The Grief Hill Trail System is a multi-use, stacked-loop network located near the town of Camp Verde, Arizona, on the Prescott National Forest. Mirroring the design philosophy of the nearby Blowout Wash trail system, Grief Hill will eventually boast 15 miles of non-motorized singletrack, with an extension of the Black Canyon Trail (BCT) forming the backbone of the system. The trails connect to existing routes in the town of Camp Verde, making this an accessible and well-integrated trail hub.
Grief Hill isn't purpose-built for mountain bikers, but riders will definitely enjoy the trails. The Prescott National Forest terrain is primarily conducive to cross-country riding—think mellow, moderate, sustainable-grade singletrack in the blue range. That said, when older trails are incorporated into the network, expect some steeper pitches and technical rock garden sections to keep things interesting. The system is designed to be multi-use, so you won't find a ton of berms here—the intention is to keep speeds manageable and reduce user conflict on shared corridors.
Grief Hill is part of the ambitious Verde Valley Circle Trail (VVCT), a planned 180-200+ mile loop envisioned to ring the Verde Valley and connect communities including Cottonwood and Camp Verde. As a node on the VVCT, the Grief Hill Trail System links up with the Black Canyon Trail and taps into a broader bikepacking network that connects Sedona south toward the Phoenix Metro Area. The Verde Valley is already spectacular riding country—and with systems like Grief Hill coming online, it's only going to keep getting better.
