AZ ride ?s Camp Verde to Clints Well

[oilman_15106]

Trying to plan a decent long ride for my next trip in the area and does this make any sense. Camp Verde up 260 till it ends then left toward Clints Well on 87/65.

The real question is once on 87 are there any services, food water etc. and what is the condition of the road? There is a little town on toporoute but not named about 50+ miles from the start. Again, services as in a 7-11? Will it be warm enough at 7,000 feet at the end of April to consider this ride.

The nice thing about this is it is almost all down hill on the return ride and if I can't cut the climb the return should be less strenous.

Thanks.

[SandLizrd]

I like the way you think, man.

I haven't ridden the route, but you've gotten no other replies so I might as well jump in -

There's one hell of a hill from Camp Verde up to the high country. Several miles of several percent! I recall the road as being decent, but can't tell you how wide it is or isn't.

Up on top, by Clint's Well, the road is a bit narrow and you'll be dicing with cars. If you were going towards Payson it gets hilly and twisty and downright dangerous, but Clint's Well is on the uphill side, not so bad I suspect.

I believe there are no services. Clint's Well has a store and that's all you'll find.

Let us know how it plays out! I've thought of this route in the Arizona summer (when I'm doing everything in my power to get out of the heat and get in good rides) and can't wait to hear.

[oilman_15106]

Thanks. I was getting worried that nobody would chime in. Have driven in a car up 260 and even though there is not a great shoulder to ride on it looks ok. There is a good sight line so the cars should be able to see you. I always ride in AZ with my bliky on even in the daytime.

I have gone over to Payson also but never up the other way. At the end of 260 the road looks pretty good but if you ride out there you know things can change pretty quickly. Will post a report in May on this experiment. Maybe someone else will jump in? Just looking at the map you could make it a tour by going on to Lake Mormon and Flag. Getting back to your car in Camp Verde is another issue.

[noisebeam]

I can't help, but I wonder if you have seen this map. If you have, do you think it is useful for giving information about road conditions? That is, is it practical information?

http://www.azbikeped.org/images/map%20side%201%20(3-03-06).pdf (1.12MB)


Al

[jcrouse]

Sandlizrd is correct in that the hill east out of Camp Verde is quite steep and that the highway going up to Clints Well is pretty narrow. There isn't much of a shoulder on it but, if ridden during the work week, there wouldn't be too much traffic on it. It shouldn’t be too bad even on a weekend but that would change if it was a holiday weekend.


As far as the weather goes.....well I've seen it snow in mid-May here in Flagstaff and snow at the end of April isn't terribly uncommon. Watch the weather reports and if there isn't a storm moving in it should be a beautiful time to ride.

[oilman_15106]

Thanks for the map. I wonder how accurate it is. The road between Cottonwood and I-17 is listed with a shoulder but you are taking your life in your hands on a bicycle on that road.

All good info so far. The hill is pretty steep in elevation gain but my memory is slope is not that bad. To me the steep % grade climbs are the killers. 4000 feet elevation gain in 32 miles. Here in W. PA most rides have at least 100 feet per mile of elevation gain.

[SandLizrd]

I've ridden from Flagstaff past Mormon Lake and wanted to get to Clint's Well.

The road is great as far as Mormon Lake, then the shoulder goes away. It was a weekend and the RVs were their usual swerving selves so I turned around. I'd have to concur with the weekday thing.

The way back to Camp Verde would be through Sedona, down to Cottonwood and across. But the only time to ride that road is Sunday morning!

Sounds like a good three-day-tour but otherwise, not my kind of a loop

[oilman_15106]

Have also done the Mormon Lake loop route out of Flag. That is a really nice ride. There was a herd of Elk in the middle of Mormon Lake which had no water where the lake was supposed to be. Had my lunch in the little town of Mormon Lake and can say you do need to pay attention to the little signs about Posion Oak!

I was told you can ride on the shoulder of the I-17 but have never tried it. Told it was legal, that is.

So right now the plan for the ride includes a weekday, take plenty of food, water and spare tubes and some arm/leg warmers + a light rain jacket. Forgetting anything? Always have a charged cell phone and money + the normal stuff you carry in your bag.

[SandLizrd]

Oxygen! There is no oxygen up there :(

Camera. West Clear Creek Canyon opens up just above the highway and it's a sight to behold.

And you might wait until az87 to Payson gets fixed. It's still closed due to rock-slide and the Camp Verde route is a popular workaround - but they're talking about a limited opening this weekend so I'm sure it's a non-issue

[Photosmith]

And you might wait until az87 to Payson gets fixed.

Haven't they had one lane closed on the 87 outside of Fountain Hills for a year or so now? Are they ever going to finish whatever they're doing?

[SandLizrd]

I was out that way a few weeks ago, and actually saw new pavement in the new lane! whoah

They're building a real interchange at bush hwy so drunks quit pulling out in front of us. Good ideah, eh?

El Tour de Phoenix is next weekend, maybe I'll get a better idea of the new construction then. Another thread (El Tour) has somebody who's ridden there recently....

p.s. one lane of 87 is open now

[ACH57]

My wife and I just did 260 out of Camp Verde a few days ago. We turned around at 16 mi and were another mile or so from the summit. Of the 16 mi about 10 are uphill and a lot of that is 5-7% grade. I would do this ride sooner rather than later because it's goint to get HOT. Temps during the day will be hitting 90-100 here really soon. It does cool down toward the top because you're getting over 6000' but it will still be warm. After the main summit it's rolling hills the rest of the way to 87. Traffic is light and there is a shoulder most of the way although sometimes it's only a few feet wide or less. We're going to try it again this weekend.