Trail is
Avg Rating:   |
6 trail reviews |
Difficulty:  - Intermediate |
|
| Length: 30 miles | Global Rank: #660 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Network |
| Ridden: 29 | Wishlist: 14 |
| 2 trail check-ins |
Climb // Descend +3,700 // -3,600 feet |
Directions
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Description
This is a network of trails that works its way thru the pines and cedar along the foothills on the eastern flank of Santa Fe, from the Hyde Park Road area on the north side to the Atalaya hiking area on the south. Expertly laid out, this network offers lots of entertainment and plenty of variation to keep you interested. This network is a jewel that any city would be proud of. There is a trail map posted at every intersection so getting lost is virtually impossible. There aren't many technical obstacles, and adrenaline junkies may find themselves disappointed with the lack of speed, drops, or difficult obstacles, but if you want a great singletrack ride easily accessible from town then you likely be very satisfied. The south end near Atalaya is really more oriented to hiking and is more of a cardio-challenge. For some good speed and fun rollers pick up trail going southwest from the north parking lot and fly down thru station 12 (watching for and respecting other trail users, of course).
Slickrock (100%)
Mount Falcon Park (100%)
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Llama (100%)
To view directions to Dale Ball mountain bike trail, please login. If you don't have an account, sign up for a free account - it only takes a minute.
Description
This is a network of trails that works its way thru the pines and cedar along the foothills on the eastern flank of Santa Fe, from the Hyde Park Road area on the north side to the Atalaya hiking area on the south. Expertly laid out, this network offers lots of entertainment and plenty of variation to keep you interested. This network is a jewel that any city would be proud of. There is a trail map posted at every intersection so getting lost is virtually impossible. There aren't many technical obstacles, and adrenaline junkies may find themselves disappointed with the lack of speed, drops, or difficult obstacles, but if you want a great singletrack ride easily accessible from town then you likely be very satisfied. The south end near Atalaya is really more oriented to hiking and is more of a cardio-challenge. For some good speed and fun rollers pick up trail going southwest from the north parking lot and fly down thru station 12 (watching for and respecting other trail users, of course).
added by bonkedagain 
on October 10, 2006
on October 10, 2006Trail Reviews [Add a review]
Review: The north and central sections of Dale Ball are great fun! There are lots of sweet sections and a few challenges. Clean every switchback both up and down over a smiling 3-hour ride and you deserve a high five ... or a cold beer. Warning: locals don't leave anything of value visible in their cars. You can tell that more than a few cars have been broken into by the glass in the parking lots.
Review: Mostly non-technical bobbing and weaving through the very attractive pinion and juniper forest NW of Santa Fe. These are great trails! They are well laid out, have nice flow, and are very well marked. Except for short bursts, the grades are very manageable in the North and Central sections. Unfortunately, much of the trail is goes through a residential area and is within earshot of a busy road, so you don't get the feeling of being away from it all. Big kudos, though, for superb use of space--what a great resource for the people of Santa Fe. Most importantly, what's under your knobbies is always sweet!. It is popular with hikers/dogs, so be courteous.
Review: the elevation is marked. each trail intersection has a topo map. I love the way the trail is marked, each intersection is a number and shown VERY clearly on the map. Change of pace from the Front Range.
Review: Dale Ball South was pretty intimidating and involved far too much hike-a-bike for me, but everything is very well marked (as far as turns and routes, elevation and difficulty is unfortunately not marked). Combining this with Atalaya Mountain, I had my slowest average speed for a day of mountain biking ever!
The following day, I rode most of Dale Ball Central and North and didn't have to walk my bike at all. There is still plenty of elevation change, and a loop covering most of central and south was a good amount of riding for one day. As someone at one of the bike shops in town said, it's a "Choose Your Adventure" at Dale Ball and it can be as technical or fun as you like, though pretty much everything is going to be rocky or sandy. And there are lots of sharp switchbacks. Lots.
I can't rate parts different levels of difficulty, but Central and North are both "More Difficult" and South is "Very Difficult" and referred to as the "Expert section" in Santa Fe.
Review: I rode the south trails and they are steep is an understatement! The TH isn't to elusive and the trails are very clearly marked. 29-30 was steep and tight but a blast, I turned right and went down then up the valley to 31 and that was very narrow. 31 straight up countless switchbacks was nearly unrideable, mucho hike a bike. I Summited Picacho peak on foot and then continued down past 35 and to 40. This was a fun DH with quite a few tight switchbacks. There is a hard to figure out fork, you'll need to go right, left takes you to a rock outcrop that is off trail. At 40 I took the middle trail back to 32 and 31, that was a fun half mile. 31 to 30 via the short route is also very fun. 30 back to the TH is a blast as well and may have been my favorite part. You start and end with a steep but short climb that crosses upper canyon road, don't get smushed. Lots of exposure and more switch backs than I care to remember. I have heard the the central and north trails are better for bikes.
Recommendations
Cathedral Rock Trail (100%)Slickrock (100%)
Mount Falcon Park (100%)
Big Park Loop (100%)
Llama (100%)
New Mexico Outdoor Lists
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Similar Trail: This one's in a category all by itself.