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Black Canyon Trail (The Black Canyon Trail, BCT)

Mountain Biking Trail

Hard
88.54 mi
7,180 ft
A 78-mile purpose-built singletrack trail rolling through the Arizona desert.

“The BCT is a long descent through a spectacular swath of the Sonoran Desert,” writes Devon Balet on "The landscape includes saguaro forests, rugged canyons, and views of the Bradshaw Mountains to the west,” he continues.

Some may scoff at the trail’s “mere” 78-mile point-to-point length, especially when compared to its not-so-distant cousin, the 750-mile Arizona Trail. Still, the BCT demands that most riders take 3 days to complete it, especially with a fully-loaded bikepacking rig.

However, the “miles and miles of purpose-built singletrack” are perfect "for intermediate riders looking for a reasonable challenge on singletrack,” according to Hermosa Tours. As the BCT winds along the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains, the grades remain moderate and relatively achievable.

While most riders may be most concerned with the delightful, serpentine, bench cut singletrack, “this historic National Recreation Trail is of national significance,” according to the BLM. The BCT “[follows]a route used since the times of pre-historic Native American travelers and traders,” the BLM continues.

Whether you choose to bikepack the entire route, or just ride an out-and-back on a portion of the trail, as you long as you choose your season carefully (best if ridden from November to April) you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time on the Black Canyon Trail!

Sources:


Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes

Route and Elevation

Segments

NameDistanceElev. Diff.Avg. Grade
BCT North Downhill1.51 mi-285 ft-3.6%
BCT Green Gate to Copper Mtn. Trail3.03 mi-236 ft-1.1%
BCT North Return Climb, gate to gate0.78 mi194 ft4.7%
Dropping-In To 690.59 mi-125 ft-4.0%
The First hour of Power12.44 mi-1,204 ft-1.5%
BCT: New Section from Antelope Creel towards CK2.83 mi167 ft0.9%
BCT: New Section to Forest 2592.97 mi-256 ft-1.5%
55 miles of BCT to new river53.58 mi-2,270 ft-0.7%
BCT: Antelope to BB11.69 mi-1,558 ft-2.5%
Upper Ant DH3.00 mi-643 ft-4.0%
Crown king DH2.19 mi-525 ft-4.4%
Antelope Singletrack Down3.90 mi-801 ft-3.8%
Crown King to Crown King6.53 mi-630 ft-1.5%
Treasure Mine Rd to Bumblebee TH10.78 mi-604 ft-0.6%
2.5 Mile Hammer2.47 mi-322 ft-2.1%
Bumble Bee DH to gate3.46 mi-600 ft-3.3%
BCT BB North - 8 Mi Turn-Around Back to Unknown Road Crossing (Down)1.37 mi-243 ft-3.3%
BCT BB North - Unknown Road Crossing to Swing Gate (Down)1.55 mi-269 ft-3.2%
County Highway 59 Climb0.99 mi312 ft5.9%
Rutted Jeep Road Climb0.59 mi230 ft7.4%
Singletrack to Bumblebee3.23 mi-148 ft-0.5%
Alaskan Pipeline2.45 mi-643 ft-4.8%
BCT Rippin Decent 1.29 mi-453 ft-6.6%
BCT Little Ripper0.49 mi-269 ft-10.2%
Maggie mines down to the gate0.76 mi-312 ft-7.7%
K Mine N to river3.63 mi-354 ft-1.1%
Slate Creek Climb0.90 mi236 ft4.8%
BCT - Slate Creek Return Descent0.44 mi-92 ft-3.9%
BCT - Rock Springs to Emery-Henderson23.79 mi-784 ft-0.2%
First BCT Descent to River from BC TH0.58 mi-207 ft-6.7%
Ray's Hill2.06 mi679 ft6.2%
BCT River to First Apex0.89 mi305 ft5.6%
BC River to Table Mesa Top14.20 mi735 ft0.7%
Unnamed Rd Climb0.92 mi354 ft7.3%
Skyline Ridge to Road Descent3.56 mi-512 ft-2.3%
Skyline Ridge Main Decent2.07 mi-377 ft-3.4%
BCT Cheapshot first DH0.72 mi-184 ft-4.8%
BCT: Williams Mesa Segment1.50 mi-171 ft-0.7%
BCT: Little Pan Loop to River Crossing2.59 mi-253 ft-1.9%
BCT: River Crossing to Table Mesa Top4.52 mi640 ft2.7%
Rednek Highway To Hell2.72 mi522 ft3.5%
BCT - Table Mesa Road Crossing to EH Trailhead10.97 mi-597 ft-0.1%
BCT - Mine Road to High Point Climb1.38 mi371 ft5.0%
BCT - Table Mesa to EH, Peak to Peak segment, Southbound2.77 mi187 ft0.0%
Humphries Hill Climb Southbound0.57 mi167 ft5.5%
EH Top to David Stop Down0.43 mi-174 ft-7.5%
Headed Back Down East Side Boy Scout Loop1.17 mi-253 ft-4.1%
Gate to S Back Down0.32 mi-59 ft-3.3%
BCT - Road Back to Lot2.76 mi-131 ft-0.6%
Smelling the Barn1.58 mi-56 ft-0.2%