BROWN CANYON

Level: Intermediate (3-B)

Description: Not to be confused with Brown Mountain!

This is a fabulous ride! Although it is short (about 5 miles, 6 with the optional single track), it is still terrific. In my opinion the best single track in Southern Arizona. It should be ridden in a clockwise direction which gives you a moderate climb for around 2 miles on jeep road at the beginning and then the simply wonderful downhill sections. Give it around 45 minutes to do the loop (some hard core folks will do it in much less). You will have so much fun on this ride that you will most likely want to do the loop more than once. It is pretty, has real trees, cooler than Tucson, and fun, fun, fun.

From Parking (see below), stay left at every option (especially the washed out portion with the sign saying "Keep Right." You will stay on this road for 2 miles before descending to a concrete watering trough which marks the start of the real fun. The only real option comes SHORTLY after the trough. There will be a sign for POMONA MINE. Go right and downhill if you don't want to take the out-and-back option.

To take the optional out and back (recommended at least once), go a short distance up the road until it bends left, and take the singletrack to the right. (Don't bother going up the hill to the mine; it runs into the Wilderness Area.) The trail is fun with a couple of short uphill challenges. Take it to the fence that is the border of Fort Huachuca, then turn around and retrace your route to the intersection, heading left and downhill on the singletrack.

It's a bit rocky at the beginning and has a couple of spots that might be intimidating to less experienced riders, but it's 90 percent sheer fun. If you don't like this section you might consider taking up another sport, like lawn darts. At the bottom of this you will come to a Y. Take the right fork, UP the hill (steep climb) to the top and then back to the parking area, heading in a southerly direction at the intersections you encounter.

Directions: From Sierra Vista, take Highway 92 to Ramsey Canyon Road. Turn right and go up Ramsey Canyon for 2 miles to a marked trailhead parking area on your right. Get your gear, mount your steed and head 0.5 miles back up Ramsey Canyon Road to Brown Canyon Road and turn right. This is the jeep road.

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