Maricopa Trail
315 miles of connected desert trail — and it starts in your backyard.
About This Trail
The Maricopa Trail is a 315-mile loop trail connecting nine Maricopa County regional parks and South Mountain Park, and the best part is that Anthem sits right on it. The Anthem Community Council maintains a 6.3-mile section running from I-17 through Anthem, Desert Hills, and New River to New River Road — rated beginner to intermediate on mostly flat, packed-dirt terrain. From there, you can ride west toward Lake Pleasant through open Sonoran Desert, passing under high-tension power lines and through quiet washes with surprisingly good solitude. The surface varies from hardpack singletrack to wide jeep trail, with some rocky and sandy patches. The Anthem-to-Lake-Pleasant segment covers roughly 16 miles one-way with only about 400 feet of elevation gain, making it perfect for endurance rides or bikepacking. This is your literal backyard trail — no driving required if you live in Anthem — and it connects to the Black Canyon Trail, Cave Creek Regional Park, and the entire regional trail network. For riders looking to build big miles on mellow terrain, or for anyone exploring bikepacking for the first time, the Maricopa Trail is an unbeatable starting point.
Highlights
- Anthem's own 6.3-mile section means zero drive time — ride from your front door.
- 315-mile loop connects nine county parks, perfect for bikepacking or long point-to-point rides.
- The Anthem-to-Lake-Pleasant segment is ~16 miles with only 400 feet of elevation gain.
- Connects directly to the Black Canyon Trail and Cave Creek Regional Park trail systems.
Riding Tips
Start at the Anthem trailhead and ride west toward Lake Pleasant for a mellow out-and-back with big desert views.
The section under I-17 can be tricky after rain — expect some standing water and muddy crossings.
Bring more water than you think — there are no refill points between Anthem and Lake Pleasant.
For a shorter ride, do the 6.3-mile Anthem section as an easy after-work loop before linking into the longer segments.
Heading to Maricopa Trail?
Stop by Sunset Cyclery first for a pre-ride tune-up, fresh tires, or trail recommendations from people who actually ride here.