Tucked into the high desert foothills at the base of Mingus Mountain, the Blowout Wash Trail System has quietly grown into one of the Verde Valley's most compelling mountain bike destinations. First conceptualized back in 2008, the project really got rolling when the Verde Trails & Access Plan was approved in 2018 and construction began in earnest the following spring — funded 80% through private sources and built through a collaboration between the Forest Service, the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition, and a small army of volunteers. The result is a network that now spans over 15 miles of non-motorized singletrack on Prescott National Forest land. Low-lying desert scrub keeps the vegetation in check across most of the system, which means the views are essentially unobstructed — you're looking out across the Verde Valley with the red rock rim of Sedona on the horizon and the San Francisco Peaks beyond, all while threading through interesting volcanic geology including outcroppings of red and gray tuff rock.
The trail mix here runs the gamut, making Blowout Wash a legitimate option for riders across the skill spectrum. The Campus Trail (#559), the first trail built in the system, offers a mellow 2-mile green-rated introduction that's accessible directly from the Yavapai College Verde Campus — making it one of the more unique trailhead access points you'll find anywhere. From there, Bullseye (#557) serves as the system's main connector and stepping stone to more technical terrain, eventually linking into Blowout Canyon (#551), a 3.1-mile blue-rated route with some legitimately stout climbing and narrow, off-camber sections that will keep intermediate and advanced riders honest. The trailhead off Forest Road 493 is easily accessible via paved road (the last mile is graded dirt but totally fine for 2WD), with parking for 30-40 vehicles.
 | Copper Chief |  | 9 mi |
