National Trail South Mountain: Tips for Mountain Biking This Iconic Ride
Learn how to ride the National Trail on South Mountain – one of the most iconic mountain bike rides in Phoenix, Arizona.
The National Trail on South Mountain is easily one of the most iconic mountain bike trails in Phoenix, Arizona, if not the whole state.
It’s actually one of my favorite trails for awesome views, fast flow, and techy rock gardens to test your slow-speed skills.
Riding National is definitely a must for any avid mountain biker visiting the area, but there are a few things you need to know before heading off to hit this trail – most notably which National trail section is the best to ride.
Read on for help planning your National Trail adventure on South Mountain!
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Where is National Trail south Mountain?
National Trail is located in South Mountain Park south of downtown Phoenix. The full trail actually runs the length of South Mountain from west to east along the ridgeline, but the National Trail that mountain bikers ride is really just the easternmost section.
I’ll get more into this below.
The main parking area for National Trail is the Pima Canyon Trailhead. There are bathrooms and a water fountain there, but the parking area does get very busy, especially on weekends.
You can also park at Beverly Canyon Trailhead just around the corner from Pima Canyon, which is where my recommended route for riding National Trail starts (see below).
National Trail FAQs
How hard is National Trail?
National Trail on South Mountain is rated a black (expert) on TrailForks and it’s worthy of that rating.
There are definitely fast, flowy sections, but there are also expert features – and one really expert feature – that less experienced riders will need to walk.
The climb to the top is relatively steep and definitely takes some effort and skill, so keep that in mind before setting off as well.
All that being said, if you like a challenge and you’re up for a hefty climb, give National a go! A lot of people ride this trail to session its many features.
Are e-bikes allowed?
Yes! You may grumble now, but when you see an e-biker casually cruise by you as you’re gasping for breath on a steep climb you may feel a twinge or two of jealousy.
What kind of bike do I need?
Any mid-travel full-suspension mountain bike is a great choice for National. I recommend something with 140-150mm of rear suspension travel.
How long is National Trail on South Mountain?
This is actually a really good question because the full National Trail on South Mountain is about 12.5 miles one-way and stretches almost the whole length of the mountain.
Many of the sections are very technical, steep, and not fun to ride.
What most people refer to as the National Trail on South Mountain is the 3-mile (one-way) easternmost stretch from Pima Canyon. (See recommended route below)
What’s the best time to ride it?
National Trail is one of the most popular trails in the city for its views and great riding. It is multi-use meaning that hikers and runners utilize it as well.
As such, National can get crazy on the weekends. If you have the option, try to hit it on a weekday when most of Phoenix is stuck behind a desk.
As for the best time of year to ride National, it’s optimal during the winter or shoulder months when temperatures are cool. Summer can get really hot and I don’t recommend attempting to climb up National at the peak of summer unless you start before daylight.
Tips for Riding National
As I mentioned in the intro, National Trail on South Mountain is one of my favorite mountain biking trails for its awesome descent, great views, and unique trail features.
If you’re new to Phoenix or are new to mountain biking, though, National may throw some punches.
Here are a few must-knows for riding this iconic trail:
1. The Climb is tough
The climb up National (and Mormon trail – see route recommendation below) is not easy.
There are steep sections, rocky punches, a hike-a-bike ‘waterfall’, and about 1,000 ft of elevation gain over 5 miles.
Take it slow – you don’t want to be wobbly on the descent!
2. Expect Trail traffic
National is one of the most popular trails in Phoenix. If you ride on a weekend during the cooler winter months, it will be a sh*tshow. Between hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers, National Trail gets busy to say the least.
To avoid the worst of the crowds, try hitting National on a weekday or plan on starting your ride early in the morning.
Be a responsible mountain biker: On one of my rides on National, a group of mountain bikers came bombing down the trail as I was pedaling up, scattering (and scaring) hikers and other trail users. Do not be these mountain bikers. This is not the trail to go for KOM/QOMs on. Practice good trail etiquette and be kind and courteous to other people on the trail.
3. Stop & session features
One of the reasons I love National so much is that there are a lot of cool and challenging features (depending on your skill level).
I love stopping and sessioning some of the rock gardens and drops, so that next time I can ride it even smoother.
The Waterfall is the most iconic feature on National. It’s near impossible to pedal up (unless you’re Jeff Lenosky) and coming down is a bit intimidating, to say the least. Stop and session it! There are several lines through it, some harder than others.
4. Watch for the alt-lines
Like The Whole Enchilada in Moab, National in Phoenix is peppered with fun little alt-lines that you probably won’t even notice the first time around. Some are ‘sane’ while others are best left to the pros.
Keep your eye out on the way up to see these sneaker lines and try to remember where they are on the way down. National is the kind of trail that just keeps getting more fun every time you ride it!
5. Be Aware of Extreme Temperatures
Phoenix is known for its extreme summer temperatures that can top 100 degrees. DO NOT ATTEMPT to ride National in the middle of the day in summer. You will likely die (literally or figuratively).
If you want to ride National during the summer months, you’ll need to get a really early morning start (like 5am) or plan on a night ride with lights.
First time to the desert? Read my post on How to Survive Your First Mountain Bike Trip to the Desert for tips on how to prepare.
6. The Full National Trail isn’t Worth it
If you’ve looked at a map of National Trail, you’ve probably noticed that the full trail spans the length of South Mountain from west to east for 15 miles.
You might be thinking, “Cool! More fun!” But in actuality, it’s really only the easternmost 3-mile section of National Trail that most mountain bikers ride.
The rest of the trail is rocky, very technical, and better left to hikers unless you’re up for an epically long day – mentally and physically.
Don’t believe me? I rode a loop of National Trail by pedaling out Desert Classic, hike-a-biking up Telegraph Pass trail, and then riding National Trail east from the top of Telegraph Pass. It wasn’t worth it. There was a lot of pushing my bike and cursing. The rest of National Trail South Mountain is a hiking trail, not a mountain biking trail. See my route recommendation below.
How to Ride National
Alright, let’s get into the fun stuff! The best route (in my opinion) for riding National Trail is the ‘Mormon Loop’ (aka the SoMo Rolling Pin). You can do National as an out-and-back (i.e. don’t include Mormon), but the initial climb on National is super steep, loose, and rocky.
Mormon has a mellower grade (but don’t expect it to be easy) and just offers something a bit different. I like loops.
The SoMo Rolling Pin
This loop includes a climb up Javelina and then Mormon, which is a bit easier than National (and also has less downhill traffic). Once you intersect back into National, it’s more climbing until you reach the ‘top’.
Important: The ‘top’ isn’t actually the end of the trail. It’s just the last of the climbing up National. There’s a short distance down to the Buena Vista Lookout parking, but then you have to come back up and it’s a technical climb. You’ll know when you get to the top.
Ride it for:
- Great views
- Fast, technical descent
Need to know:
- There are some features that could land you in the hospital. Always scope before sending.
Route directions: Beverly Canyon Parking (you can also park at the more popular Pima Canyon which has water and bathrooms) > Javelina Canyon (or Pima Wash > Mormon Loop > National (stop at the ‘top’) > National back to Javelina Canyon or Pima Wash.
Route notes: National is a very popular trail so you’re likely to share it with hikers and other mountain bikers. Please be kind and courteous and share the trails. Also, always scope your lines. There are some tricky features!
Make it easier: There’s really no way to make it easier
Do more: You could continue a short way down to Buena Vista Lookout, which is a fun downhill, but then you have to come back up it. It did it once and probably won’t do it again.
I don’t shoot video, but here’s an edit by TrailSage of his ride on South Mountain
National Trail on South Mountain is one of the most iconic rides to do and one of my favorites in Phoenix. It’s beautiful, challenging, and a really great trail for experienced riders or adventurous intermediates.
I hope this post helps inspire your first ride down the National on South Mountain. It’s one that you can ride again and again without getting bored!
Read next
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Have you ridden the National Trail on South Mountain? What did you think? Leave a comment below!
Thanks for taking time to write this, it’s much appreciated! I have been otb so much I think it’s my thing! I have ridden the National from the ranger trail west and out and it was a great downhill experience- if we park a tandem car at the far west end- and start at Pima on the Far East end is it a good ride?
If you start at Pima in the east and end in the west, you’ll be climbing the most popular descent (which it sounds like you’ve already done). I haven’t ridden the full National Trail, but I do know that it’s pretty rugged and not at all like the 3-mile easternmost section. If you go for it let me know how it rides!
What kind of bike would you recommend for the National Trail? I’m going to ride it a couple of days with demos from Pivot. Will a full suspension trail bike work or do you need a more enduro bike? I don’t want to make the climb too hard on myself if it’s not necessary. I’m not planning on bombing it. I’m an intermediate rider who hasn’t mastered big jumps, drops, and features yet.
I recommend not riding this trail at all way to busy and not fun mostly hike a bike.
It’s definitely not for everyone! Those technical sections are tricky the first time around. It also does get quite busy on the weekends, so best ridden during the week. All that being said, National is one of my favorite trails! If you’re looking for more riding in Phoenix, Brown’s Ranch is super fun and more cross-country.