Type: Road/Trail, Loop/Out-and-back
Difficulty: 8 / 10
Altitude: 7,000 ft
Elev. Gain/Loss: 600 ft / 600 ft
Dog Friendly: Yes, with leash
Jog-Stroller Friendly: Unknown
Filed Under: Running
The great satisfaction in running this 11 mile trail is that the hardest part is over in the first mile. Our run begins on the west end of town by the Thorpe Park Softball fields. You can find the west extension of the Urban Trail across the street from the softball fields. Follow this trail as it quickly sucks the air out of your lungs during a gradual ascent (concentrate on overtaking and humiliating mountain bikers who you can easily pass on this section). After about ? of a mile, you will be greeted by the base of the infamous hill from which Urban Trail Legends are made (you can put even more distance on those weary bikers at this point!). Take a deep breath as you climb ? mile straight up. Just when you thought you couldn?t suck in any more oxygen, the trail flattens and heads north along the edge of Observatory Mesa. Follow this gently rolling road until you hit the first gate. This marks the beginning of Forest Service Lands. Pass onto your public lands and stay straight (a left or right at this moment also makes for interesting runs, but will lead you astray from this one). The next 1.25 miles will take you through a forest thinning project designed to create a healthier Forest and reduce the threat of wildfires to Flagstaff. You will pass by two wildlife tanks (keep an eye out for elk, deer, bear, antelope and coyotes).
About ? mile past the second tank you will come to another intersection, but stay straight and you will go through a fence and begin a short climb. Stay on this road for about 1.25 miles and you will pass through the old A1 Mountain burn. This meadow provides spectacular views of the Peaks. You will then pass through another fence and make your first right (Forest Road 506). After about 1/3 mile you will hit another intersection and stay right. (The next part of the run basically takes you clockwise around the meadow). Follow this road uphill and enjoy the spectacular views. You will top out near the base of A1 Mountain (an interesting steep climb to the left takes you to the radio tower and then onto the caldera of the cinder cone). Stay on the main road and you will shortly hit the pipeline road. Make a right and follow this fast slightly downhill stretch to the next fence (about a mile). Make a right at the fence and you will be on a rolling Forest Service road. Stay on this about 1 mile and you will be back to the junction just past the second tank. At this junction take a left and speed home the way you came, but stay in control as you fly down the Urban Trail and back to Thorpe Park!!!! Find the nearest hot tub and beer and enjoy the rest of your day!
Travel north from A-17 straight onto Milton Road. Follow Milton Road under railroad track. At the first stoplight
make a left towards downtown (follow signs to Grand Canyon). Then turn left on Cherry Street (third street), and follow to the end. Make a right and you will see the softball complex and Bark Park.
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