😇&😈 – Iron Springs-to-Skyline-to-Thumb Butte LOOP (+ Granite Basin)

Sunday's road ride features some iconic west Prescott scenery, passing by Granite Basin Lake and through the communities of Highland Pines, Happy Valley and Deering Park. It does include a short stretch of pretty smooth gravel – easily navigable on a road bike – and entails just a bit of climbing, but is definitely worth the effort.

Starting from the gravel parking area for Mark's Beergarden (which is, of course, one of Bike Prescott's sponsors), we'll head out Iron Springs Road and up Granite Basin Road, regrouping at the cattle guard. Then it's down and around Granite Basin and back up to regroup again. Next, we'll ride on up Iron Springs to Skyline and then up to Highland Pines, where we'll take Sunrise Drive/Navajo Way down into Happy Valley and on to the aptly-named Happy Valley Road. A 1-mile long segment of civilized gravel/dirt (which is, as I indicated, pretty easy to handle on a road bike) connects to Deering Park for a scenic loop around that community, followed by a climb out and a long descent on Thumb Butte Road.

Eventually veering off onto Idylwild, we'll turn up Downer Trail to go through the "gate" and on to the top of Westridge Drive. Then it's a glide down to Gail Gardner and a quick pedal back to Iron Springs Road for a return to the beergarden and the completion of the approximately 25-mile ride (with about 2,800 feet of climbing) – Reason to celebrate!
This is designed to be a fun ride with a casual-ish attitude – so please come out to join us! There will be a number of stops at strategic locations to allow everyone to regroup along the route. And, as always, e-bikes are welcome. Helmets are required, lights are strongly advised, and earbuds are discouraged.