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Brown's Ranch Loop

Mountain Biking Trail

Moderate

14.97 mi

853 ft

One of the most popular cross country loops in McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

Brown's Ranch Loop is one of the most logical and easy-to-follow cross country loops in the expansive McDowell Sonoran Preserve. While this loop is only 15 miles long, you can easily spend all day riding here! "Scottsdale is home to 200 plus miles of trails in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve ALONE with trails ranging from beginner through to advanced," [writes]( outdoor blogger Leigh McAdam.

Brown's Ranch is a non-technical cross country trail with a surface consisting of "crushed granite and compacted soil," according to McAdam. The trail rolls through the wide-open desert landscape, with delightful swoop and flow along most of its length. In many places, the trail tread has widened dramatically, so remember to do your best to keep singletrack single whenever possible.

In a few places, the trail swings through some beautiful rock formations, especially near Granite Mountain. "Balanced Rock" is a popular spot to stop for a snack and to soak in the views of the Sonoran Desert.

Sources:

Written by Greg Heil

Created By

Strava Routes

April 13, 2020·Public

Route and Elevation

Segments

Name	Distance	Elev. Diff.	Avg. Grade
UR1 to UR4	0.62 mi	-23 ft	-0.7%
Upper Ranch to Split	1.09 mi	-49 ft	-0.8%
Opening Charge	1.74 mi	-59 ft	-0.2%
Upper Ranch - BRR to Rustler	0.50 mi	-20 ft	-0.8%
Thru the Saddle	0.47 mi	-36 ft	-1.0%
Upper Ranch Trail CW	1.51 mi	-59 ft	-0.3%
Ranch Dip**	0.30 mi	-39 ft	-2.5%
Western flank of slant mtn, north bound	0.64 mi	46 ft	0.9%
Upper Ranch Trail - BT6 to UR8	0.37 mi	-46 ft	-2.2%
Upper Ranch EB - BT6 to UR8	0.34 mi	-39 ft	-2.1%
Corral the Buckshot	0.50 mi	36 ft	1.3%
Corral Trail NB CL5 to CL3	0.40 mi	66 ft	3.0%
High Desert Trail - CL3 to HD5	2.08 mi	194 ft	1.8%
HD to BS	0.68 mi	39 ft	0.5%
High Desert - CL3 to HD3	1.27 mi	125 ft	1.7%
High Desert - CL3 to HD5	2.03 mi	197 ft	1.7%
HD1 to HD5	1.30 mi	171 ft	2.5%
High Desert - HD3 to HD5	0.70 mi	62 ft	1.5%
High Desert EB - Divide to Renegade	1.26 mi	-75 ft	-1.1%
Soapberry - High Desert to Coyote Canyon SB	1.20 mi	-46 ft	-0.5%
HD > SB > CC > GM	2.02 mi	-52 ft	-0.2%
Renegade Trail - High Desert to Desperado	0.66 mi	-43 ft	-1.2%
Renegade,Desperado,Coyote Cyn f/High Desert t/Granite Mtn	1.87 mi	-49 ft	-0.4%
DYNOMITE	0.86 mi	-43 ft	-0.4%
Desperado/Coyote Cyn SB	1.26 mi	-36 ft	-0.0%
Soapberry to GM - SB1 to GM6	1.02 mi	36 ft	0.3%
Coyote Canyon Trail SB to GM	0.75 mi	43 ft	0.4%
Coyote Canyon SB	0.68 mi	36 ft	0.4%
GM f/Coyote t/Sharp Left	0.66 mi	-69 ft	-1.9%
GM f/Coyote t/Summit	1.24 mi	-72 ft	-0.3%
GM f/GM6 t/GM5	0.43 mi	-59 ft	-2.5%
GM5 to GM4	0.55 mi	-36 ft	-0.5%
GM4 to GM3	0.70 mi	-72 ft	-0.3%
Upper Granite Mountain Downhill South	0.46 mi	-72 ft	-2.9%
Switchback decent	0.18 mi	-23 ft	-0.1%
Granite Mtn WB - Bootlegger to Balanced Rock	1.03 mi	105 ft	1.5%
Short Switchback D	0.12 mi	-16 ft	-2.0%
Granite twisties	0.75 mi	92 ft	2.3%
Balanced Rock WB - Granite Mtn to Chuck Wagon	0.75 mi	66 ft	1.5%
Balanced Rock WB - Granite Mtn to Watershed	1.24 mi	72 ft	0.5%
Balanced Rock WB to Cholla	1.10 mi	69 ft	1.1%
Balanced Rock WB - Granite Mtn to Amphitheater	1.25 mi	75 ft	0.6%
f/Grabit Mtn t/The Anteater	1.13 mi	69 ft	0.7%
Balanced Rock WB f/Chuckwagon t/Watershed	0.43 mi	-30 ft	-1.1%
Maverick shortcut E-W	0.77 mi	-69 ft	-1.6%
Mav shortcut from CM trail	0.11 mi	-30 ft	-4.7%
Maverick from shortcut, E-W	0.63 mi	-52 ft	-1.3%
BR6 to UR1 Brown's Ranch Trail	1.02 mi	-62 ft	-0.3%
Vaquero to Trailhead	0.83 mi	-56 ft	-0.8%
BRR short sprint to TH	0.50 mi	-30 ft	-1.1%

Top Sports

Brown's Ranch Loop

Mountain Biking Trail

Created By

Route and Elevation

Segments