Help with Desert Southwest Itenerary
 

I'm doing the http://bicycletourcolorado.com ride in June.

However, I 'm taking an extended vacation including the week before and the week after, with the explicit goal of doing a lot of desert southwest mountain biking and photography.

I'm looking for some "must ride" moutain biking things to do within 1000 miles of Durango. I've heard of white sands, slick rock, moab (but havent yet figured out where they are exactly). But what else / other options??

Biking wise, I can do pretty much anything, from 100 miles climbing rides, and intense mountain biking... so big epic places are definitely my preference.

And for any photography buffs, some "must photograph" desert southwest locations as well (for the days when I'm not riding). I'm looking for places with rock formations, natural wonders... the kinds of places suitable for Ansel Adams style photography. Especially places that typically have moody or variable skies.

So hit me with your favorite locations, and I'll go do my research and get my itenerary put together.

John

I think I just heard someone say SEDONA?

You'll love it

Thanks... I'll check it out.

Here's two more someone emailed me.

http://www.bicyclingstock.com/

http://www.geocities.com/judcomp/co1.htm (for photography).

More to come.

Sedona, Grand Canyon (north rim), Tucson area(Saguaro Nat'l Park, San Xavier del Bac, Mt. Lemmon, Kitt Peak, Tombstone, Bisbee).

If you criterion is 1000 miles from Durango, are you in luck. Oh course, as already mentioned, Sedona has some of the most memorable views you're bound to ever see. The Cathedral Rock Loop is particularly awesome. If you're going to be spending any length of time in Arizona I highly recommend picking up a copy of Cosmic Ray's Fat Tire Tales and Trails book. It is the premier guide to Arizona mountain biking spots and the guy is hilarious.

But as far as specific rides that I can vouch for, I'd say a do-or-die trail in Flagstaff is the Little Bear Loop. It takes up Sultz Pass into the Dry Lake Hills and all around Mt. Elden. Excellent chances for photo ops. If you're thinking something more epic, you could ride the Mt. Elden Loop and go the whole way around the Mt. I haven't personally done this ride, but a friend's first hand account was, "it sucks." He meant it in the best way possible.

Excellent excellent. THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS. 10 days to departure so I'm still looking for ideas.