BCT Table Mesa to Black Canyon City - Mountain Bike Trail

The BCT Table Mesa to Black Canyon City is one of the most technical trails in the area despite not having many hairpins turns or bumps in the road. There’s lots of elevation, so you may have to climb for sections of it, and it’s also a good idea to use your brakes, especially if you’re a first-timer. While there aren’t any branches to duck under, some of the trails put you on a ledge where slipping with your bike could be bad news. That said, it’s an exciting ride with great views.

Before you go:

Drinking water

Restrooms

Fee required

Lift service

Fat bike grooming

Family Friendly

Night riding

E-bikes allowed

Dogs Allowed

Obstacles

Shuttles

Detailed Trail Description

BCT: Table Mesa to Black Canyon City is the next section after the BCT: New River to Table Mesa Trailhead and is more technical than its predecessor. It’s a straight line, so you may have to reach the end and come back.

As for how it starts from Table Mesa, we rode through uncovered ledges which set the tone for the rest of the ride. As such, you may benefit from going earlier or later in the day when the sun isn’t too hot. Up ahead, you’ll cross a river bed that’s often dry and climb to a split in the road.

Taking the east route will put you on the Little Pan trail, while staying on the west will keep you on the same trail you’re on. Nevertheless, there are differences with your current trail consisting mostly of singletrack, where you’ll go through similar ledges as your last section and small washes.

With the Little Pan trail, you get less than one mile of relief on a road before you end up on singletrack again. After that, you’ll have to cross the Agua Fria River again and then go downstream.

Next up, we had to climb a slope to the north and, shortly after, rejoined the road by going through some yellow posts. Stick to the road up to the Black Canyon City Connector where the next section of the Black Canyon Trail begins, i.e., the BCT: Black Canyon to Soap Creek.

In addition to the ledges along the way, there are beautiful views of the surrounding hills though you might not want to take your eyes off the singletrack. Depending on previous use, there may be some shrubs growing into the path and cacti right along the edges, so be careful.

Also, this isn’t a loop, so once you get to the end, you’ll have to ride back to the start point, which can be inconvenient. 

Sights of Interest, landscapes, views

The landscape all around the trail is beautiful to look at.

Recommendations/precautions

• You’re fully exposed while on the trail, so it’s a good idea to go either early in the morning or late in the day when the sun isn’t as hot.
• Keep your eyes on the track for rocks, cacti, shrubs, etc.
• Carry plenty of water.
• It’s an extremely difficult trail, so you don’t have to go the full trail if you’re unsure you can make it back.