure will be rewarding with striking views of Phoenix’s desert landscape.

Pure Adventures offers six very different guided and self-guided trips in Arizona, ranging from 2-day basic trips to week long guided cycling tours in our posh base camp, but we are also able to build custom tours in the desert regions of Sedona. Contact us for a custom quote and itinerary.

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