Black Canyon Trail, Arizona

Project Type: Design
Length: 40 miles in 2004
Use: mountain bike, hike, equestrian, off-highway vehicle
Dimensions: 18" to 4-wheel drive vehicle

The historic Black Canyon Trail (BCT) provides a critical link to the past and future of Arizona. The use of the canyon has predominantly altered from a livestock driveway to a recreational amenity, providing a backcountry experience that is accessible to the growing populations of Phoenix, Prescott, and communities along the I-17 corridor. The BLM contracted with Trail Solutions to assess the current trail layout and make recommendations for its improvement.

When designated by Congress as a trail in 1969, the BCT was, and remains today, a series of dirt roads that is lightly used. While this provides the potential for long distance travel, vandalism, erosion, and lack of access have deterred the trailís success.

Trail Solutions and the BLM initiated increased dialogue with the areaís mountain bike, equestrian, hiking, and off-highway vehicle groups to determine each groupsí wants and needs from the trail system. With this information, Trail Solutions designed over 40 miles of additional trail along the southern half of the BCT that will incorporate new, easily accessible trailheads and stacked-loop trails that originate near the communities along the Black Canyon. The design concentrates on trail sustainability, connectivity to the surrounding communities via I-17, and experience maximization for all the included trail user groups.

When the projectís implementation is completed, it may include well over 200 miles of interconnected trails between Phoenix and Prescott and be one of the premier trail systems in the country.