Level: Intermediate
Length: 7 mi (11.3 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: +244/248 ft
Total: 49 riders
Mountain Biking Raptor / Thumper / Kiln Loop
#63 of 404 mountain bike trails in Arizona
#1,803 in the world
This is another loop trail made by linking a few different trails together, this is very open terrain and the views of the valley and surrounding mountain ranges are amazing. No shade really on this trail so take more water than you think you will need. Starting from the trailhead near the Blackhawk Campground area ride northwest on the Raptor Trail. The first mile is a gradual but steady climb up a ridge with a couple rough sections to navigate up. At one mile go through a gate in a cattle fence, the climbing mellows out here as you meander across a plateau for another 1.3 mi. Take a right onto the Thumper Trail here, the Raptor trail continues on up the mountain for a couple miles to a set of old jeep roads. The Thumper Tr is the beginning of a downhill grade and follows along the contour of the hill as it heads south for 2.5 miles. Eventually the trail drops down into a small canyon, crosses back through another fence and then climbs out the other side of the canyon. It then dead ends at the Kiln Tr. Turn right here and follow an old wagon trail that turns back into single track a half mile later. Some fast downhill and several fun drops for the rest of the way back to the road. Once you reach the pavement at Dead Horse St Park near some horse stables turn right for 100 yrds and then another right puts you back on the road to the campgrounds.
Enjoy!
First added by AK_Dan on Dec 10, 2008. Last updated Apr 28, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Follow highway 89A from Sedona through Cottonwood as it turns and heads north. Follow the large brown signs to the Dead Horse State Park at the north end of town. There is a day use fee for parking or camping fee for the campgrounds. Follow main road about 1 mile and then turn left into the north campgrounds and go all the way to the Blackhawk C.G. and trailhead parking which is at he end of the road.
Kind of an undiscovered gem. Nice intermediate trails, just techy enough to be interesting while climbing and descending. Very much a traditional XC sort of network. Made for a very nice ride when Mescal had lingering snow and mud, just 15 minutes away, Dead Horse Ranch had perfect conditions.
| ThankStarted Lime Kiln from the State Route 89A and FR89B trailead, near the Sedona water treatment plant. Great trail, although conditions are extremely dry. Of 11 miles, some 3miles are drifted with sand. Not highly technical, but a darn good workout. Early morning with plenty of water would best unless you are well acclimated to the heat.
| ThankI rode lime kiln trail a few years back while camping at dead horse ranch and did the loop with a friend I met there on our BMX bikes. The way we took if I'm correct added up to be about 10 miles of awesome riding. Still one of my favorite trails despite the lack of preparation.
| ThankThis trail has it all!! I thought this was a great trail. Ride it clockwise. The first couple miles is all uphill. Several rock step ups. Once you reach the plateau on top it levels out and is fairly easy riding for about a mile before you drop back down. The top can be sandy. Once you start dropping down, that's when the fun starts. One of the best down hill single tracks I've rode. A lot of step downs, banks, wide open areas for some good speed. A lot of fun. Ride in the morning as it can get very hot. Trail is well marked. They do a great job at taking care of the trail.
| ThankGo counter clockwise. Starting at the back of Blackhawk campground. Nice up hill right away with a few steps. Once to the top it is pretty easy going ridge line on smooth fire road. Then dropping southeast is the most fun all the way back! I loved this trail. Its 7 mile loop can make more if you are up for it. I had an extra 6 riding from town and back. I'll do it again just for the amazing views!
| ThankGave map of how to turn a couple of those trails into a 26 mile ride sweet but very tuff .
| ThankThis served me well as an introduction to western style trails. Much different than what we have in the Midwest. The rock ledges and sand provided a moderate technical challenge to prepare me for additional riding throughout the week. Rode a little more up Lime Kiln Road toward Red Rock SP just to get some extra time in and explore the route.
| ThankShort loop, can get kinda loose and sandy when it has not rained in a while(which happens alot in AZ). Probably the only trail in Northern AZ that stays dry all winter. A few small drops here and ther but other than that nothing to difficult.
| Thank